Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Substation electrical engineers are in strong demand from U.S. utilities, engineering firms, and grid developers, many of whom sponsor H-1B visa and E-3 visas for qualified candidates. The role consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation, making sponsorship approvals straightforward for engineers with a relevant degree. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Ulteig is seeking an experienced Lead Substation Electrical Owner’s Engineer to serve as an extension of the owner’s project team for major EPC transmission and substation projects. This role provides independent technical review, procurement support, field assurance, and documented recommendations while preserving the Owner’s decision-making authority and the EPC Contractor’s design and construction responsibilities.
What You’ll Do
Project Engineering Support
- Provide owner-side electrical engineering support across project development, design, construction, commissioning, and energization; identify technical risks early and support stage-gate readiness.
- Develop, review, or refine Owner’s Project Specifications and owner-side technical input to the Basis of Design; verify use of current Company standards and project requirements.
- Review EPC design QA/QC processes and preliminary through final deliverables for completeness, consistency, quality, constructability, and compliance. Manage comment logs, deviations, recurring issues, root-cause trends, and closure status.
- Review detailed substation electrical design, including one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, wiring, control buildings, power transformers, breakers, disconnects, bus, CTs/PTs, batteries/DC systems, protection and control, SCADA/communications, grounding, and lightning protection.
- Review short-circuit, coordination, arc-flash, AC/DC, grounding, and related equipment studies/specifications; provide risk-informed and value-engineering recommendations to the Owner.
- Coordinate electrical interfaces with civil, structural, transmission line, communications, operations, outage planning, permitting, and construction teams; participate in field layout and constructability reviews.
Material Specification Development & Procurement Support
- Review and validate EPC material lists, specification codes, item numbers, quantities, bid descriptions, and technical requirements for standard and non-standard materials; document exceptions and recommendations.
- Support procurement packaging, technical bid evaluations, vendor proposal reviews, long-lead equipment planning, logistics, expediting, storage, preservation, traceability, and alignment with design maturity and construction sequencing.
- Review supplier drawings, certified test documentation, material test reports, inspection records, and procurement submittals; track discrepancies, non-conformances, manufacturing status, release status, and material readiness.
- Provide qualified support for factory acceptance testing of major substation equipment; document observations, test results, deficiencies, and follow-up actions for Owner review.
- Advise on project-specific spare parts and strategic spare equipment based on standardization, operational needs, lifecycle maintenance, and portfolio considerations.
Construction Oversight & Quality Assurance
- Provide owner-side field oversight of EPC and subcontractor electrical work; evaluate conformance with approved drawings, specifications, procedures, acceptance criteria, and project requirements without directing the Contractor unless expressly authorized.
- Attend construction progress and site coordination meetings; assess work packaging, site readiness, sequencing, access, quality, safety, schedule, and constructability. Escalate field issues and potential non-conformances promptly.
- Review field QC testing, inspection results, construction quality records, and corrective actions. Maintain clear field reports, issue logs, quality-surveillance records, NCR tracking, and closure documentation.
- Review commissioning plans, energization procedures, functional/performance test requirements, completion certificates, and turnover checklists. Witness testing and energization activities when requested; document exceptions and readiness concerns.
- Track punch-list items, test exceptions, deficiencies, required records, and milestone readiness through closure; support as-built, O&M, warranty, and final turnover documentation review.
What We Expect from You
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent; active Professional Engineer license required.
- 7+ years of electric utility substation engineering, design review, commissioning, or construction support experience; experience with 138 kV and 345 kV facilities strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated Owner’s Engineer or EPC oversight experience and strong knowledge of substation primary systems, protection and control, SCADA, studies, grounding, and applicable utility/industry standards.
- Experience reviewing specifications, material lists, vendor submittals, FAT documentation, field quality records, commissioning plans, and energization readiness evidence.
- Ability to communicate concise, defensible recommendations; maintain traceable review records; lead multidisciplinary interfaces; and distinguish review/monitoring responsibilities from Owner approval authority.
