Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in Oregon

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.