Senior Primary Engineer

KBR; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR is seeking an experienced Senior Primary Engineer to join our expanding national Power team in Melbourne. You will deliver HV substation primary designs across major rail and energy projects, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, compliant outcomes.

As a Senior Primary Lead, you will mentor junior engineers, contribute to bid development, and drive continuous improvement of standards and processes while meeting project deadlines and client requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Washington Accord accredited or equivalent).
• Chartered status desirable (or progression toward CPEng / RPEQ / RPEV).
• Proven experience delivering HV substation primary engineering within consulting, rail or utilities.
• Strong technical skills in layouts, equipment specification, earthing and HV design.
• Experience with DNSPs/TNSPs highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver HV substation primary design (11kV–220kV+) including layouts, sections, equipment placement and GA drawings.
• Perform equipment selection for transformers, circuit breakers, disconnectors, busbars, surge arresters and earthing systems.
• Support insulation coordination, short‑circuit duty checks and HV equipment ratings.
• Develop and review earthing designs, lightning protection layouts and clearances.
• Ensure compliance with standards, client requirements and rail/delivery frameworks.
• Work closely with Secondary, SCADA, E&B and project delivery teams to ensure integrated designs.
• Coordinate with clients, utilities and suppliers during design and construction phases.
• Support design reviews, constructability assessments and safety‑in‑design workshops.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to junior engineers.
• Contribute to bid development and proposal support across sectors.
• Assist with continuous improvement of standards, tools and engineering processes.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder coordination

Multi-task management

HV design expertise

Education

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Washington Accord)

Job description

Title:

Senior Primary Engineer

Play a key role in delivering complex HV substation primary designs across major rail and energy projects.

KBR is seeking an experienced Senior Primary Engineer to join our expanding national Power team. With major work across Melbourne’s transport network — including SRL Linewide and Stations, and the North West Program Alliance — this role provides the opportunity to deliver high‑impact engineering outcomes on city‑shaping programs.

As a Senior Primary Lead, you will work both independently and within multidisciplinary teams to deliver substation layouts, equipment specifications and integrated HV primary designs. You’ll collaborate with talented engineers nationwide and contribute to the safe and efficient delivery of high‑voltage infrastructure.

What you’ll be doing

Technical Delivery

• Deliver HV substation primary design (11kV–220kV+) including layouts, sections, equipment placement and GA drawings.

• Perform equipment selection for transformers, circuit breakers, disconnectors, busbars, surge arresters and earthing systems.

• Support insulation coordination, short‑circuit duty checks and HV equipment ratings.

• Develop and review earthing designs, lightning protection layouts and clearances.

• Ensure compliance with standards, client requirements and rail/delivery frameworks.

Coordination & Collaboration

• Work closely with Secondary, SCADA, E&B and project delivery teams to ensure integrated designs.

• Coordinate with clients, utilities and suppliers during design and construction phases.

• Support design reviews, constructability assessments and safety‑in‑design workshops.

Leadership & Growth

• Provide technical direction and mentoring to junior engineers.

• Contribute to bid development and proposal support across sectors.

• Assist with continuous improvement of standards, tools and engineering processes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Washington Accord accredited or equivalent).

• Chartered status desirable (or progression toward CPEng / RPEQ / RPEV).

• Proven experience delivering HV substation primary engineering within consulting, rail or utilities.

• Strong technical skills in layouts, equipment specification, earthing and HV design.

• Experience with DNSPs/TNSPs highly desirable.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder coordination skills.

• Ability to manage multiple design tasks and deadlines.

Why join KBR?

At KBR, we partner with our clients and delivery partners to deliver exceptional outcomes — driven by collaboration, technical excellence and our One Team approach.

With nearly 2,000 employees across Australia, we offer:

• Access to iconic projects in Transport, Energy and Defence.

• Genuine opportunities for professional development, certification and career progression.

• A collaborative, people‑first culture where you are valued and supported.

• Flexible work arrangements and work/life balance.

• National career pathways and exposure to multidisciplinary teams.

Join a team where people matter, your expertise is respected, and your work directly shapes critical Australian infrastructure.

KBR Values:

Our KBR Values - We Value Our People, We Deliver, We Are People of Integrity, We Empower, We Are a Team of Teams - embody our people centric organisation.

Our culture, and our genuine focus on our people is a major factor in our success and we want you to be part of our journey.