Senior Digital Substation Lead, Digital Power Systems

bba; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

BBA seeks a Senior Digital Substation Lead to oversee their team in Ontario, focusing on innovative digital substation solutions to serve sectors like renewable energy and mining. This role involves significant leadership in technical project management while expanding business opportunities in Canada and beyond.

Benefits

Annual base salary

Group insurance plan

Annual vacation and sick leave

Custom training and development plans

Leadership program

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of relevant experience in HV substations and utility projects.
• Professional engineering licence from Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
• Knowledge of IEC61850 standards and electrical design standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Digital Power Systems professionals.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities through client engagement.
• Oversee planning and execution of DPS projects.

Skills

Team leadership

Business development

Client engagement

Technical innovation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Job description

Type of position: Regular

An overview of your future role at BBA

As aSenior Digital Substation Lead, Digital Power Systems, you’ll lead our Ontario-based team in delivering cutting-edge digital substation solutions for the renewable energy, mining and heavy industry sectors. This role is ideal for aseller-doer—someone who combines technical leadership with business development acumen to grow our presence in Ontario and beyond.

You’ll be responsible for building and mentoring a high-performing team in Ontario while actively collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across Canada. Your ability to develop talent, foster client relationships and drive project success will be key to achieving our strategic goals.

Your key responsibilities

Team leadership and development

• Lead, mentor and grow a team of Digital Power Systems (DPS) professionals based in Ontario
  
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture focused on technical excellence and continuous learning
  
• Support recruitment, onboarding and career development initiatives
  
• Conduct regular performance reviews and guide team members through personalized development plans
  
• Promote knowledge sharing through technical sessions and cross-province collaboration

Business development and client engagement

• Serve as aseller-doerby identifying and securing new business opportunities through internal networks and direct client engagement
  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, partners and internal stakeholders
  
• Lead proposal development and contribute to strategic planning and market positioning in Ontario and nationally
  
• Represent BBA at industry events and through thought leadership (e.g., white papers, blog articles and presentations)

Project and operational management

• Oversee the planning, execution and delivery of DPS projects, ensuring alignment with budgets, timelines and quality standards
  
• Manage departmental resources (technical, human, financial and material) to optimize performance
  
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, policies and industry regulations
• Provide technical leadership for all project phases, including design, testing, commissioning and operational support

Technical excellence

• Lead engineering projects based on IEC61850 standards
  
• Supervise laboratory testing and system commissioning
  
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in digital power systems

Do your qualities and values match our corporate culture?

• Entrepreneurial spirit
  
• Desire to motivate and train the next generation
  
• Inspirational leadership and team management skills
  
• Willingness to work together while having fun
  
• Passion for innovation
  
• Interest in solving the most complex energy-management challenges

Overview of job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and professional engineering licence from Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
• Ten or more years of relevant experience in HV substations and utility projects
  
• Availability for travel to BBA offices across Canada
  
• Knowledge of deliverables associated with protection, automation and control of electrical substations, such as specifications for electrical apparatus and intelligent devices, protection schemes, logical schemes, command schemes, protection
• and communication setting files, telecommunications architecture, SCADA design, and implementation
  
• In-depth knowledge of communication protocols such as DNP3, IEC61850 (MMS, GOOSE, Sample Value), PTP, PRP/HSR
  
• Experience with the latest testing equipment and testing software
  
• Working knowledge of electrical design standards (CSA, IEEE, ANSI/IEC)
• Knowledge of electrical installation safety and operating plant safety practices

An overview of BBA’s total rewards

• Annual base salary
• Annual premium program for all regular employees
  
• Onsite mobility premium
  
• Cellphone program
  
• Group insurance plan that starts on dayone, including short-term and long-term disability insurance
  
• A retirement savings plan
  
• Annual vacation and sick leave
  
• A premium tied to the Employee Referral program
  

BBA considers many factors when determining the annual base salary, including, but no limited to, the location of the position, education, relevant and demonstrated work experience, a technical assessment, qualifications, certifications and other relevant skills and experience.

With us, you’ll get many benefits

• Wide playing field based on your interests, from technical and team management to project management
• Participation in innovation projects
  
• A collaborative team that shares ideas and knowledge
  
• Custom training and development plans
  
• A leadership program
  
• A corporate culture that values expertise

About BBA
For over 45 years, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of engineering to serve our clients in the Energy and Natural Resources sector. At BBA, we develop innovative, flexible and sustainable solutions, from strategy to execution. BBA is one of Canada’s leading private consulting engineering firms, focused on practice (PCB), with a network of 18 offices. Our teams work closely to deliver projects that shape tomorrow’s industry at the local, national and international levels.

Our goal is to ensure a diverse and inclusive work environment. We do everything we can to build a workplace where all of our employees want to excel and where they feel respected, heard and valued.Every day.

Our people’s passion and excellence make BBA one of Canada’sBest Managed Companies, and we have been recognized as a2024 Best Employer by Mercer.
We have unique talents, and we’re committed to providing a workplace where you can be yourself. Job postings are written in gender-neutral language.
Learn more about us by visiting our LinkedIn page and join the networks of our talent attraction specialists to speak with them directly.