Physical Substation Engineer

Required Skills & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline. Experience with physical substation engineering/design. Knowledge of high-voltage substation equipment, layouts, clearances, grounding, bus configurations, and physical design principles. Experience with utility or electric power infrastructure projects. Ability to read and develop engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and technical documentation. Strong understanding of multidisciplinary coordination between physical, P&C, civil/structural, and construction teams. Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

Experience designing substations for large electric utilities or EPC organizations. Experience with 69kV, 115kV, 138kV, 230kV, 345kV, or 500kV substation projects. Familiarity with AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar engineering/design platforms. Experience with both greenfield and brownfield substation projects. Professional Engineer (PE) license or progress toward professional licensure. Experience supporting projects from conceptual engineering through IFC design and construction.

Job Description

Perform physical engineering and design for high-voltage substations, including new builds, expansions, retrofits, and upgrades.

Develop and review:

General arrangement drawings Equipment plans and elevations Grounding plans and calculations Conduit and cable trench layouts Bus layouts and configurations Foundation and equipment interface details Lightning protection and shielding layouts Perform engineering calculations and technical evaluations required to support physical substation design. Develop equipment specifications and support the selection of major substation equipment such as transformers, breakers, switches, instrument transformers, and related equipment. Ensure proper equipment clearances, constructability, safety, accessibility, and maintainability within the substation layout. Coordinate with Protection & Control, Civil/Structural, Transmission, and Construction teams throughout the project lifecycle. Review vendor drawings, equipment documentation, and engineering submittals for technical compliance. Provide engineering support during procurement and construction, including responding to RFIs and resolving field design issues. Review engineering drawings and calculations for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to project requirements. Support site visits and field investigations for brownfield substation modifications when required. Ensure designs follow applicable IEEE, NESC, NEC, utility, and client engineering standards. Participate in design reviews and provide technical guidance to designers and junior engineers. Support project schedules, engineering deliverables, and coordination with project management.