Principal Electrical Engineer in France

Principal Electrical Engineer - France

Purpose of the Job:

This is a senior technical leadership role based in France, responsible for the delivery of complex, mission-critical electrical engineering design across data centres and high-performance facilities in France and wider European markets.

The role leads technical design delivery, provides authoritative engineering direction, and ensures compliance with French regulatory requirements and international standards from concept through construction support. Data centre / mission-critical experience is essential.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead electrical design delivery on large-scale data centre and mission-critical projects in France
• Provide technical governance and quality assurance across project outputs
• Act as the electrical lead with clients, Enedis / RTE, authorities and contractors
• Mentor and guide the French electrical engineering team
• Contribute to construction-stage technical resolution and site support activities

Job Accountabilities:

Design Leadership

• Lead electrical design delivery for data centre and mission-critical projects.
• Deliver design across all French project phases (ESQ, APS, APD, PRO, DCE) and support ACT, VISA, DET and AOR stages.
• Lead design of HTB / HTA / BT distribution, UPS, standby generation, switchgear, busbar and critical power systems.
• Review and technically validate power system studies (load flow, short circuit, selectivity, arc flash, harmonics), specifications, reports and drawings.
• Ensure compliance with French regulations, international standards and client requirements.

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Manage technical delivery across multiple projects in coordination with project leads.
• Act as electrical engineering lead in technical workshops, design reviews and client meetings.
• Manage grid connection applications and technical interfaces with Enedis / RTE.
• Coordinate with mechanical, fire, controls, structural, architectural and specialist disciplines.
• Support permitting and ICPE submissions with electrical and generator technical input.

Technical Support (Construction & Delivery Stage)

• Support construction-stage design clarifications, VISA reviews and technical responses.
• Participate in site visits, factory acceptance tests (FAT) and resolve design-related issues.
• Review commissioning and Integrated Systems Testing (IST) to ensure design intent is achieved.
• Provide technical input during reception (AOR), close-out and handover.

Business Support (Technical Input)

• Provide technical input into fee proposals and bid submissions as required.
• Support senior management with technical content for business development in the French market.

People Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to Senior and Junior Electrical Engineers.
• Support development of engineering capability within the French electrical team.
• Promote design excellence, technical consistency and best practice standards.

Technical Knowledge:

Strong knowledge and hands-on experience required across:

• Data Centre and mission-critical facility design.
• Electrical resilience and redundancy philosophies (N+1, 2N, Concurrent Maintainability).
• HTB / HTA / BT distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear and critical power distribution.
• Power system studies and modelling software (e.g. Caneco, ETAP, EcoStruxure Power Design).
• Earthing, lightning protection and EPMS / SCADA integration.
• French project phases (Loi MOP / ESQ to AOR).
• NF C 15-100, NF C 13-100 / NF C 13-200, EN / IEC 61439, Enedis / RTE grid connection procedures, ICPE requirements and international standards (Uptime Institute, EN 50600).

Qualifications & Education

Dipl me d'Ing nieur or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering.

Experience

• 10 15 years of relevant consultancy or design experience.
• Essential: demonstrated delivery of large-scale Data Centre / mission-critical projects in France.
• Proven team leadership and client relationship management.
• Experience in international engineering consultancy environments.

Knowledge & Skills

• Fluent French and professional working English (written and spoken).
• Strong knowledge of French regulatory requirements, Enedis / RTE processes and client base.
• Strong knowledge of French regulatory requirements, Enedis / RTE processes and client base