Substation Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Substation engineers design and maintain electrical power distribution systems, making them essential for utility companies and energy infrastructure projects. Most positions require an electrical engineering degree and qualify for H-1B visa, TN visa, and E-3 visa sponsorship. Large utilities like Duke Energy and Xcel Energy regularly sponsor international engineers. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsPOSITION - Union: Substation Electrician 1/C, 2/C, Apprentice acceptable
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1
LOCATION: NY - Rochester - Scottsville Rd
HOURLY RATE: $23.04 - $58.19
A Substation Electrician is committed to safety and safe work practices. These individuals are responsible for ensuring the safety of themselves, coworkers, the general public, and Company property. They know and apply the fundamentals of electricity and are aware of the hazards involved in this discipline. They ensure the safety and reliability of the electric system, particularly in the area of substations and related systems. They demonstrate the ability to competently and effectively perform the duties of their job including the skills to perform the operation, maintenance, and construction of substations and related systems. They work closely with others in a team environment including interaction with employees, customers, agencies, and trade allies in the performance of their duties.
Duties:
-
Safely and effectively performs all work associated with the operation, maintenance and construction of electric substations and related systems.
-
Must have had at least 4 (four) years’ experience in electric construction and maintenance in the area of substations and related systems and/or have completed a formal training program in substations and related systems and/or the ability to demonstrate these skills on an appropriate test.
-
Must be able to understand and diagnose problems related to electric substations and related systems and perform the work to correct these problems.
Skills and Requirements
In addition to possessing the specific qualifications for each job, each employee should demonstrate the ability to meet these general requirements, which include:
-
Have a satisfactory work record.
-
Execute the physical requirements to perform their job.
-
Pass job tests, obtain licenses and certificates, and computer skills applicable to the work performed.
-
Follow instructions and function in a team environment including effective interaction with supervisors, coworkers, customers, agencies, and trade allies.
-
Respond to calls outside of regular hours in all types of weather and be available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to assist or respond to applicable emergency situations as able.
-
Comply with the rules of the Company, as applicable.
-
Ensure the safety of self, coworkers, the general public, and Company property.
-
Represent the Company in a professional manner.
-
Must have obtained a high school diploma or GED.
-
Must have a valid driver’s license and possess or have the ability to obtain a CDL or other certifications or licenses required for the specific job.
-
Perform other less skilled or related work associated with their job classification.
Competencies
- Be a role model
- Be agile
- Collaborate and Share
- Develop Self & Others
- Empower to grow
- Focus to achieve results
- Technical Skills
Company:
ROCHESTER GAS & ELEC CORP
Mobility Information
Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.
At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at careers@avangrid.com.
Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.
Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee’s management.
Job Posting End Date:
October-1-2026
POSITION - Union: Substation Electrician 1/C, 2/C, Apprentice acceptable
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1
LOCATION: NY - Rochester - Scottsville Rd
HOURLY RATE: $23.04 - $58.19
A Substation Electrician is committed to safety and safe work practices. These individuals are responsible for ensuring the safety of themselves, coworkers, the general public, and Company property. They know and apply the fundamentals of electricity and are aware of the hazards involved in this discipline. They ensure the safety and reliability of the electric system, particularly in the area of substations and related systems. They demonstrate the ability to competently and effectively perform the duties of their job including the skills to perform the operation, maintenance, and construction of substations and related systems. They work closely with others in a team environment including interaction with employees, customers, agencies, and trade allies in the performance of their duties.
Duties:
-
Safely and effectively performs all work associated with the operation, maintenance and construction of electric substations and related systems.
-
Must have had at least 4 (four) years’ experience in electric construction and maintenance in the area of substations and related systems and/or have completed a formal training program in substations and related systems and/or the ability to demonstrate these skills on an appropriate test.
-
Must be able to understand and diagnose problems related to electric substations and related systems and perform the work to correct these problems.
Skills and Requirements
In addition to possessing the specific qualifications for each job, each employee should demonstrate the ability to meet these general requirements, which include:
-
Have a satisfactory work record.
-
Execute the physical requirements to perform their job.
