Associate Electrical Engineer (Direct Current Power Systems) - London, Bicester or Newcastle

Associate Electrical Engineer (Direct Current Power Systems) - London, Newcastle or Bicester

RED are an expanding international M&E consultancy, with a proven track record in low energy design, focused on providing excellent design solutions to clients.

Through our market leading technical expertise, we enable the world’s digital infrastructure and develop the built environment whilst also helping clients realise ambitious plans for zero carbon-built environments. We cover the entire life cycle of any building project, with our broad capability offering saving our clients time, money, and effort. Our approach is centred around listening to our clients and interacting energetically with our fellow project stakeholders. We add value with our people, client service ethos, global delivery strategy, technical ability, and attitude.

RED is seeking an experienced electrical engineer with specialist DC power system design and power modelling capability to establish a new technical capability within the business. The role will sit centrally within RED, initially working closely with R&D to develop DC reference designs for AI high-density data centre infrastructure, before evolving into the business subject matter expert for DC power system design, modelling, technical assurance and internal training. This is a strategic role for an engineer who can combine deep technical expertise with practical consultancy delivery, helping RED prepare its teams, methods and reference designs for the next wave of AI factory infrastructure solutions emerging in Europe.

Role Responsibilities

• Establish RED’s in-house DC design and power modelling capability for high-density AI data centre infrastructure. 

• Develop RED reference designs for DC AI factory infrastructure solutions, initially through close collaboration with the R&D team. 

• Act as RED’s central subject matter expert for DC power system design, modelling, integration and technical assurance. 

• Create practical design guidance, calculation methods and training pathways to upskill existing AC electrical designers into combined AC and DC designers. 

• Lead the technical development of DC power distribution concepts for AI-ready, high-density data centre environments. 

• Develop DC power system studies covering load flow, voltage drop, converter behaviour, prospective fault conditions, protection selection, fault interruption, discrimination, resilience and maintainability. 

• Define DC reference architectures for RED’s AI factory infrastructure solutions, including interfaces with AC utility supplies, transformers, rectification or conversion stages, UPS or energy storage systems, busbar or cable distribution and rack-level power delivery. 

• Assess equipment availability, certification, product maturity, standards compliance, maintainability and local approval requirements. 

• Support R&D in testing design options, comparing AC and DC distribution approaches, and establishing design rules for reference solutions expected to become relevant in Europe over the next 6 to 12 months.

• Develop technical standards, design notes, quality checklists and calculation templates for DC power systems within RED’s project delivery and technical review process.

• Advise project teams on DC system topology, safety, earthing and bonding, isolation, protection, maintainability, commissioning and integration with wider data centre power infrastructure.

• Represent RED in technical discussions with clients, technology partners, suppliers and contractors where DC power infrastructure is being considered.

• Support bids, early-stage advisory work and client-facing technical strategy for AI, high-density compute and future data centre power architectures.

• Train, mentor and upskill electrical engineers across RED to develop practical DC design competence alongside existing AC electrical design capability.

• Maintain awareness of developing standards, product ecosystems, European market direction and technology roadmaps associated with DC power systems for data centres. 

Role Requirements 

• Deep technical understanding of DC power distribution principles, system topology, power electronics, voltage levels, load characteristics, losses and efficiency modelling.

• Knowledge of power electronic conversion, solid-state or hybrid switching, protection methods, fault interruption strategies and arc hazard mitigation. 

• Understanding of the differences between traditional DC infrastructure, such as railway, mining or telecom applications, and emerging commercial high-density DC power architectures for data centre or AI infrastructure deployment. 

• Strong power modelling capability using recognised electrical analysis tools and advanced spreadsheet or analytical methods. 

• Ability to compare AC and DC infrastructure options for high-density AI data centre applications, including technical, safety, resilience, spatial, operational and commercial implications. 

• Ability to develop earthing, bonding and fault management principles for DC systems, including interfaces with AC supplies, converters, UPS, energy storage and equipment enclosures. 

• Ability to interpret and apply relevant UK, European and international standards, regulations and codes, including where the market is still developing. 

• Ability to produce clear design narratives, technical reports, calculation packs, design review comments and reference design documents. 

• Strong communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain emerging technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. 

• Ability to prioritise own workload, work to deadlines and operate effectively in a central advisory role across multiple teams and regions. 

• Good understanding of the data centre market, mission critical engineering and the shift towards higher density AI infrastructure. 

• Awareness of how emerging AI factory-style infrastructure may change electrical design assumptions, power distribution strategies and engineering skill requirements. 

• Understanding of international working and the operating model of a global consultancy. 

• Commitment to ethical conduct, technical integrity, robust quality assurance and RED’s project delivery expectations

Benefits

RED offers a variety of benefits, including but not limited to:

• 23 days annual leave rising to 28 days annual leave over 5 years’ service
• Holiday purchase and buy back scheme
• Hybrid Working
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Healthcare Scheme (Company funded cover is dependant on level)
• Non-contractual bonus awards
• Training sponsorship
• Charity volunteering leave
• Wellness days/ initiatives.
• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Our people work in friendly teams with a collaborative approach and mentoring support from talented leaders.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package and are an equal opportunities employer.

*This role will ideally suit those with the right to live & work in the UK without restrictions.

RED is a company of Tractebel.