Circuit Design Engineer

EAD Circuit Design Engineer (Outside IR35) Glasgow (Hybrid)

Location: Glasgow (3 days onsite)
Rate: Up to £350 per day (Outside IR35, all-inclusive)
Contract: Contract (with high expectations for extension and/or permanent)
Security Clearance: BPSS

TechNest are looking for an experiencedCircuit Design Engineerto join a major telecoms delivery programme supporting SP Energy Networks (SPEN). This is an exciting opportunity to work on the design and delivery of Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) circuits within high-voltage utility and substation environments.

This is not a generic network design role. We're seeking someone with proven experience designing BT/Openreach EAD or leased-line circuits who understands the unique challenges of delivering telecoms infrastructure into electrically sensitive environments.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design EAD, leased-line and Carrier Ethernet access circuits for SPEN substations.
• Assess circuit feasibility using BT/Openreach survey outputs and site constraints.
• Produce High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs) and implementation-ready design packs.
• Review fibre and copper access suitability for complex utility sites.
• Identify and manage design risks, including EMI/EMC considerations and Earth Potential Rise (EPR).
• Define cabinet and rack requirements, including EMC cabinets, ventilation, cable entry and filtering.
• Collaborate with Vodafone, SPEN, BT/Openreach, suppliers and field engineering teams to ensure successful delivery.
• Support handover documentation and Acceptance Into Live Support (AILS).

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• Strong experience designing BT/Openreach EAD, Ethernet Access or leased-line circuits.
• Knowledge of the BT/Openreach delivery lifecycle, including surveys, provisioning and site readiness.
• Experience producing HLDs, LLDs, implementation documentation and as-built designs.
• Ability to interpret surveys, technical drawings and supplier documentation.
• Experience with fibre access design and circuit routing.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Highly Desirable:

• Experience working in utility, substation, rail or industrial telecoms environments.
• Understanding of EMI/EMC requirements and their impact on telecoms design.
• Knowledge of Earth Potential Rise (EPR) and associated design considerations.
• Familiarity with EMC cabinets, rack layouts, ventilation, gland plates and cable management.

Ideal Background

We're particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• BT/Openreach EAD or Carrier Ethernet delivery
• Vodafone Enterprise Access projects
• Utility or power sector telecoms
• Substation communications
• Rail or industrial telecoms
• Fibre access planning and design

Additional Information

• Hybrid role with 3 days per week onsite in Glasgow.
• Candidates should be based in the UK, with local candidates preferred.
• A full UK driving licence is required, as travel to Kirkintilloch, Glasgow will be necessary.
• BPSS clearance is required (SC clearance is not).

If you have hands-on experience designing telecoms access circuits for complex environments and are looking for your next Outside IR35 contract, we'd love to hear from you.