The High Voltage Engineer – Field Engineering is the technical authority
for the safe operation, switching, and reliability of high voltage electrical
systems within a live data centre environment.
This role provides hands-on HV leadership, ensuring that all high
voltage activities are executed safely, compliantly, and in alignment with
system design intent. The position carries clear accountability for HV
governance, switching discipline, incident response, and uplift of site HV
capability.
High Voltage System Ownership
- Act as technical owner for all HV assets and interfaces, including:
- Utility connections and HV incomers
- HV switchgear and protection systems
- Transformers and HV/LV interfaces
- Maintain authoritative knowledge of HV system topology, design intent, protection philosophies, and operational constraints
- Ensure HV systems operate within approved safety, protection, and reliability boundaries
HV Switching & Field Engineering
- Plan, author, review, and execute HV switching programs
- Act as Switching Authority or HV Authorised Person
- Lead and oversee live HV activities including:
- Isolations and energisations
- Load transfers and system reconfigurations
- Commissioning and re-commissioning events
- Maintain strict control of access, permits, and HV safety documentation
HV Governance & Compliance
- Own and enforce HV rules, procedures, and safety frameworks
- Author, Peer-review, and approve
- HV switching procedures
- HV EOPs, MOPs, and SOPs
- Permit-to-work and isolation documentation
- Ensure compliance with relevant electrical safety legislation, standards, and site HV rules
- Maintain alignment between operational practices, protection settings, and discrimination studies
Incident Response & Technical Authority
- Act as HV technical authority during HV electrical incidents and abnormal system conditions
- Lead fault isolation and restoration strategy for HV events
- Analyse protection relay operations, disturbance records, and sequence of events
- Lead or support RCAs with clear HV technical narrative and corrective actions
- Identify latent HV risks and drive preventative controls
Training & Authorisation
- Develop and maintain HV authorisation frameworks
- Train, assess, and mentor HV Authorised Persons and switching staff
- Deliver HV safety and system training to operations and engineering teams
- Ensure ongoing competency, currency, and compliance of authorised personnel
Design, Commissioning & Change Support
- Review HV designs including single line diagrams, protection schemes, and earthing systems
- Validate HV discrimination, arc flash, and earthing studies
- Support HV commissioning, integrated systems testing, and black building tests
- Provide technical input into management of change activities affecting HV infrastructure
Stakeholder & Utility Engagement
- Interface with utilities, OEMs, HV service providers, and commissioning agents
- Represent site interests during HV outages, upgrades, and protection changes
- Challenge unsafe practices or design decisions using engineering judgement and HV
authority
Must-have Qualifications:
Essential:
- Degree, diploma, or trade qualification in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
- Significant experience operating and maintaining HV systems in mission-critical or industrial environments
- Current or previous HV Authorised Person /Switching Authority status
- Proven experience authoring and executing HV switching procedures
- Strong understanding of protection coordination, discrimination studies, and earthing systems
- Demonstrated incident response and fault investigation experience
Desirable:
- Data centre HV operational experience
- Utility interface experience
- Commissioning and black building test exposure
- Familiarity with protection relay configuration and event analysis tools
- Experience leading HV governance frameworks
