Dowds is a long established, multidisciplinary engineering and construction Building Services Engineering company headquartered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1978, our expertise spans the full lifecycle of complex-built environments from initial design and systems integration through to installation, commissioning, and handover. Across specific sectors: life science, commercial, education and healthcare.
Operating at a gold standard for best managed company and investors in people, our vision is to set the standard for excellence, driving progress, responsibility, and lasting impact. While keeping our clients and our people at the heart of what we do.
We are seeking
Dowds are seeking a HV Technical Engineer to strengthen our in-house capability in HV grid design assurance, DNO interface management, and technical oversight of ICP design packages - a critical requirement as we scale into utility-scale Solar PV/BESS EPC‑M delivery where grid readiness and HV engineering quality drive programme certainty, commercial outcomes, and compliance.
This is a senior technical role providing authoritative HV leadership across grid connection design and delivery, reducing reliance on external engineering, strengthening QA/QC discipline, and supporting predictable, lender-aligned EPC‑M outcomes. You will also play a key part in capability-building - helping develop #Dowds long-term HV engineering function through mentoring and structured knowledge transfer.
What you'll be responsible for
-
Provide technical assurance of HV grid connection designs (typically 11–66kV), ensuring designs are compliant, buildable, and aligned to programme and commercial needs.
-
Lead and manage the DNO interface, including technical submissions, clarifications, reviews, and steering approvals to avoid delays and rework.
-
Review, challenge, and direct ICP design deliverables, including:
-
Single line diagrams (SLDs)
-
Protection philosophies / settings intent
-
Earthing studies and designs
-
HV cabling and routing approaches
-
Interface risks and constructability
-
Own technical oversight of contestable vs non‑contestable scope, ensuring clear demarcation, robust planning, and integrated delivery.
-
Support energisation planning, sequencing, and readiness assurance (including supplier performance, documentation quality, and handover completeness).
-
Strengthen HV QA/QC and governance, setting expectations for design package quality and technical sign-off.
-
Act as an internal subject matter expert, challenging suppliers where required and ensuring best-practice engineering decisions are taken.
-
Contribute to building Dowds’ HV capability by mentoring NI-based graduate engineers and embedding structured learning and standards.
What we are looking for
Essential
-
Strong HV engineering expertise (11–66kV), ideally from an ICP or DNO background.
-
Proven experience delivering grid connections, including protection philosophies and grid readiness requirements.
-
Strong understanding of DNO approvals and compliance processes, with the confidence to lead technical discussions.
-
Demonstrable competence reviewing and directing HV/ICP design deliverables (SLDs, protection, earthing, cabling).
-
Experience managing contestable/non‑contestable works and supporting energisation planning.
-
A technically assertive, structured, delivery-driven approach with the ability to challenge suppliers and drive high standards.
Desirable
-
Experience supporting utility-scale Solar PV and/or BESS projects (EPC/EPC‑M context).
-
Familiarity with lender / technical advisor expectations for grid readiness, design assurance, and documentation quality.
-
Chartered or working towards chartership (or equivalent demonstrable technical authority).
-
Experience creating or improving engineering standards, templates, and reviewing checklists to improve consistency and quality.
-
Coaching/mentoring experience (or clear motivation to develop early-career engineers)
Why Join Dowds
-
41 Days Holiday
-
Early Finish Fridays
-
Private Medical
-
Bonus
-
Wellbeing Initiatives
-
Pension
-
Work from home
-
Plus, many more
Dowds is an Equal Opportunities Employer
