Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in California

Substation Electrical Engineer jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in utility infrastructure, renewable energy integration, and large-scale transmission projects at every level from entry-level designer to senior project engineer. The heaviest hiring is in the Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento metro areas, where employers like Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and Jacobs Engineering maintain substantial engineering workforces. High-voltage protection and control, relay engineering, and SCADA integration are the most consistently in-demand specialties across California utilities and engineering firms. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles38+
Top employerKiewit
Top citySan Diego, CA
Cities hiring11
Work type66% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 38+ Substation Electrical Engineer jobs

WSP
Early Career Substation Electrical Engineer
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WSP
Added 6d ago
Early Career Substation Electrical Engineer
WSP
San Diego, California
Electrical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$68k - $102k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Kiewit
Substation Electrical Engineer
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Kiewit
Added 4mo ago
Substation Electrical Engineer
Kiewit
Irvine, California
Electrical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$123k - $129k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Kiewit
Substation Electrical Engineer
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Kiewit
Added 5mo ago
Substation Electrical Engineer
Kiewit
San Diego, California
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$123k - $129k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Arcadis
Senior Substation Electrical Engineer
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Arcadis
Added 5mo ago
Senior Substation Electrical Engineer
Arcadis
Irvine, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
$168k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Arcadis
Senior Substation Electrical Engineer
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Arcadis
Added 5mo ago
Senior Substation Electrical Engineer
Arcadis
Los Angeles, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
$168k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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See All 38 Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in California

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Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
7 jobs
Pomona
6 jobs
Irvine
4 jobs
Los Angeles
4 jobs
Pasadena
4 jobs
Pleasanton
3 jobs
Sacramento
3 jobs
Oakland
2 jobs
San Ramon
2 jobs

Substation Electrical Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Kiewit
    Kiewit5
  • Mesa Associates
    Mesa Associates5
  • Pacific Gas and Electric
    Pacific Gas and Electric5
  • WSP
    WSP5
  • E2 Consulting Engineers
    E2 Consulting Engineers4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services28
  • Construction & Real Estate8
  • Energy5
  • Transportation & Logistics5

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in substation electrical engineer jobs across California.

  • Active California Professional Engineer license or eligibility to obtain one required
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with power systems coursework preferred
  • Experience designing substation protection, control, and relay schemes for utility projects
  • Proficiency with AutoCAD, MicroStation, or equivalent electrical design software
  • Familiarity with NERC, IEEE, and ANSI standards governing substation design and safety
  • Ability to perform field commissioning and site inspections at live substation facilities

Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a substation electrical engineer in California?

The standard path is a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering followed by the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, then gaining qualifying experience under a licensed engineer before sitting for the Professional Engineering exam administered by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Licensure as a California PE is not always required to enter the field, but it is expected for engineers of record and heavily preferred by utilities and large EPC firms.

How much do substation electrical engineers make in California?

Substation electrical engineers in California earn a median of about $144,040 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $81,840 for the lowest 10% to over $217,760 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire substation electrical engineers in California?

Employers hiring substation electrical engineers in California right now include Kiewit, Mesa Associates, and Pacific Gas and Electric, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's large investor-owned utilities and the engineering firms that support grid modernization and wildfire mitigation projects drive steady, year-round demand for this role.

Which California cities have the most substation electrical engineer jobs?

San Diego, Pomona, and Irvine have the most substation electrical engineer openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento see high volume because Pacific Gas and Electric's headquarters and major grid operations are centered there, while Los Angeles reflects the scale of Southern California Edison's transmission and distribution infrastructure and the volume of renewable interconnection work in the southern part of the state.

Are there remote substation electrical engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Substation engineering is heavily hands-on, involving field commissioning, site surveys, and coordination at live facilities, which limits full remote work. About 34% of substation electrical engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those positions tend to be design-only or project management roles where fieldwork is handled separately by other team members.

How can I get hired as a substation electrical engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying to rotational new-graduate engineering programs at California's investor-owned utilities, where Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison both run structured programs that place early-career engineers in power delivery and substation groups. Adjacent roles such as electrical designer, relay technician, or protection and control technician are common lateral moves that build the hands-on experience utilities require. Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before applying gives candidates a clear credential edge even without direct substation project experience.

Where can I find and apply to substation electrical engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to substation electrical engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly.

See All 38 Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in California

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