Senior Engineer Operations

Senior Engineer – Fixed Term Contract (Operations)

Join to apply for the Senior Engineer – Fixed Term Contract (Operations) role at SONI – System Operator for Northern Ireland.

Role

Title:

Senior Engineer – Fixed Term Contract (Operations)

Reports to:

Head of System Operations

Location:

Belfast (Hybrid)

Duration: 30‑month fixed‑term contract

SONI as Transmission System Operator (TSO) is responsible for the safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity now and in the future. We have a pivotal role in the economy of Northern Ireland, supporting competition in energy, promoting economic growth, facilitating renewable energy and providing essential services.

The transmission grid brings power from where it is generated to where it is needed to supply industries and businesses that use large amounts of electricity. The grid also powers the distribution network, which supplies electricity for everyday use in homes and businesses across the Island. As a TSO we operate closely with Eir Grid & National Energy System Operator.

We operate the Single Electricity Market (SEM), which is the wholesale electricity market on the Island of Ireland. We see ourselves at the forefront of innovations in the industry, transitioning towards a low‑carbon, technology‑enabled smart future.

The Operations Directorate is central to the delivery of our primary role: the operation, development and enhancement of the power system and the wholesale electricity market. SONI Operations is also responsible for the sustainable implementation of transmission system and market development to meet the future needs of all users of electricity.

We have a variety of roles at levels matching your experience in topics ranging from system analysis to implementing and developing technical policies and procedures and specifications. We also have opportunities in challenging areas such as control centre readiness as well as grid and network code management, technical audits and compliance.

These roles are initially fixed‑term contract basis to 2028, with a view to an enduring role.

Executes the core activity of SONI as the Transmission System Operator (TSO) for Northern Ireland. Its primary function is to keep the lights on through meticulous planning and engineering analysis such as loadflow studies, in advance of and during real time operation. The team develops, tests and incorporates the operational systems, tools, system services, standards and operational policies required to operate the power system and to integrate new technologies and innovations in a coordinated and secure manner.

The team liaises with the relevant stakeholders to manage planned and unplanned outages, voltage control, generator testing, scheduling and dispatch, risk management and responds to alarms and constraints to ensure the grid remains within operational security standards. It facilitates any reporting post‑event along with the associated process audits to demonstrate compliance with the relevant regulations. The team also leads the development of strategies and frameworks to ensure that resilience, business continuity, and emergency response plans are fit for purpose to guarantee security of supply to all end users of the electricity system.

Facilitates the end‑to‑end operational life cycle of grid connections, from commissioning, testing and registration, through performance monitoring and data feed analysis until decommissioning, while managing the associated tariffs, imperfections and derogations processes. The team manages the Grid Code and Network codes and ensures Grid Code compliance for all new connections to the grid and for validating plant seeking to provide system services, including developing and executing test requirements as per the operational notification process.

Testing in accordance with the Grid Code. The team carries out daily analysis of all aspects related to the performance of wind farms, solar farms, DSUs, batteries and conventional units to identify and address issues that affect system operation including signalling, failed dispatches, trips, frequency…