CDM Principal Designer — Energy & Renewables

Our client, a growing business operating within the renewable energy and infrastructure sector, is seeking an experienced CDM Principal Designer / Pre-Construction Risk Manager to join their team on a permanent basis. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), high-voltage (HV) substations and associated grid transmission infrastructure across Scotland and mainland Europe.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business working on technically challenging, high-profile energy projects, with the flexibility of primarily remote working and site attendance as required.

The Role

Reporting into the wider project and engineering teams, you will take responsibility for health and safety coordination throughout the pre-construction phase in accordance with CDM 2015 regulations. Working closely with multidisciplinary design teams, clients, principal contractors and specialist subcontractors, you will identify, manage and mitigate significant design risks before construction begins.

Key responsibilities will include coordinating design risk reviews, leading HAZID workshops, managing Pre-Construction Information (PCI), maintaining Designer and HAZID Registers, and compiling Health and Safety Files. You will oversee design safety gateways and review significant design changes, ensuring that electrical interfaces, isolation arrangements, energisation activities and residual risks are appropriately managed.

The role will also involve overseeing DSEAR compliance and BESS-specific safety considerations, including thermal runaway, fire suppression, toxic off-gassing and ventilation requirements. You will support the safe integration of HV/LV systems, substations, transformers, harmonic filters and load banks, while ensuring relevant grid compliance requirements, including G5/5 and G99, are considered. Additional duties will include managing formal Principal Designer appointments and handovers, F10 notifications, supporting incident investigations and coordinating with stakeholders across the UK and Europe.

The Ideal Candidate

Our client is looking for an experienced CDM Principal Designer or Pre-Construction Risk professional with a strong understanding of CDM 2015 and a background in energy, utilities or major infrastructure projects. Experience across BESS, solar, wind, HV substations, grid connections or transmission infrastructure would be highly advantageous.

You will have experience in design risk management, HAZID facilitation and multidisciplinary design coordination, ideally within HV/LV electrical environments and commissioning programmes. Knowledge of DSEAR, battery safety, fire suppression systems, protection arrangements, SCADA integration and relevant grid compliance standards would be beneficial. Experience of electrical safety rules, SAP frameworks and late-stage Principal Designer appointments would also be advantageous.

Professional qualifications or membership of relevant bodies, such as CMIOSH, MRICS, MICE, MCIOB or APS, would be welcomed, alongside an awareness of the Building Safety Act 2022.

The successful candidate will be a confident communicator with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage complex technical risks while working with a range of stakeholders.

What's on Offer?

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Competitive salary of £55,000 – £75,000, depending on experience.

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Flexible hybrid working, primarily remote with site visits as required.

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Company pension scheme and private healthcare.

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Involvement in high-profile renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

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The opportunity to develop alongside a growing business as its project portfolio expands.

How to Apply

If you have the relevant experience and are interested in taking the next step in your career, please apply with your CV