Substation Design Engineer Jobs
Substation Design Engineer jobs are open across electric utilities, engineering consultancies, renewable energy developers, and EPC contractors, from entry-level to senior and principal, with specializations in high-voltage design, protection and control, and SCADA integration. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 102+ Substation Design Engineer jobs
Our turnkey service capabilities provide our customers with efficiency, consistency, attention to detail and safe execution. The QISG team brings together Engineering, Safety, Quality, Material Procurement, QA/QC, Right-of-Way Acquisition, Scheduling, Environmental Planning, Permitting, Title and Land Management expertise that ensure outstanding results for our clients.
Every moment of every day, people all over the world rely on electricity provided by Quanta Services and its customers. With its highly skilled and innovative workforce, Quanta is the largest specialty contractor in North America that powers modern life. Find your future with us by being a part of something bigger – leading the energy transition in building a better world for generations to come.
We encourage and inspire our people to embrace opportunities within our corporate office and 200 operating companies providing solutions for the utility, renewable energy, electric power, industrial, and communications industries worldwide.
Quanta’s culture is about creating an environment where all employees can be themselves, are valued, and have an equal opportunity to succeed. When you join our team, you join a dynamic culture in which career development is encouraged, excellence is rewarded, and diversity is valued.
What You'll Do:- Design physical substation components, including yard layouts, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, raceways, and auxiliary AC/DC power systems.
- Develop protection and control schematics, wiring diagrams, cable lists and panel layouts.
- Develop design drawings, calculations, and bills of material from engineering documents for planning, construction, operation, and maintenance.
- Conduct engineering calculations, including voltage drop, cable pulling, flicker analysis, and grounding analysis.
- Ensure project team applies engineering standards including NEC, NESC, NEMA, IEEE and ANSI
- Perform quality reviews to check for inaccuracies, omissions, or compliance issues, and provide recommendations.
- Work collaboratively with engineers and project teams to develop solutions and modifications as needed.
- Maintain detailed project documentation and support engineering calculations.
- Bring potential project-related problems and possible solutions to the attention of the stakeholders.
- Travel out of town for short periods of time as required by projects and assignments.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is highly desirable; this is required for the Design Engineer 4 band.
- Curiosity for and willingness to learn about the major components of a substation is required. Basic knowledge of these components is a plus. Previous design or construction experience is highly desirable.
- No experience required in the electric utility industry for entry level positions. More experience performing detailed design for high voltage substation projects could result in a higher-level position.
- Word processing, spread sheet, and e-mail software.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Working in a team environment
- Communicating effectively with co-workers
- Able to deal with ambiguity and ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks and determine priorities in a complex environment.
- Role will require travel as necessary to achieve job responsibilities, up to 10-25% of the time.
- Competitive salary – overtime is available.
- Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
- Professional development opportunities.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
We prohibit all types of discrimination and are committed to providing access and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. For additional information or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview, or hiring processes or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us the Company’s Human Resources department.
Our turnkey service capabilities provide our customers with efficiency, consistency, attention to detail and safe execution. The QISG team brings together Engineering, Safety, Quality, Material Procurement, QA/QC, Right-of-Way Acquisition, Scheduling, Environmental Planning, Permitting, Title and Land Management expertise that ensure outstanding results for our clients.
Every moment of every day, people all over the world rely on electricity provided by Quanta Services and its customers. With its highly skilled and innovative workforce, Quanta is the largest specialty contractor in North America that powers modern life. Find your future with us by being a part of something bigger – leading the energy transition in building a better world for generations to come.
We encourage and inspire our people to embrace opportunities within our corporate office and 200 operating companies providing solutions for the utility, renewable energy, electric power, industrial, and communications industries worldwide.
Quanta’s culture is about creating an environment where all employees can be themselves, are valued, and have an equal opportunity to succeed. When you join our team, you join a dynamic culture in which career development is encouraged, excellence is rewarded, and diversity is valued.
What You'll Do:- Design physical substation components, including yard layouts, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, raceways, and auxiliary AC/DC power systems.
- Develop protection and control schematics, wiring diagrams, cable lists and panel layouts.
- Develop design drawings, calculations, and bills of material from engineering documents for planning, construction, operation, and maintenance.
- Conduct engineering calculations, including voltage drop, cable pulling, flicker analysis, and grounding analysis.
- Ensure project team applies engineering standards including NEC, NESC, NEMA, IEEE and ANSI
- Perform quality reviews to check for inaccuracies, omissions, or compliance issues, and provide recommendations.
- Work collaboratively with engineers and project teams to develop solutions and modifications as needed.
