Green Card Substation Engineer Jobs
Substation Engineer roles qualify for employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM labor certification process, typically under EB-2 for advanced-degree professionals or EB-3 for skilled workers. Utilities, transmission operators, and engineering consultancies regularly file I-140 petitions for foreign engineers with hands-on high-voltage substation design and commissioning experience.
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- (193756)
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
We believe electricity powers modern life. As part of our Power sector, you’ll help shape how electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered as global energy demands grow. From massive data centers to modernizing transmission systems, our industry-recognized engineers and scientists have been at the forefront of grid transformation for more than a century. You’ll work side-by-side with these experts and contribute to reliable, resilient and sustainable power systems, helping communities thrive and industries expand. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
HDR Engineering is looking for a Substation Project Engineer to join our growing and nationally ranked team of Power Delivery professionals.
The primary duties of the Substation Project Engineer include physical substation, protection, and control engineering for High Voltage Electric Utility projects, 12 kV through 500 kV. Projects range in size, complexity, and voltage class from small distribution equipment upgrades to large transmission substation projects across the globe.
In the role of Substation Engineer, we'll count on you to:
- Support preparing scopes, schedules, and budgets, and ensure that schedules and budgets are met
- Understand physical substation design including yard layouts, plans, sections and details, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, interior and exterior raceways, auxiliary AC/DC power systems, and associated bills of material
- Understand protection and control design including panel arrangements, one lines/single lines, three lines, AC/DC schematics, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring
- Prepare calculations for studies and reports (grounding, lighting protection, AC/DC load studies, etc.)
- Prepare equipment specifications for procurement and/or factory acceptance testing
- Coordinate design activities with other departments (Civil/Structural, Networks, Transmission Line, etc.)
- Effectively communicate and coordinate project activities with manager, clients, and others as needed
- Work independently and may direct, mentor, train, and/or supervise efforts of less-experienced EITs and/or Designers
- Perform other duties as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
- Masters degree in Engineering
- A minimum of 3 years experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector
- Previous experience with an engineering consulting firm
- Experience in Substation Engineering, with emphasis in Physical design
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
- Previous experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector
- Computer skills in Microsoft Office as well as standard Power Market Sector design software (examples include PLS CAD, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, AutoPipe, and Revit)
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Spokane, WA: $80,168.40 - $139,200 Bellevue/Seattle, WA: $97,440 - $139,200
Primary Location:
United States-Washington-Seattle
Other Locations:
United States-Washington-Spokane, United States-Washington-Bellevue
Industry:
Power
Schedule:
Full-time
Employee Status:
Regular
Business Class:
Substation Engineering
Job Posting:
Jun 12, 2026
Substation Engineer
- (193756)
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
We believe electricity powers modern life. As part of our Power sector, you’ll help shape how electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered as global energy demands grow. From massive data centers to modernizing transmission systems, our industry-recognized engineers and scientists have been at the forefront of grid transformation for more than a century. You’ll work side-by-side with these experts and contribute to reliable, resilient and sustainable power systems, helping communities thrive and industries expand. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
HDR Engineering is looking for a Substation Project Engineer to join our growing and nationally ranked team of Power Delivery professionals.
The primary duties of the Substation Project Engineer include physical substation, protection, and control engineering for High Voltage Electric Utility projects, 12 kV through 500 kV. Projects range in size, complexity, and voltage class from small distribution equipment upgrades to large transmission substation projects across the globe.
In the role of Substation Engineer, we'll count on you to:
- Support preparing scopes, schedules, and budgets, and ensure that schedules and budgets are met
- Understand physical substation design including yard layouts, plans, sections and details, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, interior and exterior raceways, auxiliary AC/DC power systems, and associated bills of material
- Understand protection and control design including panel arrangements, one lines/single lines, three lines, AC/DC schematics, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring
- Prepare calculations for studies and reports (grounding, lighting protection, AC/DC load studies, etc.)
- Prepare equipment specifications for procurement and/or factory acceptance testing
- Coordinate design activities with other departments (Civil/Structural, Networks, Transmission Line, etc.)