- Ability to work within the Owner’s operational footprint and travel to project sites, supplier facilities, and EPC offices as needed. Remote work must be performed within the United States unless otherwise authorized and compliant with security requirements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and familiarity with utility design/project systems such as GIS, SAP, Primavera P6, Bentley MicroStation, and ProjectWise is preferred. Permanent authorization to work in the U.S. required.
- Demonstrates openness to innovation by embracing and applying evolving technology and AI tools to enhance workflows, solve problems, and drive continuous improvement.
- Must have authorization to work permanently in the U.S.
What You Can Expect from Ulteig
Ulteig is a purpose driven organization that has built a culture focused on people – both our clients and our employees – for over 80 years. Working at Ulteig is more than a job, opening opportunities to make an impact by creating and solving for a sustainable future. We recognize our success relies heavily on the dedication and focus of our workforce; this is why we make investing in our employees a top priority. We prioritize flexibility and staying connected to meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. We value your unique perspective, respect your individuality and celebrate your contributions. At Ulteig, we take our own success and the success of our clients personally.
We offer our team members:
- Flexible Workplace
- Employee Ownership
- Competitive Pay
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Collaborative Environment
- Innovative Culture
Our vision is to be the most trusted partners transforming our world’s critical infrastructure. Ulteig connects people and resources to develop compelling, integrated solutions across multiple Lifeline Sectors®, including Power, Renewables, Transportation and Water. Ulteig is a trusted partner in engineering North America’s essential infrastructure and leverages its expertise with a wide range of public and private clients.
At Ulteig, we care deeply about our team, listening to their needs and ensuring they have the tools necessary to be productive whether they choose to work remotely, hybrid or in office. Regardless of where you work, you are empowered to build a workday that best suits your strengths. We strive to ensure a balance and separation between home and work life. We support a flexible working schedule so employees are able to focus on what's important to them.
If you would like to be a part of a company that empowers their employees, apply today!
Ulteig is a Drug Free Workplace
ACHIEVE | GROW | COLLABORATE
Target Base Compensation Range for this role is $123,200 - $159,650
Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary include your job specific skills, education, training, job location, number of years of experience related to this role and comparison to other employees already in this role.
This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 60 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.
Notice to Recruiters and Staffing Agencies: to protect the interests of all parties, Ulteig Engineers, Inc., will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate or an approved vendor that has a written and signed agreement in place with Ulteig. Please do not contact or forward resumes to our company employees or locations. Any unsolicited resumes will be considered Ulteig property. Ulteig is not responsible for any charges or fees related to unsolicited resumes.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
The Opportunity
Ulteig is seeking an experienced Lead Substation Electrical Owner’s Engineer to serve as an extension of the owner’s project team for major EPC transmission and substation projects. This role provides independent technical review, procurement support, field assurance, and documented recommendations while preserving the Owner’s decision-making authority and the EPC Contractor’s design and construction responsibilities.
What You’ll Do
Project Engineering Support
- Provide owner-side electrical engineering support across project development, design, construction, commissioning, and energization; identify technical risks early and support stage-gate readiness.
- Develop, review, or refine Owner’s Project Specifications and owner-side technical input to the Basis of Design; verify use of current Company standards and project requirements.
- Review EPC design QA/QC processes and preliminary through final deliverables for completeness, consistency, quality, constructability, and compliance. Manage comment logs, deviations, recurring issues, root-cause trends, and closure status.
- Review detailed substation electrical design, including one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, wiring, control buildings, power transformers, breakers, disconnects, bus, CTs/PTs, batteries/DC systems, protection and control, SCADA/communications, grounding, and lightning protection.
- Review short-circuit, coordination, arc-flash, AC/DC, grounding, and related equipment studies/specifications; provide risk-informed and value-engineering recommendations to the Owner.
- Coordinate electrical interfaces with civil, structural, transmission line, communications, operations, outage planning, permitting, and construction teams; participate in field layout and constructability reviews.
Material Specification Development & Procurement Support
- Review and validate EPC material lists, specification codes, item numbers, quantities, bid descriptions, and technical requirements for standard and non-standard materials; document exceptions and recommendations.
