Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
5+ years of substation physical design engineering experience.
Expertise in substation layouts, equipment arrangements, and grounding systems.
Advanced knowledge of engineering analysis methods and station service calculations.
Proven leadership skills in developing and reviewing engineering deliverables.
Strong understanding of codes and standards like NESC, NEC, IEEE, and ASCE.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for client interactions.
Responsibilities
Lead execution of substation projects, ensuring design scope and quality.
Provide technical direction for general arrangements and equipment layouts.
Develop and approve engineering designs considering constructability.
Review and oversee engineering studies for grounding and lightning protection.
Manage specifications and bills of material for substation components.
Serve as primary technical contact for clients during design reviews.
Oversee design integration across various disciplines to ensure a complete package.
Benefits
Collaboration with a skilled design team on diverse projects.
Opportunity to directly apply engineering knowledge in practical installations.
Mentorship opportunities for professional development.
Involvement in continuous improvement initiatives.
Flexibility in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Full Job Description
Job Type
Full-time
Description
The Substation Lead Engineer - Physical will be part of an electric substation design team and will be responsible for the engineering and design of multiple projects ranging from small "quick turn-around" to large complex substations. This position provides the opportunity to directly apply your knowledge of engineering to design projects ranging from 12kV to 500kV.
As a Substation Engineer - Physical, you will apply NESC, NEC, ASCE and other applicable standards in engineering design and will independently perform engineering analyses, plans and specifications, as well as material procurement and construction documents.
Requirements
Job Duties:
Lead and oversee execution of substation physical design across multiple concurrent projects, maintaining full technical ownership of scope, deliverables, and engineering quality.
Serve as Engineer of Record (EOR), performing final technical reviews and providing approval and PE stamping of deliverables.
Guide engineers, designers, and drafters across one or more projects, ensuring consistent application of standards, best practices, and design quality.
Provide technical leadership for physical design deliverables, including general arrangements, plan and elevation views, equipment layouts, grounding systems, and cable routing/conduit design.
Establish design approaches and make final technical decisions related to station configuration, equipment arrangement, and constructability.
Lead and approve engineering studies, including grounding design, lightning protection, and illumination.
Lead development and approval of equipment specifications and bills of material for major substation equipment.
Coordinate across internal and external disciplines to ensure complete, accurate, and constructible design integration.
Lead client communication and technical strategy, including design reviews, issue resolution, and alignment on scope and expectations.
Interpret contracts and project scope requirements to ensure engineering deliverables align with contractual obligations.
Identify scope gaps, inconsistencies, and potential scope creep; coordinate resolution across stakeholders and disciplines.
Support and contribute to proposals, engineering estimates, and change order development.
Monitor and influence project performance from a technical delivery perspective, including budget, schedule, quality, and client satisfaction.
Lead project coordination meetings, including technical reviews, milestone alignment, and internal/external design reviews.
Contribute to resource planning and staffing discussions by providing input on workload, technical needs, and execution strategy.
Oversee quality control processes, ensuring adherence to company procedures, standards, and best practices across all deliverables.
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to engineering staff, supporting development and performance growth across the team.
Support procurement and construction activities, including submittal approvals, RFI responses, and resolution of complex field issues.
Identify and drive improvements to engineering templates, tools, processes, and workflows to enhance efficiency and consistency.
Skills and Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
6+ years of relevant experience in substation physical design engineering.
Demonstrated expertise in substation physical design, including layouts, equipment arrangements, grounding systems, and constructability considerations.
Proven ability to lead engineering teams and guide technical execution across multiple concurrent projects.
Advanced knowledge of engineering analysis methods, including grounding design, station service calculations, and equipment/bus loading.
Strong understanding and application of applicable codes and standards (e.g., NESC, NEC, IEEE, ASCE) and client-specific requirements.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering efforts and deliver fully integrated design packages.
Strong communication and leadership skills, with proven experience leading client interactions and technical discussions.
Ability to identify risks, resolve complex technical issues, and make sound engineering decisions with minimal or no oversight.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong working knowledge of engineering design and drafting tools (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar).
For Preferred Consideration (Not Required):
Demonstrated experience serving as Engineer of Record for substation projects.
Experience with grounding analysis tools (e.g., CDEGS, WinIGS) and advanced engineering software.
Experience leading proposal efforts, including scope definition, budgeting, and resource planning.
Experience managing or coordinating multi-discipline teams across large or programmatic work.
Familiarity with utility-specific standards across multiple clients or regions.
Salary Description
$100,000 - 150,000
About Westwood Professional Services
Westwood Professional Services is a multi-disciplined surveying and engineering firm that provides services for residential and commercial development, wind and solar energy, power delivery, and oil and gas pipeline projects. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Westwood has over 500 employees and operates in several states across the United States.
