STEM OPT Substation Design Engineer Jobs
Substation Design Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree is in electrical engineering or a related CIP-coded field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the 24-month extension gives you up to 36 months total to build U.S. experience in power systems design before pursuing long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Mesa seeks a Substation P&C Engineer Associate I for our Power Delivery Substation engineering design team based out of Lakewood, CO. The successful candidate has 1-2 years of experience in P&C substation design for 69kV to 500kV substations. They will work with a small team to complete substation P&C design projects to meet client standards and practices. They will be responsible for maintaining good quality and efficiency while developing deliverables such as: single line diagrams, control house layouts & elevations, panel front views, elementary and/or schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams, nameplate drawings, bills of materials, cable schedules, etc.
Substations support large electric utility clients as well as renewable projects. Primarily, renewable projects are connecting utility scale solar farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and large wind farms to the connecting utility through substations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience/Licensure:
- A minimum of a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, from an ABET accredited college or university is required.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of progressively responsible experience in 69kV to 500kV substation Physical design is required.
- EIT is preferred.
Responsibilities
- On a task basis, is responsible for preparation and completion of engineering designs and supporting documentation such as calculations.
- Prepares calculations, specifications, reports, and drawings within assigned task areas.
- Interfaces with other disciplines on multi-discipline projects as required.
- Responsible for adhering to project scope, schedule, and budget on all assigned projects.
- Establish, promote, and assure quality on all project work.
- Works under the direction of Senior Engineers, Professional Engineers (PEs) and Project Engineers.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager to follow up on construction issues with field engineers to help resolve problems and concerns in a timely manner.
- Ensures deliverables comply with NEC, IEEE and/or client standards and meet applicable design requirements.
- Attend group meetings with staff as required.
- Incorporate safe work practices into all activities.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager and team to assist with project execution, work processes, and procedures to help continually improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.
- Use strong verbal and written communication skills with team members and clients.
- Use interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members and clients.
- Possess knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and AutoCAD.
The successful candidate will be required to report to our Lakewood, CO office on a hybrid basis. The entire team works in the office twice per week.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Preferred 1-2 years: Substation P&C design experience
Education
- Required Bachelors or better in Electrical Engineering
Licenses & Certifications
- Preferred Engineer in Training
Skills
- Preferred Autodesk
- CAD
- Engineering Design
- Microsoft Office
Behaviors
- Required Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
- Preferred Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
- Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
- Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity
Motivations
- Preferred Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
- Work-Life Balance: Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work
- Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
BENEFITS
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Pay – 10 Annually
- Group Medical/Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance (Company Paid)
- Disability Insurance (Company Paid)
- 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan
- 401(K) Matching Contribution
- Section 125 / Cafeteria Plan
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Fitness Center Reimbursement
- Annual Performance Bonus
- 9/80 Work Schedule
- FSA and HSA Options
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE
$73,920.82 - $92,557.52
The expected compensation is a range determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, and qualifications of the candidate, internal equity, work location, and hiring department’s fiscal resources.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
INTRODUCTION
Mesa seeks a Substation P&C Engineer Associate I for our Power Delivery Substation engineering design team based out of Lakewood, CO. The successful candidate has 1-2 years of experience in P&C substation design for 69kV to 500kV substations. They will work with a small team to complete substation P&C design projects to meet client standards and practices. They will be responsible for maintaining good quality and efficiency while developing deliverables such as: single line diagrams, control house layouts & elevations, panel front views, elementary and/or schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams, nameplate drawings, bills of materials, cable schedules, etc.
Substations support large electric utility clients as well as renewable projects. Primarily, renewable projects are connecting utility scale solar farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and large wind farms to the connecting utility through substations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience/Licensure:
- A minimum of a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, from an ABET accredited college or university is required.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of progressively responsible experience in 69kV to 500kV substation Physical design is required.
- EIT is preferred.
Responsibilities
- On a task basis, is responsible for preparation and completion of engineering designs and supporting documentation such as calculations.
- Prepares calculations, specifications, reports, and drawings within assigned task areas.
- Interfaces with other disciplines on multi-discipline projects as required.
- Responsible for adhering to project scope, schedule, and budget on all assigned projects.
- Establish, promote, and assure quality on all project work.
- Works under the direction of Senior Engineers, Professional Engineers (PEs) and Project Engineers.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager to follow up on construction issues with field engineers to help resolve problems and concerns in a timely manner.
- Ensures deliverables comply with NEC, IEEE and/or client standards and meet applicable design requirements.
