Job Description
Principal Tendering Engineer - Electrical Grid SubstationsUK (Hybrid / Office-based / Site visits as required)Permanent - Full TimeSalary Competitive (DOE) & Car Allowance / Car & Flexible Benefits
Role Purpose:The Principal Tendering Engineer is responsible for leading the technical and commercial tendering activities for high-voltage (HV/EHV) electrical grid substation projects across the UK. This role ensures accurate, competitive, and compliant bids in line with client requirements, UK grid standards, and company objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
Tender & Bid Management
- Lead the end-to-end tendering process for electrical grid substation projects (typically 11kV-400kV).
- Review ITTs, contract conditions, specifications, drawings, and employer's requirements.
- Develop winning bid strategies in collaboration with commercial, planning, and senior management teams.
- Manage tender programmes to ensure submissions are completed on time and to a high standard.
Technical & Engineering
- Lead the technical assessment of substation designs including:
- Primary plant (transformers, GIS/AIS, switchgear)
- Protection & control systems
- SCADA, telecoms, and auxiliary systems
- Civil and structural interfaces
- Ensure compliance with UK grid codes, standards, and client specifications (e.g. National Grid, DNOs, ENA, IEC, BS).
- Identify value engineering opportunities and technical innovations.
Commercial & Costing
- Prepare or review detailed cost estimates, risk allowances, and schedules of rates.
- Work closely with commercial teams to assess contractual risks, clarifications, and exclusions.
- Support pricing strategies to ensure competitiveness while maintaining margin and risk control.
- Evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations.
Stakeholder & Client Interface
- Act as the technical focal point during tender clarification meetings with clients.
- Coordinate inputs from internal disciplines (engineering, construction, planning, procurement).
- Liaise with suppliers, subcontractors, and consultants during the bid stage.
Risk & Compliance
- Identify technical, commercial, and programme risks and propose mitigation measures.
- Ensure bids comply with HSEQ, sustainability, and quality requirements.
- Support governance reviews and internal approvals prior to tender submission.
Leadership & Mentoring
- Provide guidance and mentoring to junior tendering and engineering staff.
- Support continuous improvement of tendering processes, tools, and best practices.
Qualifications & Experience:
Essential
- Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
- Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in electrical substation projects.
- Proven experience leading tenders for HV/EHV grid substation works in the UK.
- Strong knowledge of UK utility clients, standards, and contracting models.
Desirable
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership.
- Experience with EPC, D&B, or framework contracts.
- Familiarity with NEC and other UK standard forms of contract.
Why Join Us?
At Freedom, we believe in attracting and retaining the best talent by offering great benefits and career progression opportunities, including:
- Pension with up to 8% employer contribution
- Car Allowance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Personal Wellbeing and Volunteer Days
- Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme (Hybrid/Electric Vehicle)
- Flexible benefits (e.g., Dental Insurance, Gym Memberships, Tax-Free Bikes)
- Ongoing Training & Development Programme
Next Steps:
As a business, we're on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation.
We'll do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met. About Us:
Freedom are part of the NG Bailey Group, one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training.
Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies
Progression is something we value and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be.