- Maintain detailed project documentation and support engineering calculations.
- Bring potential project-related problems and possible solutions to the attention of the stakeholders.
- Travel out of town for short periods of time as required by projects and assignments.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is highly desirable; this is required for the Design Engineer 4 band.
- Curiosity for and willingness to learn about the major components of a substation is required. Basic knowledge of these components is a plus. Previous design or construction experience is highly desirable.
- No experience required in the electric utility industry for entry level positions. More experience performing detailed design for high voltage substation projects could result in a higher-level position.
- Word processing, spread sheet, and e-mail software.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Working in a team environment
- Communicating effectively with co-workers
- Able to deal with ambiguity and ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks and determine priorities in a complex environment.
- Role will require travel as necessary to achieve job responsibilities, up to 10-25% of the time.
- Competitive salary – overtime is available.
- Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
- Professional development opportunities.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
We prohibit all types of discrimination and are committed to providing access and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. For additional information or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview, or hiring processes or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us the Company’s Human Resources department.
Substation Design Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
See All 102+ Substation Design Engineer Jobs
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Find JobsSubstation Design Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Quanta Infrastructure Solutions14
- Quanta Services12
- Electrical Consultants11
- Kimley-Horn7
- E2 Consulting Engineers6
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services27
- Construction & Real Estate17
- Energy10
- Retail1
- Technology & Software1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in substation design engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field
- Experience producing substation one-line diagrams, physical layouts, and protection and control drawings
- Proficiency in AutoCAD or MicroStation for substation design deliverables
- Familiarity with NESC, IEEE, and NERC standards applicable to substation projects
- Experience with power system analysis software such as ETAP or SKM Power Tools
- Professional Engineer license or active progress toward PE licensure preferred
Tips for Your Substation Design Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to voltage class
Recruiters scan for specific voltage levels like 115kV, 230kV, or 500kV. Call out the exact transmission and distribution voltages you've designed for in your experience section so your resume clears automated screening for the right tier of projects.
List your design software by name
Employers filter for AutoCAD, MicroStation, SKM Power Tools, ETAP, and SEL software proficiency. Don't bury these under a generic 'design tools' line. Name each package and the deliverable type you produced with it, such as protection coordination studies or one-line diagrams.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists substation design engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by project type
Utility-scale solar interconnection, transmission expansion, and grid hardening projects each demand different deliverables. Search for job postings that name the project type your experience aligns with so your application connects directly to what the hiring team needs right now.
Prepare a technical portfolio before interviews
Pull together one-line diagrams, physical layout drawings, or protection and control panel schedules from past projects, with client names redacted if needed. Interviewers at engineering consultancies and utilities routinely ask candidates to walk through real deliverables during technical rounds.
Negotiate using scope, not just title
When an offer comes in below your target, counter by referencing the voltage class and project complexity you'll own, not just years of experience. Employers with large capital programs often have more flexibility on project lead allowances and bonus structures than on base salary bands.
Substation Design Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most substation design engineers?
The companies hiring the most substation design engineers right now include Quanta Infrastructure Solutions, Quanta Services, and Electrical Consultants, with the largest share of openings in Texas, California, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Demand is concentrated at EPC contractors, regional utilities, and engineering consultancies supporting transmission expansion and renewable interconnection projects.
How many substation design engineer jobs are remote?
About 36% of substation design engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the nature of a role tied closely to site-specific design deliverables. Protection and control engineering and power systems study work are the sub-areas most likely to appear as remote or hybrid positions, since those tasks rely more on software tools than on field coordination.
How do you become a substation design engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, then build foundational skills in power systems coursework covering protection, grounding, and load flow analysis. Entry-level roles at utilities or EPC firms let you produce substation drawings under a senior engineer's review. From there, gaining exposure to multiple voltage classes and earning your PE license positions you for independent design responsibility and senior roles.
Can you get hired as a substation design engineer without direct experience?
Yes, utilities and engineering firms hire entry-level candidates who have relevant coursework in power systems, internship experience in any electrical design environment, and working knowledge of AutoCAD or MicroStation. Highlighting academic projects involving one-line diagrams, relay coordination, or grounding grid calculations helps your application stand out against other early-career candidates competing for the same training-track positions.
What does the substation design engineer interview process look like?
Most processes include an initial screening call focused on your engineering background and software proficiency, followed by a technical interview where you'll walk through past design deliverables or answer questions on protection coordination, grounding, and equipment sizing. Final rounds at larger utilities or EPC firms often add a panel interview with project managers and a review of a take-home or in-person design exercise.
Where can I find and apply to substation design engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to substation design engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, voltage class background, and preferred location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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