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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Description
Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?
At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.
Your greatest work is ahead!
We are looking for a Senior / Lead Substation Protection & Controls Engineer to join our team. As a Lead Substation Protection & Controls Engineer, you’ll own complex P&C designs across 12–500 kV systems, applying advanced digital logic and AC/DC circuit expertise to engineer solutions that protect the modern grid and enable renewable integration. If you’re ready for high‑voltage challenges and high‑visibility impact, this is your next step.
Successful candidates can look forward to a fast‑paced, highly collaborative environment where no two days feel the same. You’ll enjoy flexible work arrangements, a supportive leadership team, and a culture that actively invests in your growth. Expect meaningful opportunities to advance your career through:
- Professional Engineer (PE) licensure support
- Project Management Professional (PMP) development
- Technical and non‑technical training designed to sharpen your expertise
- Leadership pathways that let you take on greater responsibility
- Mentorship and coaching from experienced engineers and managers
- The opportunity to lead, grow, and inspire a dynamic, high‑performing team
Begin your journey of a flourishing and meaningful career, share your resume with us today!
The Challenge:
- Lead and support the delivery of substation protection and control design projects, ensuring technical excellence and on‑time performance.
- Create and refine relay one‑line diagrams that define protection zones and system topology.
- Develop detailed AC schematics that capture current, voltage, and protection device relationships.
- Produce DC control and protection schematics that ensure safe and reliable operation of substation equipment.
- Design control panels, wiring diagrams, and physical layouts that support efficient construction and long‑term maintainability.
- Build accurate BOMs aligned with project criteria, equipment standards, and client requirements.
- Perform rigorous QC checks on wiring and schematic designs to ensure accuracy, safety, and constructability.
- Contribute from early scoping through final design, implementation, and energization support.
- Provide technical guidance during installation, testing, and commissioning activities.
- Apply National Electrical Safety Code requirements to ensure safe and compliant designs.
- Interpret and implement utility‑specific standards across all design deliverables.
- Partner with design staff to produce complete, accurate drawing packages for every project.
Successful candidates must comply with quality control and safe work practices and maintain compliance with project scope, schedule, and budget. This position will be a member of a design team comprised of engineers, designers, and CAD technicians and will work with client standards to implement design.
What Sets You Apart:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, or related degree with eight (8+) or more years of substation protection control design experience.
- Experience in leading and executing substation protection and control projects.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with internal teams and clients to support project needs.
- Proven ability to meet deadlines and stay organized in fast‑paced or high‑pressure situations.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment, contribute to group success, and provide leadership when needed.
- Self‑starter who can take initiative and work with minimal supervision.
- Strong analytical abilities with a track record of solving engineering challenges both independently and collaboratively.
- High level of computer competency and comfort working with engineering tools and software.
- Willingness to travel to project sites and client locations as needed.
You Might Also have:
- Engineer Intern (“EI” or “EIT”) professional certification.
- Professional Engineer (“PE”) License.
- Master’s degree in related field.
- Field testing/commissioning experience.
WHAT WE DO
Leidos is a trusted and technology-focused solutions provider. Utilities and mobile operators rely on our Power Delivery Services Team for reliable power and telecommunication expertise, as reflected through our work with more than 50 investor-owned utilities, more than 160 municipals/cooperatives, as well as a growing number of mobile operators, local utility providers and private developers. In addition to providing engineering and project management services, Leidos works with an established group of industry-leading construction partners delivering meaningful Energy Delivery Solutions. Our recognition as an industry leader is confirmed by the latest national rankings by Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranking Leidos within the Top 10 T&D Firms, and Top 10 Power Firms. To explore and learn more, click here!
At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.
We take care of our employees. Leidos seeks the best and the brightest, and in return, we invest in you, with an eye on your future, through career advancement, growth opportunities and continuous improvement via mentoring, formal and informal project management training and assistance with obtaining pertinent certifications. We challenge you to help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, and reward you with a welcoming culture that recognizes the importance of a strong work/life balance, as well as competitive compensation and benefits. We believe that diversity and inclusion make us all better and offer the chance to have fun and make a difference.
PowerDelivery
PDSSUBSTATION
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
September 25, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Pay and Benefits
Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.
Securing Your Data
Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
#Remote
See All 51 Substation Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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
- Sargent & Lundy16

- Kimley-Horn4

- ComEd3

- Leidos3

- AMPED I3

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Construction & Real Estate
- 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, Kimley-Horn, and ComEd, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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 74% of substation engineer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 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 51 Substation Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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