Job description
Control Engineer
Prenton
Starting salary from £53,280 - £66,600 per annum
At SP Energy Networks, we know people are central to building a better future, quicker and we are seeking new talent to join our team.
The Control Room manages the Distribution Network for 1.5 million customers across the SPM licence for Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. It is responsible for both Planned and Fault work and delivering excellent Customer Service.
The role of Control Engineer is shift based, located in Prenton and sits within Customer Service -reporting to the Senior Control Engineer.
In this role you will be responsible for the control and operation of the ScottishPower electrical networks under normal, outage and fault situations. This involves the management of safety, system integrity, customer service and co-ordination of system access while ensuring compliance with the ScottishPower Distribution Licence.
As SPEN transitions to bcome a DSO, this role offers an exciting opportunity to be part our future distribution network strategy ensuring exceptional customer, network security and access for flexible energy resources.
What you'll be doing
- Facilitate change necessary within Customer Services Delivery as the distribution network transitions to Net Zero.
- Work with new and existing generation partners to utilise flexibility service arrangements and Distribution Restart Zone partnerships.
- Reviewing and investigating system performance following major incidents and faults.
- Give advice and support as required on technical matters relating to the High Voltage network.
- Approve and Control all outage and network access requests ensuring risk to network and system security is minimised.
- Co-ordinate outage planning and liaison with internal/external third parties for all network activities.
- Manage customer service proactively and reactively as appropriate, to meet all customer service KPI's.
- Actively participate in business and organisational change such that the performance, productivity and service standards of the SPEN are maintained and/or improved.
- Implement Contingency & Emergency Plans, escalate significant incidents throughout the business as required.
- Complete all associated statutory reports and paperwork for Network incidents.
- Actively monitor CML outage reqests to minimise effect on system and targets.
- Actively support the provision of operational data such that operational IT systems are accurate.
- Be active in the improvement/development and introduction of new processes, procedures and initiatives.
- Take ownership in objectives to improve the safety and customer service culture across the shift team and operations business.
What you'll bring
- Ability to form strong working relationships across all EN business areas and at all levels
- Ability in dealing with major customers
- A proven aptitude for using and developing new IT solutions
- Ability to co-ordinate a broad range of complex tasks and requirements from different business areas and devise solutions.
- Working knowledge of key Energy Networks policies, procedures and working practices
- Takes responsibility and accountability for tasks and activities and contributes to the achievement of team goals by providing support, advice, encouragement and clear direction and coaching when appropriate.
- Interpretation of Asset data & post fault analysis of plant and equipment.
- Ability to define and document new processes for key strategic changes within the Control Room.
- Working knowledge of SPEN policies, procedures and working practices.
- Working knowledge of health, safety and environmental legislation.
- Developed negotiation, communication, influencing and staff management skills.
- Developed knowledge of transmission and/or distribution systems and outage planning
- Effective decision maker not inhibited by consultation with others when necessary or give lead as required.
To be successful in a role you will need to demonstrate as a minimum':
- HNC with relevant experience or Degree in Electrical Engineering would be preferable.
- Detailed distribution and/or network knowledge essential.
- High Voltage Operational experience ideally as a Senior Authorised Person required.
What's in it for you
As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.
At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow. That's why our benefits include:
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36 days annual leave
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Holiday Purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
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Share Schemes
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Payroll Giving and Charity Matched Funding
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Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purchases
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Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving
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Cycle to Work scheme and Public Transport Season Ticket Loans
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Healthcare benefit options including: Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan and annual Health Assessments
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Life Assurance (4x salary)
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Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing support
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Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more
Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.
We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected].
Mobility
Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.
Pay & benefits
About this role
About Scottish Power
Company Overview
ScottishPower Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Iberdrola
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
1990
Approximately 5,000 employees (source: linkedin.com). Revenue figures for 2023 are not disclosed, but Iberdrola has committed £24 billion in UK investments by 2028, including through ScottishPower (source: energyadvicehub.org).
What They Do
ScottishPower is a vertically integrated energy company that operates as the distribution network operator for Central and Southern Scotland, Merseyside, North Wales, and parts of Cheshire and Shropshire. The company supplies electricity and gas to homes and businesses across the United Kingdom and generates power for the grid (source: wikipedia.org). Its core technology focus includes wind energy, solar power, grid upgrades, battery storage, and low-carbon hydrogen, having transitioned to generating 100% green electricity by divesting its coal and gas assets (source: wikipedia.org). ScottishPower's product offerings encompass renewable generation from 38 onshore wind farms and over 40 operational sites producing more than 3 GW of total capacity, alongside services like smart grids, EV charging, heat pumps, and solar solutions for businesses (source: scottishpower.co.uk). The company targets UK residential customers, commercial businesses, and wholesale energy trading, leveraging its position as part of Iberdrola, a world leader in wind energy (source: energybrokers.co.uk).
Projects & Track Record
ScottishPower has completed several notable projects, including the Whitelee onshore wind farm, which is Europe's largest at 539 MW, featuring 215 turbines and a 50 MW battery (source: wikipedia.org). The company also repowered Scotland's first commercial wind farm, Hagshaw Hill, which was brought back online in November 2025 to increase output and community benefits (source: scottishpowerrenewables.com). Ongoing major projects include the East Anglia ONE and East Anglia THREE offshore wind farms, as well as the Wikinger offshore project in the German Baltic Sea (source: cisco.com). ScottishPower Renewables manages Iberdrola's UK portfolio, which exceeds 2,000 MW from 40 wind farms, with plans for further solar and hydrogen expansion (source: windenergyireland.com).
Recent Developments
In recent years, ScottishPower secured £1.35 billion for seven grid upgrades, including subsea cables and substations, to enhance the transport of Scottish wind power southward (source: energyadvicehub.org). Iberdrola announced a significant £24 billion investment in the UK by 2028, focusing on renewables and grid resilience (source: energyadvicehub.org). Additionally, ScottishPower Renewables is set to invest nearly £3 billion in offshore and onshore wind and solar projects from 2023 to 2025 (source: cisco.com). In the hydrogen sector, Iberdrola launched a unit in September 2023, targeting 600 MW by 2025 and 5 GW by 2030, with ScottishPower's Green Hydrogen for Scotland project featuring a 10 MW electrolyser (source: energybrokers.co.uk).
Working There
ScottishPower offers a variety of roles across renewables development and operations, energy networks, generation, and support functions such as energy management and IT/security (source: scottishpowerrenewables.com). The company primarily hires at its Glasgow headquarters, with operations linked to UK-wide wind farms and offshore sites in East Anglia and the Southern North Sea (source: windenergyireland.com). Company culture emphasizes innovation in renewables and community engagement, as evidenced by initiatives like the MachairWind feedback phase and partnerships with local organizations (source: scottishpower.co.uk). While specific benefits are not detailed, the firm invests heavily in green initiatives and supports employee-driven net-zero transitions for business clients (source: scottishpower.com).