Lead Substation Engineer
Position Summary
We are seeking a Lead Substation Engineer to lead the engineering, design, and execution of high-voltage substation projects ranging from 12kV to 500kV+. This individual will serve as a technical lead and subject matter expert responsible for overseeing project delivery, mentoring engineering staff, coordinating with clients, and ensuring high-quality engineering solutions across utility, renewable energy, transmission, and distribution projects.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience in substation design, project leadership, and client-facing responsibilities, with a strong understanding of utility standards and industry best practices.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the engineering and design of transmission and distribution substations.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously from proposal through construction support.
- Serve as Engineer of Record (EOR) when required.
- Develop and review:
- Physical substation layouts
- Equipment arrangements
- Elevations and detailed design drawings
- Grounding systems
- Bus and conductor design
- Lightning protection systems
- Control building layouts
- Perform and review engineering calculations including:
- Ground grid analysis
- Bus sizing
- Conductor sizing
- Lightning protection studies
- Structural loading calculations
- Coordinate with Protection & Control, Civil/Structural, and Transmission Line teams.
- Interface directly with utility, municipal, cooperative, industrial, and renewable energy clients.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers.
- Lead design reviews, quality control processes, and project execution meetings.
- Support project schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
- Participate in business development activities, proposal preparation, and client presentations.
- Provide engineering support during construction, commissioning, and field activities.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
- 8+ years of substation engineering experience.
- Experience leading the design of utility-scale substations.
- Strong knowledge of:
- High-voltage electrical systems
- Substation physical design
- Utility standards and practices
- NESC, IEEE, and applicable industry standards
- Experience with engineering software such as:
- AutoCAD
- MicroStation
- CDEGS
- ETAP
- SKM
- Bluebeam
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong communication and client management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with substations from 69kV through 500kV.
- Previous Engineer of Record (EOR) experience.
- Utility, EPC, or consulting engineering background.
- Project management experience.
- PMP certification (preferred but not required).
- Experience supporting renewable energy interconnection projects.
FAQs
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