- Effectively communicate and coordinate project activities with manager, clients, and others as needed
- Work independently and may direct, mentor, train, and/or supervise efforts of less-experienced EITs and/or Designers
- Perform other duties as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
- Masters degree in Engineering
- A minimum of 3 years experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector
- Previous experience with an engineering consulting firm
- Experience in Substation Engineering, with emphasis in Physical design
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
- Previous experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector
- Computer skills in Microsoft Office as well as standard Power Market Sector design software (examples include PLS CAD, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, AutoPipe, and Revit)
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Spokane, WA: $80,168.40 - $139,200 Bellevue/Seattle, WA: $97,440 - $139,200
Primary Location:
United States-Washington-Seattle
Other Locations:
United States-Washington-Spokane, United States-Washington-Bellevue
Industry:
Power
Schedule:
Full-time
Employee Status:
Regular
Business Class:
Substation Engineering
Job Posting:
Jun 12, 2026
See all 359+ Green Card Substation Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Substation Engineer
Translate your credentials for PERM compliance
Foreign engineering degrees must align with the job description's minimum requirements in your employer's PERM application. Get a credential evaluation that maps your degree to a U.S. bachelor's equivalent in electrical engineering before the recruitment phase begins.
Target utilities with active PERM filing histories
Investor-owned utilities and regional transmission organizations file PERM applications regularly for substation roles. Search DOL's OFLC disclosure data to identify which employers have sponsored substation or power systems engineers in recent years.
Use Migrate Mate to find green card sponsoring employers
Filter substation engineering roles by employers with verified PERM and I-140 filing histories using Migrate Mate. This surfaces companies already set up to sponsor foreign engineers rather than those you'd need to educate from scratch.
Verify the prevailing wage tier before accepting an offer
Your employer must certify your offered wage meets the DOL prevailing wage for your specific substation role and work location. Check the OFLC Wage Search using the correct SOC code for substation engineers to confirm your offer clears the required wage level before signing.
Ask about concurrent I-140 and I-485 filing eligibility
If your priority date is current when your employer files the I-140, you can file for adjustment of status simultaneously, cutting months off your timeline. This is especially relevant for EB-3 applicants from most countries outside India and China.
Document hands-on substation experience precisely
PERM job descriptions for substation engineers often list specific technical requirements like SCADA integration, protection relay settings, or IEC 61850 standards. Your resume and reference letters should mirror this language to support the I-140 petition and demonstrate you meet the role's specialty occupation criteria.
Green Card Substation Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Do substation engineer roles qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Both categories apply depending on your credentials and the employer's job requirements. EB-2 covers the role when the position requires an advanced degree in electrical engineering or equivalent. EB-3 applies when a bachelor's degree is the stated minimum. Most utility and EPC company sponsorships are filed under EB-3, but candidates with master's degrees or licensed PE status often qualify for EB-2 classification.
How does PERM green card sponsorship differ from H-1B for a substation engineer?
H-1B visa is temporary authorization requiring renewal and tied to the sponsoring employer, with an annual cap and lottery risk. PERM green card sponsorship is a permanent pathway with no annual lottery. EB-3 has no cap at the petition level, though visa number availability varies by country of birth. The PERM process involves DOL-supervised recruitment and takes longer upfront, but the result is lawful permanent residency rather than a renewable work visa.
How long does the PERM process take for a substation engineering role?
The PERM labor certification currently takes several months to over a year depending on whether DOL audits the application. After PERM certification, your employer files the I-140 petition with USCIS. For most nationalities outside India and China, adjustment of status or consular processing can follow relatively quickly. Indian and Chinese nationals face priority date backlogs that can extend the overall timeline by years.
Where can I find substation engineer jobs that offer green card sponsorship?
Use Migrate Mate to search substation engineer roles filtered by employers with verified PERM and I-140 filing histories. This removes the guesswork of approaching companies that have never sponsored foreign engineers and focuses your search on utilities, transmission operators, and engineering consultancies that already have established sponsorship processes in place.
Can my employer sponsor my green card while I'm working on an H-1B as a substation engineer?
Yes. Many substation engineers begin the PERM process while on H-1B status. Filing the I-140 early locks in your priority date. Once the I-140 is approved, you can extend your H-1B beyond the standard six-year limit in one-year increments under AC21 portability rules, giving you continued work authorization while waiting for your green card to become current.