Associate Director – Power Systems & Energy Infrastructure

Cundall is a global engineering consultancy known for innovative and sustainable design across energy, infrastructure and the built environment. With a 50-year history, we deliver projects that shape the future of energy systems, from grid transmission and distribution to renewable energy and critical infrastructure. 

Our Power Systems team specialises in high-voltage design, protection and control systems, power system studies and technical advisory services, delivering technically demanding projects in the UK and internationally. 

We are looking for an experienced Associate Director to provide senior operational leadership across Cundall’s growing Power Systems discipline. Working closely with the Director of Power Systems, you will help run and scale the business by owning delivery and commercial performance across a portfolio of complex projects. 

This is primarily an operational leadership role. You will create the structure, accountability and commercial discipline needed to deliver consistently across primary design, protection and control, power system studies and multidisciplinary energy infrastructure projects. You will provide direction and challenge across the team, act early where delivery or commercial risk emerges, and act as a credible senior interface with clients. There will be periods where the focus shifts towards winning work, and you will be expected to flex into that. 

You will bring enough power and energy sector knowledge to understand the work, integrate technical disciplines and exercise sound engineering judgement. Specialist leads own technical delivery; your focus is enabling them, owning outcomes and strengthening the operation as it grows. 

Essential Experience and Capabilities: 

• A senior engineering or operational leader, typically with 12–15+ years’ relevant experience, who has already worked at Associate Director level or with equivalent responsibility. 

• Chartered Engineer (or equivalent professional accreditation). 

• Proven experience owning delivery and commercial performance across multiple complex engineering projects. 

• Strong background in power systems, energy infrastructure, substations, electricity networks or comparable multidisciplinary infrastructure delivery. 

• Demonstrable commercial responsibility, including project financial performance, forecasting, fee management, scope control, risk and change. 

• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and developing senior project leaders. 

• Credibility with clients at senior level, including the ability to handle difficult delivery and commercial conversations. 

• Ability to operate autonomously, make balanced decisions and challenge constructively without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. 

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with a collaborative, low-ego leadership style. 

Desirable Experience: 

• Experience with transmission (TO), DNO, IDNO or large-scale grid infrastructure projects, including NESO-facing connection processes. 

• Experience in EPC, utility, OEM, developer or infrastructure consultancy environments. 

• Experience across substations, grid connections, BESS, renewable energy, critical infrastructure or data centre power projects. 

• Evidence of shaping bids, proposals and client relationships alongside delivery leadership.