- Support procurement packaging, technical bid evaluations, vendor proposal reviews, long-lead equipment planning, logistics, expediting, storage, preservation, traceability, and alignment with design maturity and construction sequencing.
- Review supplier drawings, certified test documentation, material test reports, inspection records, and procurement submittals; track discrepancies, non-conformances, manufacturing status, release status, and material readiness.
- Provide qualified support for factory acceptance testing of major substation equipment; document observations, test results, deficiencies, and follow-up actions for Owner review.
- Advise on project-specific spare parts and strategic spare equipment based on standardization, operational needs, lifecycle maintenance, and portfolio considerations.
Construction Oversight & Quality Assurance
- Provide owner-side field oversight of EPC and subcontractor electrical work; evaluate conformance with approved drawings, specifications, procedures, acceptance criteria, and project requirements without directing the Contractor unless expressly authorized.
- Attend construction progress and site coordination meetings; assess work packaging, site readiness, sequencing, access, quality, safety, schedule, and constructability. Escalate field issues and potential non-conformances promptly.
- Review field QC testing, inspection results, construction quality records, and corrective actions. Maintain clear field reports, issue logs, quality-surveillance records, NCR tracking, and closure documentation.
- Review commissioning plans, energization procedures, functional/performance test requirements, completion certificates, and turnover checklists. Witness testing and energization activities when requested; document exceptions and readiness concerns.
- Track punch-list items, test exceptions, deficiencies, required records, and milestone readiness through closure; support as-built, O&M, warranty, and final turnover documentation review.
What We Expect from You
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent; active Professional Engineer license required.
- 7+ years of electric utility substation engineering, design review, commissioning, or construction support experience; experience with 138 kV and 345 kV facilities strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated Owner’s Engineer or EPC oversight experience and strong knowledge of substation primary systems, protection and control, SCADA, studies, grounding, and applicable utility/industry standards.
- Experience reviewing specifications, material lists, vendor submittals, FAT documentation, field quality records, commissioning plans, and energization readiness evidence.
- Ability to communicate concise, defensible recommendations; maintain traceable review records; lead multidisciplinary interfaces; and distinguish review/monitoring responsibilities from Owner approval authority.
- Ability to work within the Owner’s operational footprint and travel to project sites, supplier facilities, and EPC offices as needed. Remote work must be performed within the United States unless otherwise authorized and compliant with security requirements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and familiarity with utility design/project systems such as GIS, SAP, Primavera P6, Bentley MicroStation, and ProjectWise is preferred. Permanent authorization to work in the U.S. required.
- Demonstrates openness to innovation by embracing and applying evolving technology and AI tools to enhance workflows, solve problems, and drive continuous improvement.
- Must have authorization to work permanently in the U.S.
What You Can Expect from Ulteig
Ulteig is a purpose driven organization that has built a culture focused on people – both our clients and our employees – for over 80 years. Working at Ulteig is more than a job, opening opportunities to make an impact by creating and solving for a sustainable future. We recognize our success relies heavily on the dedication and focus of our workforce; this is why we make investing in our employees a top priority. We prioritize flexibility and staying connected to meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. We value your unique perspective, respect your individuality and celebrate your contributions. At Ulteig, we take our own success and the success of our clients personally.
We offer our team members:
- Flexible Workplace
- Employee Ownership
- Competitive Pay
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Collaborative Environment
- Innovative Culture
Our vision is to be the most trusted partners transforming our world’s critical infrastructure. Ulteig connects people and resources to develop compelling, integrated solutions across multiple Lifeline Sectors®, including Power, Renewables, Transportation and Water. Ulteig is a trusted partner in engineering North America’s essential infrastructure and leverages its expertise with a wide range of public and private clients.
At Ulteig, we care deeply about our team, listening to their needs and ensuring they have the tools necessary to be productive whether they choose to work remotely, hybrid or in office. Regardless of where you work, you are empowered to build a workday that best suits your strengths. We strive to ensure a balance and separation between home and work life. We support a flexible working schedule so employees are able to focus on what's important to them.
