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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Showing 5 of 21+ Substation Electrical Engineer jobs
WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substation Associate Electrical Engineer for our San Diego, CA office. Be involved in projects with our Power & Energy Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.
This Opportunity
Provides support to technical staff, engineers, and project managers for the due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, design, development, and construction of utility, industrial, and commercial scale projects in the public and private sector. Tasks may include assistance with the research, design, concept development, and construction of transmission and distribution substations, power distribution, power regulation, renewable energy, as well as protection and control systems in a wide variety of contexts (utilities, transportation, building, and Federal, State, and local government projects). Generates accurate and concise reports and documentation regarding assigned material, installations, and construction specifications. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.
Your Impact
- With minimal supervision, assist with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data relating to substation components, equipment specifications for procurement package development and pricing, IFR/IRC design and review processes, and IEEE/NESC Standards/NERC regulations for design work.
- Perform basic professional electrical engineering work relating to the design of single line, three line, wiring diagrams, general arrangement, substation layout and bus arrangement, grounding grid design and lightning protection in conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits.
- Provides technical assistance on various design requirements, equipment sizing and cabling, AC/DC panel design, and conduit and trenching design strategies to account for the safety and functionality of end-users, systems, and infrastructure.
- Support senior engineers with research and recommendations of fundamental components identified in design requirements, as well as field equipment applications and operations.
- Assist with verifying the characteristics of a site and providing technical assistance on engineering, design, testing, maintenance, and construction procedures and issues.
- Under minimal supervision, develop electrical calculations for loads, equipment sizing, feeder sizing, voltage drop, grounding, lighting circuits and controls, facility and electrical service, and power distribution.
- Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software.
- Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects.
- Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work, including project controls, business deployment, construction, procurement, document control, and permitting teams.
- Assist with work plan preparation and coordination of field/site work and permitting.
- Complete training on assigned tasks.
- Work collaboratively with other engineers and planners on projects with electrical infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects.
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
- 1 to 3 years of relevant post education experience in an electrical engineering capacity.
- Exposure to operations and project controls experience for purposes of reporting.
- Knowledge of electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
- Familiarity with infrastructure planning, design, and construction management; including rehabilitation and new design.
- Highly familiar with relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
- Analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
- Capable self-leadership with attention to detail, accuracy, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
- Experience with discipline-specific design software (i.e., CADD, Aspen, CAPE, ETAP), AutoCADD electrical.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
- Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Engineer in Training Certification.
- Prior design experience. A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.
WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
Compensation:
Expected Salary: $89,000 - $110,000
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of California, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
#LI-JJ2
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substation Associate Electrical Engineer for our San Diego, CA office. Be involved in projects with our Power & Energy Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.
This Opportunity
Provides support to technical staff, engineers, and project managers for the due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, design, development, and construction of utility, industrial, and commercial scale projects in the public and private sector. Tasks may include assistance with the research, design, concept development, and construction of transmission and distribution substations, power distribution, power regulation, renewable energy, as well as protection and control systems in a wide variety of contexts (utilities, transportation, building, and Federal, State, and local government projects). Generates accurate and concise reports and documentation regarding assigned material, installations, and construction specifications. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.
Your Impact
- With minimal supervision, assist with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data relating to substation components, equipment specifications for procurement package development and pricing, IFR/IRC design and review processes, and IEEE/NESC Standards/NERC regulations for design work.
- Perform basic professional electrical engineering work relating to the design of single line, three line, wiring diagrams, general arrangement, substation layout and bus arrangement, grounding grid design and lightning protection in conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits.
- Provides technical assistance on various design requirements, equipment sizing and cabling, AC/DC panel design, and conduit and trenching design strategies to account for the safety and functionality of end-users, systems, and infrastructure.
- Support senior engineers with research and recommendations of fundamental components identified in design requirements, as well as field equipment applications and operations.
- Assist with verifying the characteristics of a site and providing technical assistance on engineering, design, testing, maintenance, and construction procedures and issues.
- Under minimal supervision, develop electrical calculations for loads, equipment sizing, feeder sizing, voltage drop, grounding, lighting circuits and controls, facility and electrical service, and power distribution.
- Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software.
- Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects.
- Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work, including project controls, business deployment, construction, procurement, document control, and permitting teams.
- Assist with work plan preparation and coordination of field/site work and permitting.
- Complete training on assigned tasks.
- Work collaboratively with other engineers and planners on projects with electrical infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects.
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
- 1 to 3 years of relevant post education experience in an electrical engineering capacity.
- Exposure to operations and project controls experience for purposes of reporting.
- Knowledge of electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
- Familiarity with infrastructure planning, design, and construction management; including rehabilitation and new design.
- Highly familiar with relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
- Analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
- Capable self-leadership with attention to detail, accuracy, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
- Experience with discipline-specific design software (i.e., CADD, Aspen, CAPE, ETAP), AutoCADD electrical.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
- Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Engineer in Training Certification.
- Prior design experience. A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.
WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
Compensation:
Expected Salary: $89,000 - $110,000
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of California, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
#LI-JJ2
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
See All 21 Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in California
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Find JobsSubstation Electrical Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Substation Electrical Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Construction & Real Estate
- Transportation & Logistics
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 Burns & McDonnell, WSP, and Arcadis, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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, Brea, 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 20% of substation electrical engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 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 21 Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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