Job Type
Full-time
Description
Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead Physical Engineer to join our Renewables Substation team. The primary functions of this role are to lead the substation Physical engineering and design efforts for large scale, transmission-interconnected renewable energy projects and provide leadership and mentorship to a Physical design team consisting of three to five engineers and/or designers.
The Lead Physical Engineer will work with (and provide direction to) other engineers, designers, and drafters to develop project deliverables that satisfy all stakeholder requirements and comply with applicable codes & standards. As part of the broader multi-discipline Substation Team, the Lead Physical Engineer will work with the Substation Project Engineer and other discipline leads to ensure design documents are coordinated and consistent between the P&C and Civil/Structural teams.
Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from a recognized accredited program
• Minimum of 7-9 years of work experience in substation design and engineering
• Strong understanding of electrical systems and substation layouts, grounding, lightning protection, illumination and clearances
• PE License
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Familiarity with industry standards and codes
o ANSI, IEEE, NEC, NESC, NERC, etc.
• General knowledge of the industry and technology trends specific to substations
• Proficiency in assessing mechanical forces and thermal effects of high fault currents on rigid bus.
• Familiarity with Substation major equipment and the specifications thereof:
o HV and MV Circuit Breakers
o Power Transformers
o Instrument Transformers
o Disconnect Switches
o Bus Work
o Surge Arresters
o Steel
o Foundations
o Capacitor Banks
o Reactors
Preferred Experience:• Previous experience in a consultancy environment
• Previous experience with large scale renewable energy projects
• General knowledge of substation construction practices
• Familiarity with 3D design packages and software
• Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation, CDEGS, WinIGS, AGI)
• Previous project and/or discipline team leadership
• Previous experience as a direct supervisor
Duties and Responsibilities:- Design Leadership: Lead the design and engineering of 35kV to 500kV physical substation layouts, ensuring optimal equipment placement, grounding, and structural integrity including development of:
o General Arrangements
o Plan Views and Elevation Views
o Grounding Plans
o Cable Trough/Conduit Plans
o Specifications for Major Primary Equipment (transformers, breakers, switches, etc.)
o Documentation for Design Calculations
o Bill of Materials
o Construction Documentation (Sequence and RFP)
o Studies
• Grounding
• Lightning
• Illumination
• Bus Fault Stress Analysis
• Insulation Coordination
Team Leadership/Supervision: Lead a Physical team of three to five engineers and/or designers by providing mentorship, support, performance planning, monthly one on one meetings and expense and timesheet review and approval.
Technical Support: Assist with technical support in the following areas
- Procurement
- Vendor Drawing Review
- Construction
Active Coordination:- Ability to work seamlessly with a Physical Designer to develop the above projects
- Ability to coordinate efforts with other various external and internal project team members, with familiarity in identifying when coordination is needed with certain design disciplines such as transmission line engineers, distribution line engineers, telecom engineers, etc.
Support Consistency: o Follow department processes and procedures
o Continue strong customer focus attitude that Westwood is known for.
Support Business: o Provides clear and honest feedback to project team, external stakeholders, and clients.
o Helps develop approaches to accommodate client unique requests.
o Works to advise Management about how to maximize ROI for the team.
Project Management: Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, managing timelines, and resources to ensure successful project delivery.
Engineering Documentation: Prepare and review engineering calculations, detailed drawings, specifications, and reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with industry standards.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all designs meet relevant codes, standards, and regulations, including NESC, IEEE, and local utility requirements.
Quality Assurance: Implement quality control processes to review designs and deliverables, ensuring high standards of engineering excellence including cross discipline checks with other substation / service leads.
Mentorship: Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers and technical staff, fostering a culture of learning and professional growth.
Client Interaction: Participate in project meetings, presenting design concepts and updates to clients and stakeholders, and addressing any concerns or feedback.
Continuous Improvement: Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices, and contribute to the development of innovative engineering solutions.
Travel Requirements: 10% (or less)
Occasional (minimal) travel to project sites and/or client offices for meetings may be required.
Other Expectations
• This position is classified as in-office, full time.
o Preferred office locations:
o Austin, TX
o Houston, TX
o Madison, WI
o Raleigh, NC
o Charlotte, NC
o Westminster, CO
o Westwood promotes policies which allow for flexible working conditions, including the ability to work from home as needed
