2026 Graduate Project Development Engineer, Asset Operations

About Us
National Grid is at the heart of the UK energy network keeping people connected and society moving. We develop, own and maintain the physical infrastructure, such as pylons and cables needed to move the electricity generated from windfarms and power sources around the country. Every time a phone is plugged in, or a switch is turned on, we've played a part, connecting you to the electricity you need - and we're leading the transformation towards a greener future, dreaming bigger to bring a more affordable energy future to everyone.

But it's our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us better. But it's no small feat and we need the best to join us in our mission. So, join us and power the future of energy.

About The Role
We're part of the team that helps plan and prepare work on National Grid's overhead lines and cables—everything from painting towers and managing vegetation to upgrading cables and delivering smaller projects ourselves. Our job is to make sure the engineering and commercial side of things is well thought out before work begins, so that projects are safe, cost-effective, and meet the needs of the business and our customers. We also keep track of how we're performing against our regulatory commitments and provide insights to help guide future decisions.

Joining our Commercial and Portfolio Team you'll be part of a group that plans and prepares major electricity infrastructure projects—like overhead lines and underground cables—that keep the lights on across the UK.

As a Graduate Development Engineer, you'll work alongside experienced professionals to help develop safe, cost-effective, and practical solutions for our energy network. You'll be involved in the early stages of projects, helping to explore different options, gather information, and support decisions that will guide how we build and upgrade our systems.

What You'll Get Up To

• Support project planning: Help set up projects and explore different ways they could be delivered, considering safety, cost, and efficiency.
• Work with others: Collaborate with engineers, contractors, and stakeholders to make sure everyone's input is considered and decisions are well-informed.
• Visit sites: Take part in site visits to understand the condition of existing equipment and help assess what needs to be done.
• Help with documentation: Assist in preparing reports, estimates, and plans that guide how projects will be delivered.
• Learn about regulations: Get familiar with safety and engineering standards, and help ensure our plans meet all necessary requirements.
• Contribute to future planning: Support the development of our long-term investment plans, helping National Grid meet its goals for sustainability and reliability.

From day one, you'll be involved in real projects that make a difference. With support from experienced engineers and mentors, you'll build your confidence and technical skills while learning how major energy infrastructure is planned and delivered. You'll be part of a collaborative team working on meaningful solutions that help the UK move toward a cleaner, greener energy future—giving you the chance to grow your career while contributing to something bigger.

Our Graduate Programme

As you'll be joining our 18-month graduate programme, you'll have a tailored development pathway to support you as you develop a wide range of leadership, business, and technical skills. You'll attend in-person and virtual development sessions throughout your programme to equip you with the essential skills required, as you begin your career at National Grid. We're committed to the personal development of our colleagues so as well as the support from your line manager as you navigate your new role, you'll also have access to 121 coaching and a mentor, from a previous cohort to help you transition from campus to corporate life.

All graduates complete the core development programme to develop key skills such as how to make an impact, giving feedback and presentation skills. Aligned to our IT & Digital pathway you'll develop your IT technical skills including AGILE and Scrum. You'll also gain important insights in engineering and electricity to help broaden your understanding of our business and industry.

We believe in the importance of getting as much on-the-job experience as possible and to do this, you will complete three 6-month placements, across the UK, designed to deepen your understanding of your speciality but to also broaden your knowledge of our business. At the end of your 18-month programme you'll return to your initial placement area to kickstart your superpowered career.

What you'll need to apply

You'll need to achieve, or be working towards, a minimum 2:2 in a Engineering, Science-based (e.g., Physics, Chemistry), or Mathematics-based degree discipline. It doesn't matter when you graduated or if you are currently working towards your qualification. We just need you to be eager to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.

Due to the amount of travel to our site locations, you'll need to currently have a full valid UK driving license or have completed your theory test (and have a practical test booked) at the time of your assessment centre (if your application is progressed) that will allow you to drive in the UK.

You'll need to be able to travel within role and throughout your rotations as required, as in order to carry out the requirements of this role you'll need to travel to sites, substations, overhead lines and our training centres.

Location

This role allows you to be based anywhere across England and Wales and requires you to travel across this region as part of your role. This role offers hybrid working, where possible. You'll be expected to travel around this region to substations and overhead lines as part of your role.

What You'll Get In Return

We are proud to offer a graduate starting salary of £36,640.

Benefits
Not only will you receive a tailored development programme to progress a superpowered career at National Grid, we also offer some great rewards and benefits too:

• £2,000 bonus, once joined and started on programme
• 26 days holiday
• £2,400 payment on successful completion of the programme
• Up to £200 per month accommodation allowance as you move around the business, and additional annual leave for when you move between placements plus assistance with moving personal belongings
• Other benefits include pension and share-option schemes, Adaptable Benefits, close mentorship and regular feedback & volunteering opportunities.

More Information

You can only apply for one graduate opportunity during this recruitment cycle. We kindly ask that you review all our graduate opportunities and apply for the one that aligns closest with your aspirations and interests.

We recruit on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close our vacancies once we have enough applications/based on volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you obtain the place you want in the application process.

Assessment centres will be held between November - April 2026

You must have the legal right to work in the UK by the start of your employment.

Please be aware that it's your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as we're not able to provide advice on this.

At National Grid, it's our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us stronger, so we pride ourselves on placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of who we are and what we do and are committed to building a workforce of the future which represents the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office where and when needed. All our offers are based on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, the innovation from creating diverse teams and perspectives, as well as business need.

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the unique differences people bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation that comes with having diverse teams and business need.

We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and provide a working environment where everyone feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.