Senior Lead Engineer – Capacity Market Design
We are at the heart of Ireland’s energy transition - connecting, operating and transforming the electricity grid to support a low carbon, renewable future.
We are building talented teams that tackle real world challenges every day and help us to achieve our goal to prepare the grid to carry up to 80% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources.
We are proud to be a certified Great Place to Work, recognised for our culture built on trust, collaboration and inclusion. At EirGrid you will find supportive teams, opportunities to grow and meaningful work. We also offer secure employment with a range of flexible and family friendly working policies to support your life and wellbeing. If you want to know more about what EirGrid has to offer you, visit Life at EirGrid.
If you are ready to make an impact and grow your career in a purpose-led organisation, your journey starts here.
The Opportunity
The Future Markets team is responsible for providing thought leadership in relation to market changes needed to deliver on the renewable electricity targets and is also responsible for delivering large programmes of work to deliver on changes approved by the regulatory authorities.
There are currently a number of key projects which the team is delivering on including;
- Future Arrangements for System Services: This project is developing new arrangements for the procurement of innovative System Services which will be vital in facilitating operational change which will allow the power system to be operated with increasingly high levels of low carbon technologies and in achieving our 2030 renewables targets.
- Scheduling and Dispatch: This project is developing design changes to our core market and operational systems to deliver on changes associated with the treatment of non-priority dispatch renewables defined in the Clean Energy Package, making improvements on wind dispatch, and updates to scheduling and dispatch process to incorporate new energy storage solutions, low carbon sources of inertia, and the provision of reserves and systems services from new technologies.
- European Integration: Since Brexit the all-island electricity market is no longer integrated with the EU. Once the Celtic Interconnector goes live in 2026, we will be integrated again into the EU and this will require significant market changes.
- SEM-GB: The SEM market is interconnected with the GB market. Work is ongoing to develop post-Brexit arrangements.
- Capacity Market Programme: This change programme encompasses a number of workstreams including cross-border capacity participation, operational changes and decarbonisation in collaboration with industry, regulators and stakeholders.
- Competitive market transition to Net Zero: The development of a position on electricity policy in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in conjunction with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).
- Tarriff Policy: Support the development of new tariff arrangements and co-ordinate the response to EU guidance on tariffication and approach to reducing network charges.
In addition to these projects the team delivers thought leadership and advice to the rest of the business around key market changes needed to support the government targets of getting 80% of RES-E by 2030 and also a focus on market changes to deliver on net carbon zero.
Due to the unique nature of the all-island electricity market our team are solving challenges before they are experienced elsewhere in the world. This is therefore a unique opportunity to work alongside world-leading experts and play a key role in our transition to a secure and low carbon energy future.
Key Responsibilities
The Future Markets team is a dynamic team which has been set up to deliver a multi-year Programme of work. The team’s function is to deliver key modifications required for EirGrid’s systems and processes to ensure compliance with EU legislation as set out in CEP Regulation 2019/943 Articles 12 & 13 and to support the delivery of Ireland’s climate action and renewables targets. Key features of this role are to:
- Working closely with other workstream leads various projects to ensure a coordinated and efficient approach to delivery of Future Markets initiatives including a multi-year programme of work.
- Work collaboratively across the team and the wider organisation in the delivery of key project objectives that will deliver changes to the current Capacity Market Design.
- Lead the development of design for cross border arrangements for the Capacity Market which will ensure that the markets are compliant with EU regulations.
- Lead the update of the Capacity Market Code to reflect design changes from the SEMC regarding decarbonisation.
- Support the engagement with the government departments on State Aid.
- Support long term market policy and design analysis with modelling evidence.
- Lead the modelling of intended changes to the Capacity Market.
- Lead the preparation and presentation of quality materials to internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead the delivery of progress reports to management; oversee the changes and updates required to deliver effective outcomes for the project.
- Demonstrate flexibility by providing support to the wider Future Markets team.
- Demonstrate the behaviours and actions that will proactively and positively support the culture that we are building.
- Develop strong and effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Carry out other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
About You-
Degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, quantitative analytics, economics or other relevant qualification with 6 years post-degree experience.
- Extensive experience of the Capacity Market on the island of Ireland or another EU country.
- Experience in adequacy modelling e.g. ERAA or NERA etc.
- Experience of converting high level design/spec ready rules into specifications for engagement with vendors.
- Excellent problem solving and analysis skills.
- Strong understanding of the modifications process for the Capacity Market Code.
- Strong understanding of the Capacity Market Auction process.
- Extensive experience in general drafting, writing and presenting technical and non-technical reports.
- Demonstrated communication and influencing skills with internal and external stakeholders.
- Flexibility and agility to manage a wide range of issues at the same time.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Strong Understanding of the Single Electricity Market
Closing date for applications
03/07/2026
Please note we receive a high volume of applications, and as every application is carefully reviewed our response time may vary. If you agree to be considered for other roles this may result in a delayed response as we establish the best fit for your experience. We appreciate your patience.
We value potential as much as experience
. If you believe you can succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every requirement.
We're dedicated to diversity and inclusion at EirGrid. We recognise the strength that comes from having a diverse workforce and the importance of a supportive culture for all our people to achieve their potential. Our diversity and inclusion networks have been designed to create an inclusive culture that enables our people to feel a sense of belonging at work.
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are offered at every stage of our recruitment process.
