Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs
Substation Electrical Engineer jobs are open across utilities, power generation, renewable energy, and engineering consulting firms, from entry-level to senior and principal, with specializations in protection and control systems, SCADA integration, and high-voltage design. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
Kimley-Horn's Portland, OR office is seeking a Substation Electrical Engineer to support a wide range of high‑voltage substation projects for developers, EPCs, and utilities. Projects span multiple clients and delivery models, requiring adaptability, strong engineering judgment, and comfort working across varied scopes.
Responsibilities
- Lead the electrical design and analysis of medium- and high-voltage substations (typically 34.5kV through 230kV), including greenfield and expansion projects
- Develop and oversee preparation of key deliverables, including:
- One-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, and AC/DC schematics
- Protection and control design packages
- Substation physical layouts and equipment arrangements
- Interface directly with clients, utilities, and EPC contractors to support design coordination, technical reviews, and project execution
- Provide engineering support during construction, including review and response to RFIs, submittals, and field issues
- Perform or guide technical studies such as short circuit analysis, grounding design, relay coordination, and equipment sizing
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams (civil, structural, P&C, SCADA) across offices to ensure integrated design development
- Support project delivery by contributing to scope definition, schedules, and engineering estimates
- Lead discipline-level execution on projects, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with client and utility standards
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and designers
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) required
- Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) required
- 10+ years of substation electrical engineering experience, preferably supporting utility-scale infrastructure
- Strong understanding of:
- Substation equipment (transformers, breakers, relays, bus configurations)
- Protection and control philosophy
- Applicable standards (NESC, NEC, IEEE, ANSI)
- Experience working with:
- Utilities, developers, and/or EPC contractors
- Design-build or fast-paced project environments
- Ability to lead portions of projects and manage discipline-specific deliverables with minimal oversight
- Strong communication skills and experience interacting directly with clients
- Willingness to travel to support site visits and client meetings, as needed
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients and employees, are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 17 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (you put in 4% - we put in 8%) and additional profit-sharing contribution. Aggregate company contribution since 2015 has been 18%.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Generous personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
INTRODUCTION
Kimley-Horn's Portland, OR office is seeking a Substation Electrical Engineer to support a wide range of high‑voltage substation projects for developers, EPCs, and utilities. Projects span multiple clients and delivery models, requiring adaptability, strong engineering judgment, and comfort working across varied scopes.
Responsibilities
- Lead the electrical design and analysis of medium- and high-voltage substations (typically 34.5kV through 230kV), including greenfield and expansion projects
- Develop and oversee preparation of key deliverables, including:
- One-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, and AC/DC schematics
- Protection and control design packages
- Substation physical layouts and equipment arrangements
- Interface directly with clients, utilities, and EPC contractors to support design coordination, technical reviews, and project execution
- Provide engineering support during construction, including review and response to RFIs, submittals, and field issues
- Perform or guide technical studies such as short circuit analysis, grounding design, relay coordination, and equipment sizing
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams (civil, structural, P&C, SCADA) across offices to ensure integrated design development
- Support project delivery by contributing to scope definition, schedules, and engineering estimates
- Lead discipline-level execution on projects, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with client and utility standards
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and designers
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) required
- Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) required
- 10+ years of substation electrical engineering experience, preferably supporting utility-scale infrastructure
- Strong understanding of:
- Substation equipment (transformers, breakers, relays, bus configurations)
- Protection and control philosophy
- Applicable standards (NESC, NEC, IEEE, ANSI)
- Experience working with:
- Utilities, developers, and/or EPC contractors
- Design-build or fast-paced project environments
- Ability to lead portions of projects and manage discipline-specific deliverables with minimal oversight
- Strong communication skills and experience interacting directly with clients
- Willingness to travel to support site visits and client meetings, as needed
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients and employees, are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 17 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (you put in 4% - we put in 8%) and additional profit-sharing contribution. Aggregate company contribution since 2015 has been 18%.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Generous personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
See All 417+ Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs
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Find JobsSubstation Electrical Engineer Job Market
A snapshot from current openings nationwide, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- HDR46
- Kiewit41
- WSP37
- Mesa Associates27
- Westwood Professional Services21
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services274
- Construction & Real Estate100
- Energy51
- Transportation & Logistics40
- Healthcare & Medical Services28
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in substation electrical engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field required
- Experience with protection and control system design for transmission or distribution substations
- Proficiency in AutoCAD or MicroStation for substation design drawings and schematics
- Familiarity with IEEE and ANSI standards for substation equipment and system protection
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required or actively in progress for many senior roles
- Experience with SCADA systems, relay programming, or substation automation platforms
Tips for Your Substation Electrical Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to voltage classes
List the specific voltage levels you've worked with, whether 69kV, 138kV, or 345kV and above. Hiring managers screen for this immediately. Generic 'high-voltage experience' without specifics won't make the cut in competitive utility and transmission markets.
Highlight protection relay experience explicitly
Many openings require hands-on relay programming or commissioning with specific platforms like SEL, GE, or Schweitzer. Call out each platform by name and the protection schemes you've configured. Burying this in a summary paragraph instead of a dedicated skills line costs you callbacks.
Filter openings by project type not just title
Some roles focus on new substation design while others emphasize upgrade projects or SCADA modernization. Read job descriptions for project scope signals, not just the job title. Applying to roles that match your actual day-to-day experience produces stronger interviews and faster offers.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists substation electrical engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for a technical screening round
Most utility and EPC firm interviews include a technical screen on protection coordination, grounding design, or equipment sizing before you reach hiring managers. Practice talking through your design decisions on past projects out loud, not just on paper, so your reasoning is clear under pressure.
Negotiate start dates around commissioning cycles
Substation projects run on tight commissioning windows tied to utility schedules. If you're finishing a project, mention your availability date in your application and again in the offer stage. Employers in this space respect that context and are often more flexible when you explain it directly.
Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most substation electrical engineers?
The companies hiring the most substation electrical engineers right now include HDR, Kiewit, and WSP, with the largest share of openings in Texas, Tennessee, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Utilities, transmission owners, and large EPC firms consistently account for the highest volume of openings in this field.
How many substation electrical engineer jobs are remote?
About 24% of substation electrical engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the hands-on, site-dependent nature of most substation work. Engineering design and review roles tied to drawing production or relay coordination studies are the sub-areas most likely to offer partial remote arrangements.
How do you become a substation electrical engineer?
You start by earning a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, with coursework in power systems, circuit analysis, and electromagnetics providing the strongest foundation. From there, entry-level roles at utilities or engineering firms expose you to protection and control design, equipment specifications, and substation layout. Passing the FE exam early and working toward your PE license accelerates advancement into lead and senior roles.
How do I get hired as a substation electrical engineer with little experience?
Focus on internships or co-ops at utilities or EPC firms during school, since hands-on exposure to one-line diagrams, relay panels, or equipment sizing gives you concrete talking points. Entry-level roles often prioritize candidates who've taken power systems electives and can demonstrate familiarity with IEEE protection standards, even without full project ownership. Pursuing your FE exam before graduation signals commitment and moves you past other new-grad applicants.
What does the substation electrical engineer interview process look like?
Most processes start with a recruiter or HR screen, followed by a technical interview with an engineering manager or senior engineer covering protection coordination, grounding principles, or equipment sizing. A second round often involves a panel with project managers or clients, focusing on how you communicate design decisions. Some firms include a practical exercise where you review or mark up a drawing or relay setting sheet.
Where can I find and apply to substation electrical engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to substation electrical engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Find roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each listing from the same place.
See All 417+ Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs
Jump back to the full list of openings and apply to any substation electrical engineer role that fits.
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