Senior Specialist Engineer - Electrical

Job description

Job summary
Exceptional engineering is what keeps Britains energy networks functioning day after day, year after year. Ofgem is now looking for Senior Specialist Engineers to bring their expertise to the decisions that keep electricity flowing reliably, ensuring our networks deliver for consumers today and into the future.

Ofgem is Great Britains independent energy regulator. Were at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving toward Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers especially vulnerable people.

We have three permanent, full-time opportunities to make a lasting contribution to the future of Great Britains electricity networks. Youll have the chance to apply your specialist knowledge to support investment in the energy system, ensuring infrastructure delivers value for consumers and supports the countrys long-term energy needs.

Youll be recognised as a trusted engineering expert, advising and challenging decision-making at every level of Ofgem, informing important regulatory decisions, and influencing thinking. Whats more, youll have the chance to work with a wide range of experts, gaining exposure to a broad range of perspectives and handling some of the most complex technical challenges facing the energy sector.

Job description
Were looking for accomplished engineering professionals with extensive specialist experience relevant to electricity networks, alongside a strong understanding of network investment planning, regulatory frameworks and the commercial context of major infrastructure decisions. Youll bring experience of leading regulatory processes, including price controls or equivalent funding mechanisms, excellent analytical skills and a proven ability to advise and challenge senior stakeholders. The ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to different audiences will also be essential.

In return, youll be enabled to operate at the highest levels of energy regulation, tackling demanding engineering challenges and applying your expertise to decisions with long-term significance. Youll have the opportunity to broaden your regulatory perspective, work alongside leading specialists and further establish your reputation as a trusted technical authority.

We have a critical purpose to protect consumers whilst enabling the energy infrastructure Britain needs for the future. Join us and help ensure major investment in our electricity networks delivers lasting benefits for consumers and the wider energy system.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of working in a complex and diverse environment, acting as an internal expert advising and challenging senior leaders on technical, engineering, strategic and/or operational performance related matters.
• Extensive experience in a specialist policy engineering role relevant to Ofgems work networks, generators, pipelines, heat networks for example, specialised technical knowledge associated with designing, building and operating gas and electricity networks; Working knowledge and experience of the commercial and regulatory framework of the GB Gas & Electricity Industry; All of which that can be demonstrated by a proven record of high performance and substantial achievements in past positions.
• Extensive experience in a specialist engineering or a strategic technical role relevant to Ofgems work, with strong understanding of GB electricity networks, network company investment planning, regulatory frameworks and the commercial context for major energy infrastructure decisions.
• Experience of leading regulatory process including price controls or processes associated with equivalent funding mechanisms
• Excellent analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to think critically, to validate and analyse complex data, and to challenge and sense check results.
• Extensive experience of communicating complex technical information clearly and concisely to a range of audiences.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 63,443, OFGEM contributes 18,379 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

When you press the Apply now button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated in the essential criteria.

Interviews will be held Face to Face at our Cardiff site on 11 and 12 November 2026

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn ].

At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.

#LI-RW1

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window) .

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name : Rob Wilkins
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments 485484 - Candidate Pack - Senior Specialist Engineer - Electrical Opens in new window (pdf, 729kB) 485484 - Senior Specialist Engineer - Electrical Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 170kB) Terms and Conditions April 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)