A career that keeps evolving: Paul Fletcher’s journey in electrical engineering

Why electrical engineering remains a career full of opportunity

Mott MacDonald technical director Paul Fletcher’s career in electrical engineering has spanned more than four decades. It is a journey defined by constant learning, evolving technologies and the opportunity to shape how the electricity network operates today. Paul explains what makes electrical engineering so rewarding and why now is the time to consider a role in electrical engineering at Mott MacDonald.

What is your role at Mott MacDonald today?

Over time, my role has evolved into more of an internal specialist or consultant type role. I still contribute to projects, but a lot of my time is spent supporting teams across the business, sharing knowledge, solving technical challenges and helping deliver complex projects.

I work with substations teams, cables specialists and advisory colleagues on a regular basis. My work varies depending on where the need is. It’s a role that reflects the collaborative nature of our business.

How did your career in electrical engineering begin?

It wasn’t a perfectly mapped-out plan, to be honest. I knew I wanted to do something vocational, something that would lead somewhere and engineering felt like a solid option.

I’d always been interested in how electrical circuits worked, so electrical engineering seemed like a good fit, even though at the time, it was a bit of a leap into the unknown. 

From there, I went through a sponsored university route, combining academic study with time in industry. That early exposure to real projects gave me a practical grounding that shaped the rest of my career. 

What shaped your early career?

One of the defining moments was joining what is now part of National Grid but back then was the Central Electricity Generating Board’s graduate training scheme. It gave me exposure to the full electricity system, from power stations through to transmission networks.

I started my career in transmission, working across high voltage systems and learning how the network operates day to day. That led to opportunities to work on major projects, including the first cross-channel electricity link with France. The Interconnexion France-Angleterre was a 2000MW high voltage direct current cable connecting Sellindge in Kent with Les Mandarins near Calais and was something that introduced entirely new technologies and ways of working.

Looking back, those early years were all about building a broad understanding, not just one specialism, but how everything connects.

What have been the standout moments in your career?

One of the most rewarding aspects has been influencing how the industry works at a strategic level.

Early in my career, I was involved in reshaping how substations were specified and procured, moving away from rigid, prescriptive standards towards more flexible, performance-based approaches aligned with evolving international standards. This shift opened the door to new technologies, broader supplier markets and more efficient ways of delivering infrastructure.

What I’m most proud of is that the structure we developed is still being used today, more than 30 years later. It’s evolved, of course, but the fundamentals are still there.

That’s quite satisfying, to know that something you worked on continues to have a lasting impact.

You’ve been in the industry for decades - what keeps it interesting?

The simple answer is you never stop learning. Electrical engineering is incredibly broad. You can go deep into a specialism or you can step back and understand how systems interact technically, operationally and even from a regulatory perspective. 

Even now, after more than 40 years, there are very few weeks where I don’t learn something new.

As technologies evolve and as the energy system changes, the challenges and opportunities change as well. That’s what makes it such a rewarding career.

What has kept you at Mott MacDonald for so long?

It comes down to the people and the work. The projects are interesting and challenging, but just as importantly, I’ve always felt supported by the business. There’s a depth of expertise across the organisation, so you’re never working in isolation; you can always draw on others’ knowledge. We often say that you’re only ever two phone calls away from a possible solution at Mott MacDonald.

This creates a strong sense of trust over time, that’s really valued, both internally and with clients.

Why is now such a great time to join the profession?

The shift to energy security, affordability and sustainability is driving huge change.

We’re moving away from fossil fuels and towards electrification, supported by renewable energy. That means not only generating power differently but completely rethinking how we transmit and distribute it.

We’re seeing significant investment in the electricity network to meet growing demand and connect new sources of energy.

In short, there’s a huge amount of work to do and that means long-term opportunities for electrical engineers.

Why should someone consider a career in electrical engineering?

Electrical engineering provides something essential. Electrical energy underpins modern life, and as engineers, we’re helping to make that possible – safely, reliably and sustainably.

It’s also a career that can take you in many directions. You can stay technical, move into advisory roles, or explore commercial and leadership pathways. With opportunities across such a wide range of industries, the field is incredibly broad, giving you the chance to keep learning and developing throughout your entire career.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Keep an open mind and try to understand the bigger picture. It’s easy to focus on one area, but the more you understand how different parts of the system connect, the more interesting and valuable your career becomes.

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers. Engineering is about problem-solving and there’s always more to learn.

If you’re looking for a career where you can keep learning, work on meaningful challenges, and help deliver a more sustainable future, electrical engineering could be the right path.

Explore our electrical engineering roles