Associate Director- Energy(Primary Substation)

AECOM; Karnataka; Hybrid; INR 4,000,000 - 8,000,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM seeks an Associate Director- Energy in India to lead high‑voltage grid substation design, HVDC/HVAC integration and primary electrical systems over global projects. You will guide multi‑disciplinary teams, ensure compliance with IEC/IEEE standards, and drive deliverables from concept to commissioning, with a focus on performance, reliability and safety.

The role requires 15+ years in design engineering within a global consultancy, strong communication, and experience in coordinating with

Qualifications

• Master of Engineering degree in an engineering discipline from an accredited university.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Professional Engineer (PE) license from a global body.
• Total work experience of 15+ years, with leadership of large design teams.
• Experience in HV plant design for large EHV grid substations is mandatory.
• Exposure to IEC, IEEE, ANSI, and Middle East region codes is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare designs and deliverables for primary electrical systems in transmission and distribution projects.
• Design AIS/GIS configurations, transformer installations, switchgear layouts up to 800kV.
• Perform short-circuit analysis, fault current calculations and protection design.
• Coordinate with civil teams for foundations, structures and cable routes.
• Develop BOMs, equipment specifications and procurement support.
• Prepare SLDs, GA layouts, and interconnection diagrams.

Skills

Grid Substation Design

Electrical Engineering

HVDC/HVAC Systems

Stakeholder Leadership

Education

Master of Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or PE

15+ years experience

Tools

ETAP

PSS/E

GIS/AIS design tools

Job description

About Enterprise Capabilities

Fundamental to our Think and Act Globally strategy and digital adoption, Enterprise Capabilities (EC) is AECOM’s primary vehicle for workshare. Operating across geographic boundaries and time-zones, EC partners with regional and Global Business Line project teams to provide technical expertise, accelerate delivery and keep AECOM competitive in the industry.

With a team of over 3000 technical professionals located across nine countries and remote technical anchors, EC teams are trusted to deliver high-quality, specialist services that help to fill capability gaps, resourcing needs and technical constraints on projects of all scopes and sizes.

Start here. Grow here.

We are seeking an Associate Director- Energy to join our Transmission & Distribution team in India. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated engineer to contribute to impactful Energy projects across global offices and continue developing their technical expertise in a supportive, high-performing team.

• Preparation of designs and deliverables related to primary electrical systems for transmission and distribution projects. The tasks may encompass, but are not limited to, the following, depending on project requirements and the design phase:

• Design of primary substation systems, including AIS/GIS configurations, transformer installations, circuit breaker selection, busbar arrangements, switchgear layouts, and disconnectors for voltages up to 800kV.

• Preparation of single-line diagrams (SLDs), general arrangement (GA) layouts, equipment sizing, and equipment layout plans for substations and transmission systems.

• Short-circuit force calculations, busbar sizing, fault current analysis, and equipment protection design, ensuring system stability and protection under fault conditions.

• Design of earthing systems, including grounding layouts, ground grid system design, and lightning protection systems for substations.
• Design and integration of HVDC and HVAC systems, including converter stations, ensuring compatibility with the overall substation design.
• Development of transformer layouts, including oil containment, busduct routing, and secondary system interfaces.
• Optimisation of substation layouts for new and upgraded substations, considering space constraints, equipment accessibility, and construction considerations.
• Review and development of control and protection systems for primary substations, ensuring coordination with secondary systems and compliance with grid operator requirements.
• Coordination with civil teams to design and integrate foundations, steel structures, and electrical cable routes, ensuring seamless integration with the primary systems.
• Development of equipment specification documents, bill of materials (BOM), and procurement support, ensuring the correct equipment is selected as per project requirements.
• Preparation of electrical interconnection diagrams, termination diagrams, cable schedules, and other supporting documentation for the installation and operation of primary systems.
• Detailed design and review of auxiliary systems, such as cooling systems, auxiliary power supplies, and battery systems for substations.
• Underground cable design, including cable sizing, cable routing, and integration into existing systems, particularly for HV cable systems.
• Coordination with external vendors and contractors to ensure the supply and installation of equipment in accordance with design specifications and project requirements.

The successful candidate will have the following Qualifications:

• Master of Engineering degree (or equivalent education) in an appropriate engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng), or Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent in the relevant field from any global organization (e.g., Institution of Electrical Engineers, UK)
• Overall 15+ years of work experience is preferred.
• Prior experience in leading large design engineering teams performing Grid Substation design in a global consultancy firm is preferred.
• Experience on HV Plant Design for large EHV Grid Substations is mandatory.
• Previous experience in design teams working for Grid Utilities (for e.g. National Grid, Transgrid, Transpower, Powergrid etc.) is highly desirable
• Exposure to International standards (IEC, IEEE, ANSI, Australian Standards and Middle East region codes and standards) is preferred
• Previous design experience working with GIS and AIS EHV substation HV Plant Primary design is preferable
• Very good communication skills (Oral and Written) in English language is mandatory

At AECOM, our Freedom to Grow philosophy supports flexibility and balance to help our people thrive. As part of this approach, we ask all hybrid employees to work from an AECOM office at least three days per week.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.