-
Pass job tests, obtain licenses and certificates, and computer skills applicable to the work performed.
-
Follow instructions and function in a team environment including effective interaction with supervisors, coworkers, customers, agencies, and trade allies.
-
Respond to calls outside of regular hours in all types of weather and be available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to assist or respond to applicable emergency situations as able.
-
Comply with the rules of the Company, as applicable.
-
Ensure the safety of self, coworkers, the general public, and Company property.
-
Represent the Company in a professional manner.
-
Must have obtained a high school diploma or GED.
-
Must have a valid driver’s license and possess or have the ability to obtain a CDL or other certifications or licenses required for the specific job.
-
Perform other less skilled or related work associated with their job classification.
Competencies
- Be a role model
- Be agile
- Collaborate and Share
- Develop Self & Others
- Empower to grow
- Focus to achieve results
- Technical Skills
Company:
ROCHESTER GAS & ELEC CORP
Mobility Information
Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.
At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at careers@avangrid.com.
Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.
Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee’s management.
Job Posting End Date:
October-1-2026
See all 1,598+ Substation Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Substation Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Substation Engineer
Target utility companies and power grid operators
Major utilities like Entergy, Southern Company, and Pacific Gas & Electric sponsor substation engineers regularly. They have established immigration processes and understand the specialty occupation requirements for electrical engineering roles.
Emphasize power systems and SCADA experience
Highlight experience with supervisory control systems, protection schemes, and grid automation. These specialized skills are in high demand and help justify the H-1B specialty occupation requirement to USCIS.
Consider engineering consulting firms
Companies like Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, and Quanta Services hire substation engineers for client projects nationwide. They often sponsor visas and offer diverse project exposure across different utility systems.
Apply to renewable energy developers
Solar and wind companies need substation engineers to integrate renewable generation into the grid. NextEra Energy, First Solar, and Orsted regularly sponsor engineers for transmission interconnection projects.
Obtain relevant professional certifications
IEEE certifications, NERC reliability standards training, and state Professional Engineer licenses strengthen visa applications. They demonstrate specialized knowledge that supports the H-1B specialty occupation argument for electrical engineering positions.
Focus on transmission and distribution experience
Experience with high-voltage equipment, fault analysis, and protective relaying is highly valued. Document specific voltage levels, equipment types, and protection schemes you've worked with to differentiate yourself from general electrical engineers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do substation engineers qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, substation engineers typically qualify for H-1B visas as the role requires specialized electrical engineering knowledge. The position involves complex power systems design, protection schemes, and grid integration that clearly meets the specialty occupation requirement. Most employers can successfully argue the specialized nature of substation work.
What degree do I need for visa sponsorship as a substation engineer?
An electrical engineering bachelor's degree is typically required for visa sponsorship. Some employers accept electrical engineering technology degrees with extensive power systems experience. Power engineering or electrical power specializations strengthen applications. The degree must be directly related to electrical systems and power distribution.
Which visa types work best for substation engineers?
H-1B is most common for substation engineers at utilities and consulting firms. Canadian and Mexican engineers can use TN visas under the "Engineer" category. Australian engineers qualify for E-3 visas. All three visa types recognize electrical engineering as a qualifying specialty occupation for substation work.
Do utilities sponsor international substation engineers?
Yes, major utilities regularly sponsor substation engineers due to specialized skill shortages in power systems. Companies like Duke Energy, American Electric Power, and Dominion Energy have established visa sponsorship programs. They understand the critical nature of grid infrastructure and invest in international talent acquisition.
Can substation engineers get sponsored without U.S. power grid experience?
Yes, international power systems experience translates well to U.S. substations. Employers value experience with high-voltage equipment, protective relaying, and SCADA systems regardless of country. Different grid standards and equipment manufacturers provide valuable perspective that utilities often seek for modernization projects.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Substation 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.
How to find Substation Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Substation Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international engineers with sponsoring employers. Focus your search on electrical utilities, power generation companies, and infrastructure firms that frequently sponsor H-1B, TN, and O-1 visas for engineers. These companies often have ongoing projects requiring specialized substation design and maintenance expertise.