Principal Primary Engineer, Substation Design I Energy

AECOM Corporation; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Job summary

AECOM Australia Pty Ltd is seeking a Principal Primary Engineer to lead the design and delivery of high-voltage primary and substation projects in the Australia and New Zealand region. You will provide technical leadership, mentor engineers and work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, compliant outcomes across complex energy infrastructure.

The role requires extensive experience in primary design, strong communication with clients, and familiarity with relevant Australian standards.

Qualifications

• Experienced primary engineer with a track record delivering primary and substation projects.
• Registered with the National Engineering Register (NER).
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of high-voltage primary and substation projects.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineers and designers.
• Coordinate across protection, control, civil and secondary systems teams.
• Review engineering deliverables and ensure compliance with standards.
• Support tendering, planning and cost estimation activities.
• Interface with clients and regulatory bodies to align project requirements.

Skills

High-voltage design

Project leadership

Mentorship

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Job description

Principal Primary Engineer, Substation Design I Energy

• Full-time
• State/Province: Victoria
• Business Group: DCS
• Legal Entity: AECOM Australia Pty Ltd
• Business Line: Energy
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Operating Group: International
• Primary Location: AU - Melbourne, VIC - 8 Siddeley Str

Come and grow with us.

AECOM’s Energy practice provides a wide range of advisory, consulting and engineering design services to power and renewable energy clients. Our understanding of the wider energy system - the interconnection between generation, transmission and distribution, storage, and demand - enables us to deliver integrated solutions that support the transformation of next-generation energy infrastructure.

Actively leveraging our global network, we bring together multidisciplinary teams of engineers, planners and project managers to support major transmission and renewable energy projects shaping the future grid. Our approach across Australia and New Zealand to collaborate across technical, design and delivery disciplines enables us to bring capability that is best for project across diverse teams, as well as providing rewarding career pathways based throughout our network of AECOM offices.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

"Energy is an exciting place to be working as we continue to see changes in the way we generate, transmit and use electricity across all our markets as we work to decarbonise the industry." – Mark Lampard, Sector Director - Transmission & Distribution

Join AECOM as a Principal Primary Engineer, where you will lead the design and delivery of high-voltage primary and substation projects while providing technical leadership, mentoring, and support across an established team of engineers and technical specialists. This role provides the opportunity to further develop your career within a collaborative Energy team delivering projects across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), leveraging your expertise in primary systems and substation design.

You will lead projects from concept through to completion, overseeing technical delivery, design outcomes, and project execution while supporting the development of team members. Drawing on your experience delivering high-voltage projects and applying relevant state-based standards and regulations, you will provide technical direction on projects ranging from 330kV to 500kV infrastructure.

A key focus of the role will be ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, compliant, and efficient substation solutions. You will apply your deep understanding of primary design principles while considering the broader project context, including grid connection requirements and multidisciplinary interfaces.

Working across a diverse portfolio, you will contribute to major transmission and energy infrastructure projects, including grid-scale developments, renewable energy connections, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. This is an opportunity to guide complex project delivery, influence technical standards and best practices, and make a meaningful impact on the energy transition across ANZ.

How you’ll make a difference:

• Lead the development and review of primary system designs including layouts, equipment selection, earthing systems, and related design requirements.
• Act as a subject matter expert for substation primary engineering and design within project teams to support project design and delivery excellence.
• Ensure technical verification tasks are completed, working within AECOM’s technical standards and processes, as well as meeting the relevant regulations and client requirements.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including protection, control, civil, and secondary systems engineers including with offshore and remotely based design teams.
• Support project delivery excellence, with the ability to lead across multiple projects of different scope, scale, client types, timeframes and commercial requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers to develop their technical and project abilities.
• Interface with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure alignment with project requirements, working as a trusted advisor.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables such as drawings, specifications, and design reports.
• Support tendering, project planning, and cost estimation activities.
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and environmental standards throughout project lifecycle.
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and value engineering initiatives.

Ideally this role is planned to be based in AECOM’s Melbourne office, however alternative offices across Australia can be considered for the right applicant.

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced Primary Engineer with a track record across leading the design and delivery of primary and substation projects. You will be known for your ability to work independently, leading the delivery of projects, working collaboratively in teams, with a project and client-first focus. Experience and exposure to working across different project types, site requirements, and geographies at utility scale will be an advantage.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Demonstrated experience working with State Grid regulated clients (ideally VicGrid, or alternatively TransGrid or Powerlink) substation design standards and specifications.
• Experience in substation primary design, preferably within the Australian transmission sector (from 7+ years’ experience ideally more than 10 years).
• Strong knowledge of high-voltage equipment including transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, isolators, and reactive plant.
• Experience with concept and detailed design including substation layout, insulation coordination, and earthing systems.
• Proven ability leading across multiple projects, displaying excellent time management and project delivery experience aligning scope with client timeframes and project budgets.
• Familiarity with relevant Australian standards (e.g., AS/NZS) and industry best practices.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to work across multiple engineering disciplines, building positive and collaborative working relationships.
• Registered with the National Engineering Register (NER), ideally as a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) in Victoria, Australia.
• A Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) is highly desirable, supported by a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline.

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: Our vision for Reconciliation .

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the landson which we, our clients and our communities live and workaround Australia.We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses.Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here:https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options.Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.