Overview
Distribution System Operator Flexibility Engineer – Full Time
About us
We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses.
National Grid employs over 29,000 people worldwide. We are building an inclusive workplace, a place to actively celebrate the cultures, personalities and preferences of our colleagues – who in turn help to build the success of our business and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future and we are doing this in a fast-moving industry with an increasing focus on tackling climate change, exploring new energy sources that are renewable, low carbon, and improve efficiency to meet demand.
Job Introduction
An opportunity is available for a DSO Flexibility Engineer to join the Flexibility Markets Team. You will be based at either our Bristol or Castle Donnington site.
The Flexibility Markets team is a core function of the DSO. They are responsible for assessing volume of flexibility services required, the procurement of flexibility services, and shape the design of the flexibility markets
National Grid DSO (Distribution System Operator) is essential in this transformation, planning the distribution network of the future to enable the energy transformation together with developing and operating flexibility markets to ensure a safe, secure network which is value for money for consumers.
The GB energy system is rapidly transforming as we target Clean Power by 2030 and NetZero by 2050. The distribution network is vital in this transformation as we look to accommodate thousands of electric vehicles and heat pumps in people’s homes and connect large volumes of solar and wind. This will require us building out our network at a rate we have not seen this century. In addition, we need to operate the network in a dynamic, ‘smarter’ way, actively managing these distributed assets flexibly to support safer, secure, and economic operation of the system.
As part of our hybrid working approach and in line with our policy, this role allows you to apply for a mix of office and home working. Hybrid working can only be considered once your initial training is complete and subject to business need.
Depending on experience, you may initially be appointed at a lower salary until all relevant courses and training are complete.
Main Responsibilities
- Development of internal modelling capability including use of scenario-based planning, energy forecasting and security compliance assessment
- Identification of solutions to system needs, that may be met by flexibility from third parties, including quantification and pricing of these DSO service requirements
- Automating the manipulation of power, energy, and commercial data to support such analysis
- Collaboration with the Market Facilitator and wider industry in the development of new Flexibility Products to meet any system needs
- Development of the economic modelling to facilitate options assessment
- Support for the regulatory reporting of Flexibility Services
- Manipulation of Flexibility data to understand performance and drive improvements
- Publishing and updating of data to inform third parties of DSO service requirements.
- Identify opportunities for improvement in performance and implement or recommend change.
- Analysing and documenting existing processes, identifying improvements, and developing new processes
- Identify own development needs and request development opportunities.
- Represent the Company on specialist groups or national working groups, as required.
The Ideal Candidate
You should be able to demonstrate a clear knowledge of the principles and issues associated with electrical network design or electricity markets.
Ideally the successful candidate will have experience in data driven decision making, with skills in one or more of the following areas:
Advanced use of MS Excel including Power Query
Scripting or data processing in Python
Querying SQL databases
You will be reliable, organised, and able to work independently and as part of a team.
You will be able to understand the impact of your own activities on customers, public and the environment, and be confident in managing the health, safety, and quality of both your own work and others.
A relevant engineering degree or equivalent qualification is desirable, but consideration will be given to candidates with other demonstrable relevant experience.
Applicants may not necessarily possess all the skills required to carry out the role at present but should have the confidence and ability to reach the necessary standards with in-role training. A flexible attitude is essential as you may be asked to undertake other duties to assist the team in meeting its objectives.
Interviews will take place for those shortlisted on the 9 May 2025.
National Grid Electricity Distribution is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Company, colleagues and customers. This role is subject to a satisfactory Barring Service, (DBS) check, depending on the role different levels of screening and vetting are required. Some roles require a triannual check.
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About the Company
If this is your opportunity to join us, you’ll find we offer a supportive, rewarding and friendly working environment where you’ll be empowered to build a career. Along the way, you’ll be invested in, be enabled by the latest technology and find that we’re always interested in evolving our systems and processes so that we get even better, every day.
In return, you’ll enjoy a package of benefits designed to reward your hard work and incentivise your ambition. In addition to your competitive salary, we offer a competitive contributory pension scheme where the company will double match your pension contributions up to a maximum company contribution of 10%. You will also have access, subject to eligibility criteria, to join our annual Share Save plan.
You will receive a generous annual leave entitlement on joining, starting at 26 days rising to 28 days following 10 years’ service, plus 8 bank holidays. In addition, you will be able to access support via our Employee Assistance Programme, including musculoskeletal and physiotherapy services.
Additional Application Information
Recruitment correspondence is usually sent by email, so please do check your email account including spam/junk folders regularly after the closing date.
To enhance your candidate experience, we recommend using Google Chrome to complete your online application. Should you have any questions regarding this or require additional support to complete your online application, please contact us.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should sufficient numbers of suitable applications be received. We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
