Electrical Engineer Recruitment

Electrical engineers design, install, test, and maintain electrical systems across manufacturing, utilities, power generation, and infrastructure. The role spans both office-based design and site-based delivery, making electrical engineers more operationally versatile than their electrical design counterparts. Demand is consistently high across utilities, renewables, oil and gas, and regulated manufacturing. We place electrical engineers across the UK at all levels, from 18th Edition practitioners to chartered IEng and CEng appointees.

What the role involves

Designing, installing, and commissioning electrical systems and equipment across LV and HV networks, including switchgear, transformers, and distribution boards to BS7671 and sector-specific standards
Performing electrical calculations including load analysis, cable sizing, and protection coordination, using software such as ETAP or SKM for larger networks
Fault finding and maintenance on live LV and HV electrical systems, often under time pressure to restore production or supply, applying safe isolation procedures and permit-to-work controls throughout
Managing electrical contractors and subcontractors on site, ensuring safe systems of work are in place
Ensuring compliance with BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations and relevant sector-specific standards
Producing and reviewing electrical drawings, specifications, and technical reports for client sign-off

Who employers are looking for

A BEng in Electrical Engineering is the standard degree route, but HNC or HND qualified candidates with substantial site-based experience are regularly appointed at mid-level. 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS7671) is an essential requirement for most roles involving UK installations. Roles requiring HV switching typically specify HV switching authorisation as a prerequisite.

IET membership provides professional recognition. IEng registration is the standard target for mid-career electrical engineers; CEng is expected for senior appointments in regulated sectors such as nuclear, power, and offshore. ATEX and hazardous area experience is a specific requirement in oil and gas and pharmaceutical environments, and commands a clear market premium.

Power and utilities sector roles tend to pay above manufacturing equivalents at comparable seniority. Offshore oil and gas electrical roles frequently include rotational working patterns and offshore allowances that significantly increase total package value.

What separates mid-career candidates from senior appointments is typically the breadth of project exposure. Mid-career electrical engineers are expected to work independently on defined scopes; senior engineers are expected to lead multi-discipline interfaces, manage electrical contractors, and make final sign-off decisions on designs and installations. In regulated industries such as nuclear and pharmaceutical, senior electrical engineers are often named as authorised persons, carrying direct accountable responsibility for safe systems of work.

Employers in renewables, particularly wind and solar, increasingly require grid code familiarity and protection relay experience alongside traditional electrical engineering skills. Instrumentation and control integration knowledge, covering loop diagrams and P&IDs, strengthens a CV for process industry roles. At interview, employers in capital project environments commonly test commercial awareness, asking candidates to describe how they have managed scope change, interfaced with clients, or resolved a design issue under cost or schedule pressure.

Salary benchmarks

Graduate / entry-level £28,000 - £34,000

Mid-career (3 - 8 years) £38,000 - £55,000

Senior / management £55,000 - £75,000+

Power and utilities sector typically pays above manufacturing equivalents. Oil and gas electrical roles often include significant offshore premiums and rotational allowances.

Industries that hire Electrical Engineers

Power generation and utilities: grid infrastructure, renewables, and water treatment, with long-term capital investment driving consistent demand; engineers here spend a significant proportion of time on protection coordination, cable routing studies, and capital project delivery
Manufacturing: production line electrical systems across automotive, food, pharmaceutical, and precision engineering sectors, where rapid fault response and knowledge of automated production equipment are equally important
Oil and gas: offshore and onshore electrical systems, hazardous area design, and ATEX-compliant installations
Construction: temporary and permanent electrical installations on commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects
Pharmaceuticals and food: hazardous area electrical engineering in GMP and cleanroom environments, requiring detailed compliance knowledge

Related roles

Electrical Design Engineer: more office-focused, specialising in schematics and panel design rather than site delivery
Controls Engineer: extends into PLC programming and SCADA, often the natural next step for electrical engineers in automated environments
Commissioning Engineer: takes on the handover and verification phase of new plant and systems
Maintenance Engineer: applies electrical engineering skills in a planned and reactive maintenance context

Where we place Electrical Engineer professionals

We place electrical engineer professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.

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