Senior Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

DESCRIPTION:

The Substation Senior 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.

JOB DUTIES:

• Lead the execution of substation projects, maintaining ownership of physical design scope, technical decisions, and deliverable quality.
• Serve as the technical lead for substation physical design, providing direction and oversight for general arrangements, plan and elevation views, equipment layouts, and cable routing/conduit designs.
• Develop and approve complex engineering designs related to station configuration, equipment arrangement, and constructability considerations.
• Perform, review, and provide technical oversight of engineering studies, including grounding system design, lightning protection analysis, and bus fault force evaluations.
• Review and approve calculations associated with station service and DC system requirements, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and alignment with project needs.
• Lead the development and finalization of equipment specifications and bills of material for major substation components, ensuring compliance with client and project requirements.
• Interpret and enforce applicable codes, standards, and client-specific requirements (e.g., NESC, NEC, IEEE, ASCE) across all design deliverables.
• Oversee design integration across disciplines (protection and controls, civil, structural, transmission, distribution, geotechnical, survey), ensuring a complete and constructible design package.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for clients, leading design reviews, technical discussions, and resolution of complex engineering issues.
• Lead quality control efforts, including performing and overseeing design reviews, ensuring adherence to company standards, processes, and best practices.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineering staff, including reviewing work, guiding design approaches, and supporting professional development.
• Manage multiple projects or major scopes of work concurrently, with accountability for technical quality, schedule adherence, and alignment with project objectives.
• Support project management efforts by contributing to scope development, schedule planning, risk identification, and resource coordination.
• Lead engineering support during procurement and construction phases, including oversight of submittal reviews, RFI responses, and resolution of field issues.
• Conduct and lead site visits, field walkdowns, and construction coordination efforts to validate design assumptions and support project execution.
• Ensure constructability, operability, and maintainability considerations are incorporated into all design solutions.
• Communicate effectively with clients, management, and project teams through clear, concise documentation and technical leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including development of design standards, best practices, tools, and workflows.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in substation physical design engineering.
• Demonstrated expertise in substation physical design, including layouts, equipment arrangements, grounding systems, and constructability considerations.
• Advanced knowledge of engineering analysis methods, including grounding design, station service calculations, and equipment/bus loading.
• Proven ability to lead the development and review of complex engineering deliverables with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality.
• Strong understanding and application of applicable codes and standards (e.g., NESC, NEC, IEEE, ASCE) and client-specific requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and delivering integrated engineering solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with proven experience leading client interactions and technical discussions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects or major scopes of work, balancing technical, schedule, and quality requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and advanced working knowledge of engineering design and drafting tools (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar).
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to independently resolve complex technical challenges.

FOR PREFERRED CONSIDERATION (NOT REQUIRED):

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Advanced experience with grounding analysis tools (e.g., CDEGS, WinIGS) and other engineering analysis software.
• Experience leading full substation design packages from concept through IFC and construction support.
• Familiarity with utility-specific standards, practices, and multi-client program execution.
• Experience contributing to proposals, technical scopes, and project estimation.

ABOUT WESTWOOD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC. (WESTWOOD)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

JOIN US IN CREATING A BETTER WORLD.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.