Principal Designer (Renewable Energy)
Location: Home-based with regular travel across Great Britain
Salary - Available on Request
About the Role
As DCC Energy GB continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, we are looking for an experienced Principal Designer (Renewable Energy) to lead design risk management and Principal Designer activities across a diverse range of Solar PV, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), generation and integrated energy projects.
Working within our Technical Operations team, you will play a critical role in ensuring health and safety risks are identified, eliminated or controlled through design. Acting as the lead for the Principal Designer function, you will help shape standards, improve governance and support the successful delivery of projects valued between £200k and £5m across Great Britain.
This is an excellent opportunity for a CDM professional with strong technical expertise to influence safety, compliance and engineering excellence across one of the UK's leading energy businesses.
The Role
Reporting to the Technical & Engineering Manager - Solar & BESS, with a dotted line into the Head of Health & Safety for compliance and assurance matters, you will:
Lead the Principal Designer Function
- Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the pre-construction phase across Solar PV, BESS, generation and integrated energy projects.
- Lead design risk reviews on projects, facilitating structured design risk assessments and, where appropriate, HAZID and HAZOP workshops.
- Develop and maintain project design risk registers, ensuring significant residual risks are clearly communicated before construction begins.
- Ensure pre-construction information is requested, reviewed and issued, including structural, fire, asbestos, roofing and grid-related information.
- Coordinate internal and external designers, consultants, specialist contractors and DNOs to ensure risks are effectively managed at design interfaces.
- Oversee the preparation, maintenance and handover of Health & Safety Files.
Drive Design Risk Management
- Operate and continuously improve design risk governance processes and stage-gate controls.
- Review and challenge third-party design information, including structural and fire assessments, ensuring designs are suitable for the site and application.
- Assess design changes throughout project delivery, ensuring any change that impacts safety, compliance or performance is properly reviewed and approved.
- Maintain accurate project records and evidence of compliance across the project portfolio.
Develop Standards and Best Practice
- Create and maintain design risk management templates, guidance and supporting documentation.
- Support the development of the company's technical position on BESS fire and thermal runaway risks, as well as rooftop solar fire and structural considerations.
- Assess the competency of external designers and consultants before engagement.
- Embed lessons learned from projects, audits and incidents into future design standards and processes.
Build Capability Across the Business
- Work closely with Applications, Project Management, Engineering and Health & Safety teams to identify design risks at the earliest stages of a project.
- Support project managers and principal contractors in understanding design risk requirements and compliance expectations.
- Coach and develop engineers and project teams on CDM regulations, design risk management and Principal Designer responsibilities.
- Support the development of competence and technical sign-off capability within the wider team.
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Minimum five years' experience working as a Principal Designer, CDM Adviser or Design Safety Manager within renewables, power generation, utilities, electrical infrastructure or a similar sector.
- Membership of the Association for Project Safety (IMaPS or CMaPS), or equivalent recognised CDM competence.
- NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health & Safety or equivalent qualification.
- Strong understanding of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and their practical application.
- Working knowledge of Building Regulations as they relate to Solar PV and BESS installations, particularly structural loading and fire safety requirements.
- Ability to review and interpret:
- Single-line diagrams
- Electrical and layout drawings
- Structural reports
- Civil and foundation designs
- Sound understanding of:
- HV and electrical isolation safety
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Fire risk management
- DSEAR and ATEX requirements relating to gas assets
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge designs, decisions and project progression where safety or compliance concerns exist.
Why Join DCC Energy GB?
This is a unique opportunity to help shape the safe delivery of renewable energy projects across Great Britain while influencing engineering standards and design excellence across a growing portfolio.
You'll work on innovative Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage projects, collaborate with experienced technical specialists, and play a key role in supporting the UK's energy transition.
In return, you'll receive:
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Home-based working with national project involvement
- Exposure to a varied and technically challenging project portfolio
- Opportunities to influence standards, governance and best practice across the organisation
- Career development within a growing and forward-thinking energy business
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At DCC Energy GB, we believe that diverse perspectives create stronger teams, safer operations and better outcomes for our customers and communities.
We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to reach their full potential. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background or any other characteristic protected by law.
We recognise that talented people do not always meet every requirement listed in a job description. If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience does not align perfectly with every criteria, we would still encourage you to apply.
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. If you require support at any stage, please let us know.
