TN Visa Substation Design Engineer Jobs
Substation Design Engineer roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under the USMCA's Engineer category, covering power systems, protection relay design, and high-voltage infrastructure work. Canadian citizens can apply at the port of entry with no cap. Mexican citizens require consular processing. A qualifying job offer and a relevant engineering degree are required.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substation Designer Engineer - Lead Professional for our Burnsville (Minneapolis), Minnesota 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.
The Substation Design Engineer will be responsible for Substation Physical and Control Design, Project Engineering, Mentoring Early Professionals, coordinating project scope/schedule/budget with Project Manager, and providing QAQC reviews on department projects.
Your Impact:
- Support the Department Manager with the management and development of client relationships and client teams
- Direct and lead multidisciplined project teams from scoping, through detailed design and construction support of medium to high voltage utility substations
- Perform high-level quality / cross-discipline design reviews of Substation Physical, P&C, and Civil Structural drawing packages
- Perform detailed quality design reviews of Substation Physical design packages and/or Substation P&C design packages
- Perform, mentor, and direct others in the detailed design of substations including, but not limited to
- Client Standards
- One-line diagrams
- Schematics
- Wiring diagrams
- SCADA
- Communications
- Station physical layouts
- Sections/Elevations
- Cable and conduit plans and details
- Ground grid design and details
- Foundation plans and details
- Structural plans and details
- Control enclosure design and details;
- Lightning protection plans
- Yard lighting plans
- Bills of Materials
- Inter-discipline coordination activities
- Specify and select substation equipment
- Contribute to substation equipment specifications
- Construction support
- Facility studies
- Site visits
- Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and quality of assigned projects
- Support the Project Manager with project reporting needs
- Support proposal development
- Occasional travel will be required
- Coordinate, review and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for smaller and less-complex projects, ensuring data integrity and work is compliant with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations
- Apply high-level electrical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation
- Develop and review plans, specifications, and cost estimates, construction safety and phasing plans, and updating electrical infrastructure layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients
- Involved from project inception to completion in the management of design and construction of electrical infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, site development, grading, drainage, equipment layout, elevations, specifications, building materials, phasing, and construction safety plans
- Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, sketches, calculations, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses
- Prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, findings, concepts, and recommendations to improve, prevent, control, restore, or address design, and/or construction issues or opportunities
- Analyze, evaluate, and interpret data obtained during field investigations, offering input with developing action plans for moderate- to high-level risk mitigation activities
- Prepare and implement site Health and Safety Plans (HASPs)
- Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner
- Collaborate with professionals, other engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities
- Remain current in latest electrical engineering techniques and practices
- 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 (or equivalent experience)
- 7 to 10 years of relevant post education experience as an electrical engineer providing design deliverables for capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution at a utility, industrial, or commercial scale
- Engineer license required
- Proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues
- Experience with electrical infrastructure planning, design, and construction management; including active involvement in a variety of rehabilitation, new design, and construction projects
- Well-defined specific knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements
- Well-developed ability to make technical computations and calculations involving the application of electrical engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations
- Ability to plan and conduct inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities or structures, applying applicable regulations and policies
- Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience
- Demonstrated high-level of self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment
- Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC
- Highly proficient with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., CADD, Aspen, CAPE, ETAP, WIN IGS, Inventor, AutoCADD electrical), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools
- Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution
- Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently
- 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:
- Master’s Degree in Engineering
- 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred
- Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired
INTRODUCTION
WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substation Designer Engineer - Lead Professional for our Burnsville (Minneapolis), Minnesota 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.
The Substation Design Engineer will be responsible for Substation Physical and Control Design, Project Engineering, Mentoring Early Professionals, coordinating project scope/schedule/budget with Project Manager, and providing QAQC reviews on department projects.
