Electrical Engineer – Transmission & Substation Engineering

The Electrical Engineer is responsible for designing, specifying, evaluating, and coordinating the installation of protective relaying, metering, control schemes, circuit breakers, motor-operated switches, transformers, voltage regulators, grounding systems, and related substation equipment. This role supports the safe and reliable design and operation of a transmission and substation network serving utility and municipal partners.

As part of the engineering team, the individual will help resolve technical challenges that impact system operations and partner utilities while ensuring regulatory and industry compliance. The role also provides ongoing technical support to internal departments and external utility stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and engineer protective relay and control schemes for transmission lines, transformers, circuit breakers, motor-operated switches, and other substation equipment.
• Develop one-line diagrams, schematics, and wiring diagrams for substation protection and control systems.
• Perform protective relay settings and coordination studies, including fault analysis for transmission lines, transformers, capacitor banks, and other electrical devices.
• Design and support metering systems for transmission and distribution substations, interconnections with external power suppliers, and municipal utility systems.
• Maintain and update the organization’s power system fault model, including system data entry, study execution, and coordination with external utilities and consultants.
• Analyze equipment loading, system protection coordination, voltage regulation, and power factor to ensure reliable and optimal system operation.
• Provide technical guidance and support to operations, maintenance, planning, and generation teams related to protective relaying, transformers, regulators, circuit breakers, substation design, and troubleshooting.
• Assist with equipment testing, commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting activities, including occasional on-site support.
• Develop equipment specifications and purchase requisitions for major electrical equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, regulators, capacitor banks, and switchgear.
• Perform life-cycle cost analysis and technical evaluation of vendor proposals for new equipment.
• Support substation grounding system design and evaluation, including ground grid reviews, modifications, and new designs. Knowledge of ANSI/IEEE grounding standards is required.
• Provide technical assistance to external utility partners on topics such as stray voltage, grounding, regulator settings, transformer loading, phase balancing, and equipment ratings.
• Develop operating procedures for substations, capacitor stations, and related electrical infrastructure.
• Assist with project scheduling, budgeting, cost analysis, and manpower planning.
• Prepare engineering studies related to power quality, stray voltage, system safety, and operational performance.
• Support project management activities and represent the organization on technical committees or industry working groups when required.
• Provide mentorship or guidance to junior engineers, interns, or co-op students.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems concentration preferred).
• Experience in areas such as power systems, protective relaying, electric machinery, metering, control systems, telecommunications, or electronics.
• Experience within an electric utility, transmission organization, or power systems consulting environment is strongly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of AC three-phase power systems.
• Knowledge of protective relaying, metering, and substation control systems.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, manufacturer documentation, and technical standards.
• Familiarity with industry standards including ANSI, IEEE, NESC, NEC, and NERC.
• Experience with engineering software, system studies, or CAD tools is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Licenses & Certifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) working toward PE licensure preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Work Environment

This role includes a combination of office-based engineering work and periodic field visits to substations, power plants, and transmission facilities. Field work may occur outdoors and near energized electrical equipment.

The position requires the ability to work in varied conditions, including standing or walking at project sites and navigating uneven terrain when necessary.

Travel & Work Arrangement

• The position requires up to 25% travel for meetings, site visits, project work, and industry events. Occasional overnight travel may be required.