- Attend group meetings with staff as required.
- Incorporate safe work practices into all activities.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager and team to assist with project execution, work processes, and procedures to help continually improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.
- Use strong verbal and written communication skills with team members and clients.
- Use interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members and clients.
- Possess knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and AutoCAD.
The successful candidate will be required to report to our Lakewood, CO office on a hybrid basis. The entire team works in the office twice per week.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Preferred 1-2 years: Substation P&C design experience
Education
- Required Bachelors or better in Electrical Engineering
Licenses & Certifications
- Preferred Engineer in Training
Skills
- Preferred Autodesk
- CAD
- Engineering Design
- Microsoft Office
Behaviors
- Required Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
- Preferred Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
- Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
- Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity
Motivations
- Preferred Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
- Work-Life Balance: Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work
- Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
BENEFITS
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Pay – 10 Annually
- Group Medical/Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance (Company Paid)
- Disability Insurance (Company Paid)
- 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan
- 401(K) Matching Contribution
- Section 125 / Cafeteria Plan
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Fitness Center Reimbursement
- Annual Performance Bonus
- 9/80 Work Schedule
- FSA and HSA Options
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE
$73,920.82 - $92,557.52
The expected compensation is a range determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, and qualifications of the candidate, internal equity, work location, and hiring department’s fiscal resources.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 113+ STEM OPT Substation Design Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Substation Design Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code falls under electrical, power, or systems engineering categories. Mismatched CIP codes are one of the most common reasons STEM OPT extension requests get flagged by your DSO, so confirm with your international student office before submitting.
Filter job postings by E-Verify status
Substation design roles often appear at engineering consultancies and utilities that vary widely on E-Verify enrollment. Search Migrate Mate to filter for employers already enrolled in E-Verify, so you're only targeting companies that can legally hire you on STEM OPT from day one.
Benchmark your offer against OFLC Wage Search
Before signing an offer, look up the prevailing wage for your specific role and metro area using OFLC Wage Search. Your employer's I-983 training plan must reflect compensation consistent with similarly situated U.S. workers, and a low offer can complicate both your STEM OPT filing and any future H-1B visa petition.
Build your I-983 training plan around deliverables
Generic I-983 descriptions get rejected. Map your training objectives to concrete substation engineering tasks: protection relay coordination, single-line diagram development, or interconnection studies. USCIS and your DSO both review this, so vague language like 'assist with design projects' creates risk at renewal.
Target utilities actively filing H-1B petitions
Power utilities and EPC firms that sponsor H-1B workers regularly are your strongest long-term bet. Use DOL LCA disclosure data to identify which employers have filed petitions for electrical or power engineers, since consistent filing history signals an established immigration process that can follow your STEM OPT period.
Time your extension request around your OPT end date
File your STEM OPT extension application with USCIS at least 90 days before your initial OPT EAD expires. A timely filing preserves your work authorization continuously while the application is pending, but a late filing creates an unauthorized gap that can affect your status and any offer you've already accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Substation Design Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in electrical engineering, power systems engineering, or another STEM field with a qualifying CIP code. The role itself must provide practical training directly related to that degree. Your DSO reviews the connection between your job duties and your degree field when approving the I-983 training plan, so the link needs to be explicit and documented.
How do I confirm a substation engineering employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
E-Verify enrollment is a legal requirement for any employer hiring a STEM OPT student. You can check an employer's enrollment status directly through the E-Verify employer search tool maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. Asking your recruiter or HR contact for their E-Verify company ID during the offer stage is also standard practice and a reasonable request.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Substation Design Engineer position?
Your I-983 must describe the specific engineering skills you'll develop, tied directly to your STEM degree. For substation design, that means listing concrete tasks like protection system studies, AutoCAD or CYME modeling, equipment specification, or interconnection design. Vague descriptions referencing general project support don't satisfy USCIS review standards and can result in a request for more information from your DSO.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if I'm in the H-1B cap-gap period?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your OPT EAD expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap provisions extend your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. Your STEM OPT EAD itself doesn't need to be valid through that entire period. USCIS guidance covers cap-gap rules in detail, and your DSO can confirm your specific end date.
Where can I find Substation Design Engineer jobs with employers who hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters job listings for employers enrolled in E-Verify and shows DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you can identify which utilities, engineering consultancies, and EPC firms have an active immigration process. That filing history is a practical proxy for employers experienced with STEM OPT and positioned to support H-1B sponsorship after your extension period ends.