Your Impact:
- Support the Department Manager with the management and development of client relationships and client teams
- Direct and lead multidisciplined project teams from scoping, through detailed design and construction support of medium to high voltage utility substations
- Perform high-level quality / cross-discipline design reviews of Substation Physical, P&C, and Civil Structural drawing packages
- Perform detailed quality design reviews of Substation Physical design packages and/or Substation P&C design packages
- Perform, mentor, and direct others in the detailed design of substations including, but not limited to
- Client Standards
- One-line diagrams
- Schematics
- Wiring diagrams
- SCADA
- Communications
- Station physical layouts
- Sections/Elevations
- Cable and conduit plans and details
- Ground grid design and details
- Foundation plans and details
- Structural plans and details
- Control enclosure design and details;
- Lightning protection plans
- Yard lighting plans
- Bills of Materials
- Inter-discipline coordination activities
- Specify and select substation equipment
- Contribute to substation equipment specifications
- Construction support
- Facility studies
- Site visits
- Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and quality of assigned projects
- Support the Project Manager with project reporting needs
- Support proposal development
- Occasional travel will be required
- Coordinate, review and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for smaller and less-complex projects, ensuring data integrity and work is compliant with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations
- Apply high-level electrical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation
- Develop and review plans, specifications, and cost estimates, construction safety and phasing plans, and updating electrical infrastructure layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients
- Involved from project inception to completion in the management of design and construction of electrical infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, site development, grading, drainage, equipment layout, elevations, specifications, building materials, phasing, and construction safety plans
- Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, sketches, calculations, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses
- Prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, findings, concepts, and recommendations to improve, prevent, control, restore, or address design, and/or construction issues or opportunities
- Analyze, evaluate, and interpret data obtained during field investigations, offering input with developing action plans for moderate- to high-level risk mitigation activities
- Prepare and implement site Health and Safety Plans (HASPs)
- Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner
- Collaborate with professionals, other engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities
- Remain current in latest electrical engineering techniques and practices
- 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 (or equivalent experience)
- 7 to 10 years of relevant post education experience as an electrical engineer providing design deliverables for capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution at a utility, industrial, or commercial scale
- Engineer license required
- Proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues
- Experience with electrical infrastructure planning, design, and construction management; including active involvement in a variety of rehabilitation, new design, and construction projects
- Well-defined specific knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements
- Well-developed ability to make technical computations and calculations involving the application of electrical engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations
- Ability to plan and conduct inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities or structures, applying applicable regulations and policies
- Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience
- Demonstrated high-level of self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment
- Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC
- Highly proficient with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., CADD, Aspen, CAPE, ETAP, WIN IGS, Inventor, AutoCADD electrical), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools
- Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution
- Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently
- 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:
- Master’s Degree in Engineering
- 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred
- Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired
See all 23+ Substation Design Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Substation Design Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship as a Substation Design Engineer
Verify your degree aligns with Engineering
The TN Engineer category requires a degree in engineering, not a related field like physics or construction management. A degree in electrical, power systems, or electrical engineering technology is the strongest credential match for substation design roles.
Target utilities and EPC firms directly
Investor-owned utilities, municipal power authorities, and engineering-procurement-construction firms hire substation design engineers in volume. These employers file TN documentation regularly and are less likely to conflate TN sponsorship with H-1B lottery uncertainty during interviews.
Frame your offer letter around specialty tasks
A vague offer letter is the single most common TN denial trigger. Ask your employer to specify substation-related duties: protection relay coordination, single-line diagram development, or switching scheme design. Generic language like 'engineering support' invites scrutiny at the port of entry or consulate.
Clarify cap status before accepting an offer
Canadian professionals can enter at land ports with same-day TN approval, while Mexican citizens require a consular appointment with processing times that vary by post. Confirm which pathway applies to you before your employer sets a start date or submits an I-129 through USCIS.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers
Search Migrate Mate to identify substation engineering roles at employers with recent visa filings and experience sponsoring work visas. This cuts the research time spent cold-applying to firms unfamiliar with USMCA professional categories or unwilling to support your TN application with the required employer letter.
Prepare a professional credential package upfront
Gather your engineering degree, transcripts, and any P.E. license documentation before starting interviews. CBP officers reviewing TN applications at the border may request supporting documents on the spot, and delays due to missing credentials can result in deferred entry.
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Find Substation Design Engineer JobsSubstation Design Engineer TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Substation Design Engineer qualify for TN visa status?
Yes. Substation Design Engineers qualify under the TN visa's Engineer category, provided the role requires the application of engineering principles and the applicant holds a degree in engineering. Duties such as protection relay design, grounding studies, and switching scheme development clearly fall within this category. A general engineering or electrical engineering degree is typically sufficient, but the offer letter must describe engineering-specific tasks.
How does TN compare to H-1B for Substation Design Engineer roles?
TN has no lottery and no annual cap for Canadians, making it far more predictable than H-1B for most applicants. Canadian citizens can obtain TN status at a port of entry the same day an offer is accepted. H-1B requires a lottery registration in March, a cap-subject petition, and months of processing. For substation roles where the employer wants someone to start within weeks, TN is the practical choice.
Where can I find Substation Design Engineer jobs with TN sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for TN visa job seekers and surfaces substation engineering roles from employers familiar with USMCA sponsorship. General job boards don't filter by visa category, so you often can't tell whether an employer understands TN or has any sponsorship experience before investing time in an application.
Can a Mexican citizen get TN status as a Substation Design Engineer?
Yes, but the process differs from the Canadian pathway. Mexican citizens cannot apply at a land port of entry and must instead attend a visa interview at a U.S. consulate in Mexico. The consulate will evaluate the TN classification, the offer letter, and the applicant's credentials. Processing times vary by post, so building lead time into your start date negotiation is practical planning, not caution.
What documents does my employer need to provide for TN sponsorship?
Your employer must provide a detailed offer letter on company letterhead confirming your job title, a description of engineering duties specific to substation design, your anticipated length of employment, and your professional credentials. The letter should reference the TN Engineer category explicitly. USCIS or CBP may also request evidence that the employer is a legitimate U.S. business, such as a business license or tax identification documentation.
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