Substation Physical Engineer
Position Summary
The Physical Substation Engineer is responsible for the design, analysis, and development of high‑voltage electrical substations, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the power transmission and distribution system. This role involves creating physical layouts, equipment specifications, grounding and shielding plans, and construction‑ready design packages while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams and utility stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Substation Physical Design
- Develop physical layout designs for substations, including general arrangements, elevation drawings, equipment placement, and bus configurations.
- Prepare detailed design documents such as plan & profile drawings, conduit and cable routing, structural support details, and foundation layouts.
- Design grounding systems, lightning protection systems, and physical security elements.
Technical Engineering & Analysis
- Perform calculations for bus sizing, clearances, grounding grid resistance, and short‑circuit mechanical forces.
- Specify substation equipment such as power transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, instrument transformers, and steel structures.
- Review vendor drawings and ensure alignment with project requirements and industry standards.
Project Execution & Coordination
- Work closely with electrical, protection & controls, civil, and structural engineering teams to deliver coordinated design packages.
- Participate in client meetings, site visits, and design reviews to assess field conditions and resolve technical issues.
- Support construction teams through RFIs, field engineering support, and design revisions when required.
Compliance & Standards
- Ensure designs comply with NESC, IEEE, ASCE, NEC, and utility‑specific standards and guidelines.
- Maintain thorough documentation and contribute to internal process improvements and standardization efforts.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems focus preferred).
- 2-7+ years of experience in substation physical design (senior levels require 8+ years).
- EIT required; PE license preferred for senior roles.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency with CAD/BIM tools (AutoCAD, MicroStation, or Revit).
- Familiarity with grounding and lightning analysis tools (e.g., WinIGS, CDEGS), and electrical system modeling software (e.g., ETAP, SKM).
- Strong understanding of high‑voltage substation equipment and design practices.
Soft Skills
- Strong problem‑solving, organization, and analytical abilities.
- Excellent communication skills for interfacing with clients, contractors, and internal teams.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize work effectively.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with EPC‑style project execution.
- Working knowledge of utility design standards and permitting processes.
- Experience with renewable interconnection substations, transmission‑level upgrades, or greenfield substation projects.
Work Environment
- Hybrid work acceptable depending on project needs; occasional travel for site assessments, construction support, and client meetings.
- Typical work involves both office‑based engineering tasks and field visits to operating or construction‑phase substations.
FAQs
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