Substation Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Substation Engineer jobs in Illinois are active across the state's electric utility, infrastructure modernization, and industrial power sectors, with openings from entry-level design roles through senior project engineers. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria are the primary hiring centers, where companies like Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), Ameren Illinois, and S&C Electric have deep, lasting footprints in the market. Protection and control systems, SCADA integration, and high-voltage substation design are the specialties drawing the most consistent demand. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description
Essential Responsibilities:
- Execute technical tasks for AC substation projects under the guidance of a Lead Engineer.
- Develop high voltage substation:
- General arrangement and layout drawings
- Plan and elevation views
- Detailed bill of materials
- Bus, cable, equipment, conduit, wiring, grounding, and control building arrangements
- Perform engineering calculations related to substation design.
- Coordinate overall design with other disciplines, including:
- Single line diagrams and schematics
- Relay protection and control requirements
- Write specifications for high voltage equipment and prepare material purchase requests.
- Evaluate vendor quotations for substation equipment, such as:
- Circuit breakers
- Switchgear
- Disconnect switches
- Power transformers
- High voltage cables
- Protection and control systems
- Resolve technical issues in coordination with the customer and project manager.
- Collaborate with the Lead Engineer and Project Manager to maintain project budget and schedule.
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary engineering and design team.
- Coordinate with sourcing and project teams to ensure specifications, cost, and schedule objectives are met.
- Interface with cross-functional internal and external stakeholders, including:
- Principal Engineers
- Protection & Control Engineers
- Electrical/Physical Designers
- CAD operators
- Project Managers
- Support functions
- Support proposal development by:
- Writing/reviewing technical specs
- Estimating materials
- Assisting with vendor quote evaluations
- Guiding design/drafting teams
- Developing clarifications, exceptions, and technical responses
- Contribute to engineering automation, productivity improvements, and quality initiatives.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university. Grade point average greater than 3.4 [U.S. system]
- Work experience in power systems engineering and design
- Ability and willingness to travel, including internationally, in compliance with company travel and tax policies.
Desired Characteristics:
- Passed FE exam, registered E.I.T.
- Experience / working knowledge of applicable design calculations such as battery sizing and DC system component selection, control and power cable selection and rating, bus sizing, fittings, insulator selection, ground grid design, and lightning protection
- Work exposure to Transmission and Distribution substation engineering for utilities and renewable energy power plants and projects experience as an Electrical Project Engineer in substation type applications for primary/physical/outdoor design, including aspects of civil design and control and relay protection design
- Knowledge of and experience using IEEE and ANSI standards and codes such as the NEC and NESC
- Prior GEV work experience
- Demonstrated electrical and mechanical troubleshooting capability
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Able to lead small teams, innovate, and be accountable for results in order to deliver a high-quality product on time and under budget
- Excellent personal computer skills, including programming and familiarity with AutoCAD, including 3D modeling
We deliver integrated project solutions to enable large scale electrification and support our customer needs.
Additional Information
GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
GE Vernova will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).
Relocation Assistance Provided: No
Bonus eligibility: discretionary annual bonus.
This posting is expected to remain open for at least seven days after it was posted on October 30, 2026.
Available benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability benefits, life insurance, 12 paid holidays, and permissive time off.
GE Vernova Inc. or its affiliates (collectively or individually, “GE Vernova”) sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs GE Vernova reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace, or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a GE Vernova welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.
See All 41 Substation Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Find Substation Engineer JobsSubstation Engineer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Substation Engineer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Construction & Real Estate
- Manufacturing
- Transportation & Logistics
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in substation engineer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field required
- Professional Engineer license or active Illinois PE registration strongly preferred
- Experience with substation protection, control schemes, and relay coordination
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, CYME, ETAP, or similar power systems design software
- Familiarity with NERC reliability standards and IEEE substation design guides
- Ability to travel to substation sites across Illinois for field inspections and commissioning
Substation Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a substation engineer in Illinois?
Most substation engineers in Illinois start with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, then pursue licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as a Professional Engineer, which requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam followed by the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam after gaining qualifying work experience. Utility employers often hire candidates into rotational engineering programs before licensure is complete, and a PE license becomes essential for signing off on substation designs and studies.
Which companies hire substation engineers in Illinois?
Employers hiring substation engineers in Illinois right now include Sargent & Lundy, Leidos, and Kimley-Horn, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's large investor-owned utilities, engineering consultancies serving the Midwest grid, and industrial manufacturers with high-voltage facilities are the most consistent sources of openings in the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most substation engineer jobs?
Chicago, Warrenville, and Oak Brook are the Illinois cities with the most substation engineer openings, driven by the concentration of major utility operations, engineering firm headquarters, and large industrial facilities in the Chicago metro, with Rockford and Peoria serving as secondary hubs for Ameren Illinois transmission projects and heavy manufacturing sites that require dedicated power infrastructure engineering.
Are there remote substation engineer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Substation engineering is heavily field-dependent, involving on-site commissioning, relay testing, and physical design reviews that cannot be done remotely. About 79% of substation engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically cover the planning, relay coordination modeling, or protection study portions of the work rather than construction oversight or field commissioning.
How can I get hired as a substation engineer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate engineering rotational program at one of Illinois's major utilities, where ComEd and Ameren Illinois both bring on entry-level engineers who rotate through transmission planning, substation design, and protection before settling into a specialty. Candidates with internships in power systems, coursework in relay protection or power electronics, and progress toward the Fundamentals of Engineering exam stand out, and roles titled junior protection engineer or electrical design engineer at consulting firms that serve Illinois utilities are strong lateral starting points.
Where can I find and apply to substation engineer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to substation engineer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 41 Substation Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Substation Engineer Jobs