Associate Director - HV Substations Secondary

AECOM; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in Malaysia is seeking a senior electrical engineer to lead the design of secondary electrical systems for large grid substations. You will coordinate protection, control, and interconnection diagrams across multi-disciplinary teams on transmission projects.

The role requires deep experience in HV/EHV substations, relay coordination, and adherence to IEC/IEEE standards. On-site at Kuala Lumpur, you will drive design deliverables from concept to FAT and site integration.

Qualifications

• Master of Engineering degree in relevant field.
• CEng or PE license or equivalent.
• 15+ years of work experience.
• Experience leading large design engineering teams for Grid Substation.
• Experience with HV Plant Design for large EHV Substations.
• Experience working with GIS and AIS EHV substation HV Plant Primary design.
• Exposure to IEC, IEEE, ANSI, Australian Standards and Middle East region codes.
• Experience with international standards and integration.

Responsibilities

• Design of protection and control systems, including relay settings, protection schemes, and interlock systems for substations.
• Preparation of SLDs, protection logic diagrams, metering layouts, and cable termination diagrams.
• Preparation of electrical interconnection diagrams, termination diagrams, cable schedules and other design documentation.
• Relay coordination studies and fault analysis.
• Power system studies: load flow, short circuit, transient stability, motor starting, arc flash.
• Development of control and relay panel layouts and BOMs.
• Design of SCADA communication schemes and system integration.
• Review and verification of design documentation to IEC/IEEE and utility specs.
• Support for commissioning and FAT/site integration.
• Development of fault detection and system stability algorithms.
• Interdisciplinary coordination with other engineering teams.
• Preparation of external connection tables, cable schedules, etc.

Skills

Leadership of large design teams

Grid Substation design experience

Protection and control systems design

Relay coordination concepts

IEC/IEEE standards familiarity

Education

Master of Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Professional Engineer (PE) license

15+ years work experience

Tools

GIS

AIS

HV Substation Primary design

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Preparation of designs and deliverables related to secondary 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 protection and control systems, including relay settings, protection schemes, and interlock systems for substations.
• Preparation of single line diagrams (SLDs), protection logic diagrams, metering layouts, and cable termination diagrams.
• Preparation of electrical interconnection diagrams, termination diagrams, cable schedules, and other supporting documentation for the installation and operation of secondary systems.
• Relay coordination studies (overcurrent, earth fault, motor protection, distance protection), including relay setting calculations and fault analysis.
• Power system studies, such as load flow analysis, short circuit studies, transient stability analysis, motor starting studies, and arc flash studies.
• Development of control and relay panel layouts, including general arrangement (GA) drawings, functional block diagrams, and bill of materials (BOMs).
• Design of SCADA communication schemes and system integration for protection systems, ensuring seamless interface between control and field devices.
• Review and verification of design documentation to ensure compliance with industry standards (IEC, IEEE) and utility specifications.
• Support for commissioning and testing, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and site integration of secondary systems.
• Development of algorithms for enhanced system functionality, such as fault detection, relay coordination, and improving system stability.
• Interdisciplinary coordination, including collaboration with other engineering teams to integrate secondary systems with primary infrastructure.
• Preparation of external connection tables, cable schedules, and other design documentation as required by the project specifications.

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.
• 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.

Additional Information

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&DD, 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.

ReqID: J10157477

Business Line: Energy

Business Group: DCS

Strategic Business Unit: Enterprise Capabilities

Career Area: Engineering

Work Location Model: On-Site