If you would like to be a part of a company that empowers their employees, apply today!
Ulteig is a Drug Free Workplace
ACHIEVE | GROW | COLLABORATE
Target Base Compensation Range for this role is $123,200 - $159,650
Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary include your job specific skills, education, training, job location, number of years of experience related to this role and comparison to other employees already in this role.
This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 60 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.
Notice to Recruiters and Staffing Agencies: to protect the interests of all parties, Ulteig Engineers, Inc., will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate or an approved vendor that has a written and signed agreement in place with Ulteig. Please do not contact or forward resumes to our company employees or locations. Any unsolicited resumes will be considered Ulteig property. Ulteig is not responsible for any charges or fees related to unsolicited resumes.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 4,746+ Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Substation Electrical Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Substation Electrical Engineer
Target utilities and large EPC firms first
Investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy, Dominion, and Entergy regularly sponsor H-1B and E-3 visas for substation engineers. Large engineering firms contracted on grid expansion projects also carry established sponsorship infrastructure and file petitions routinely.
Lead with your protection and relay experience
Employers sponsoring visas for this role prioritize candidates with hands-on protection relay coordination, SCADA integration, or substation design experience. Highlighting specific software proficiency, ETAP, SKM, or AutoCAD, signals immediate value and reduces employer hesitation around sponsorship costs.
Confirm your degree field aligns with the role
H-1B specialty occupation approval requires a degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field. A degree in a different engineering discipline may face a Request for Evidence. Confirm your transcript clearly supports the substation engineering scope before applying.
Prioritize roles tied to grid modernization and IRA funding
The Inflation Reduction Act has accelerated substation construction nationwide. Employers receiving federal grid investment funding have strong incentives to staff up quickly, which increases their willingness to sponsor visas for candidates with the right technical background.
Get your PE license process started early
A Professional Engineer license significantly strengthens your sponsorship case and makes you more competitive for senior roles. Many states allow foreign-educated engineers to sit the FE exam. Starting this process while job searching demonstrates commitment and adds weight to your application.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for sponsoring employers
Not every job posting discloses visa sponsorship willingness upfront. Migrate Mate filters substation engineering roles by sponsorship availability, saving significant time and ensuring you're only applying to employers actively open to sponsoring international candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does substation electrical engineering qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship?
Yes. Substation electrical engineering qualifies as an H-1B visa specialty occupation because it requires at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a directly related field. USCIS has consistently approved petitions for this role. Employers filing through established utilities or EPC firms rarely encounter denials when the degree-to-job match is clearly documented.
Which visa types are most common for substation engineers sponsored into the U.S.?
H-1B is the most common path, though it requires winning the annual lottery. Australian citizens can pursue the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and is available year-round with a qualifying job offer. Canadian and Mexican engineers may qualify for the TN visa under the USMCA if their role fits the professional engineer category.
Will a three-year electrical engineering degree qualify me for H-1B sponsorship as a substation engineer?
It depends on the country and program. A three-year bachelor's degree from Australia is generally accepted as equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree for E-3 purposes. For H-1B purposes, USCIS evaluates equivalency on a case-by-case basis, and a three-year degree paired with additional graduate coursework or substantial work experience typically strengthens the case considerably.
How competitive is visa sponsorship for substation engineers compared to other engineering roles?
Substation engineers are in a favorable position. Grid modernization, utility decarbonization, and renewable integration projects have created a genuine shortage of qualified candidates in this niche. Employers facing project deadlines are more willing to sponsor visas when domestic hiring pipelines run dry. Browse current sponsored openings on Migrate Mate to see which employers are actively hiring.
Can I switch employers on an H-1B while working as a substation engineer?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, you can begin working for a new employer as soon as they file an H-1B transfer petition, without waiting for approval, provided your current H-1B was previously approved and you've maintained valid status. Your new employer must file a new I-129 petition and Labor Condition Application covering the substation engineer role and work location.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Substation Electrical Engineer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.