Applications Control Engineer - Closing date 26/02/23

Applications Control Engineer
ScottishPower HQ, St Vincent Street, Glasgow
Salary from £45,610 plus a range of flexible benefits
Working Hours: 37 hours per week, On Site
Closing Date: 19 February 2023

Here at SP Energy Networks, we’re working round the clock to keep the electricity flowing. As we focus our efforts on achieving Net Zero, automation is the key to realising this ambition. We’re driving the new digital revolution of our energy system. Bringing a new era of reliability, availability and efficiency, a smarter grid allows us to respond quicker to faults on our network, minimising the impact on our customers, communities, and stakeholders. Working as an Applications Control Engineer, you’ll be a key component of this automation process. With responsibility for the development, update and management of the Automated Power Restoration System (APRS) in the Control Room Environment, you’ll find this an exciting role driving efficiencies and powering innovation within the business. And in the not too distant future, you’ll also be part of the team to implement and manage new SCADA applications such as Primary Optimised Restoration Tool (PORT), DSO scheduling and despatch tools, a single system which will allow us to deliver on our ED2 commitments.

Working as an Applications Control Engineer, you’ll support the automation of processes within the Control Room. We’re working hard to ensure our customers have access to electricity 24/7 and, by automating customer supply restorations, we can minimise the time that our customers are off supply if a fault occurs. Our innovative APRS is a tool that analyses network failures and automatically restores supply to our customers if it’s safe to do so. It’s your role to develop the APRS / PORT to ensure that it stays safe and is compliant with business policies. Working with colleagues in Real Time Systems (RTS), you’ll check the automation is operating effectively. And you’ll engage with your colleagues in the SPD area to check that systems and assets are aligned. Carrying out regular testing and analysis of the system will instil confidence, allowing us to maximise its use. We want to exploit this system, to optimise network availability and significantly reduce the time it takes to identify the root cause of faults, to create a reliable and resilient network.

We’re operating in a highly regulated environment and frameworks such as the Interruptions Incentive Scheme (IIS) mean it’s vital that customer supplies are reinstated rapidly. By automating as many restorations as possible, you’ll be available to respond to the most challenging and complex (and of course interesting) problems. You’ll run tests and create business reports to evidence the time and cost savings generated by the system to share with senior management. And you’ll use reporting to identify even more automation opportunities as we continue to drive efficiencies and power innovations throughout the business.

If you’re passionate about delivering improvements for our customers through the use of automation this is an ideal role for you. Enthusiastic about innovation and learning about new technologies, you’ll be excited by this digital revolution and recognise the benefits for our customers. So join us now in our virtual fight against climate change.

This role is focused on automation of our electricity network, so you’ll need significant experience of High Voltage Transmission and Distribution engineering within an electrical or electronic environment. And you’ll have an electrical/electronic qualification, ideally at degree level. This is an exciting role which offers a variety of engineering conundrums. You’ll enjoy rising to the challenge, solving those complex problems. If you have knowledge of health, safety and environmental legislation that would be beneficial. As would knowledge and/or experience of SCADA systems and other IT systems associated with the real time environment.

But this role isn’t all about technical knowledge. The primary purpose of the role is to provide a smarter and more resilient network for our customers so you’ll have excellent customer service skills too. You’ll work closely with colleagues in other functions so communication is also important. And you’ll need strong influencing and negotiation skills to engage with our senior stakeholders.

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:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday purchase – perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Incentive Plan and Sharesave Scheme
• Payroll giving and charity matched funding
• Technology Vouchers – save more and spread the cost of your technology purposes
• Count us in – pledge to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change
• Electric Vehicle Schemes – to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and public transport season ticket loans
• Options to purchase dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan and annual health assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to ‘nudge’ financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world’s largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network – connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It’s a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland’s ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we’re taking it very seriously. We’re investing £2 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

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 careers@scottishpower.com.

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.