Lead Primary Engineer (Substation)

Quanta Philippines ROHQ; Quezon City; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Quanta Philippines ROHQ is seeking a Lead Primary Engineer to spearhead the design and delivery of outdoor substation primary systems across 25 kV to 240 kV in an EPC environment. You will manage engineering deliverables, coordinate with clients and vendors, and mentor junior staff to uphold high standards.

The role requires extensive experience with international codes (IEC/IEEE), and proficiency in AutoCAD, MicroStation, ETAP, and CYMCAP.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in primary outdoor substation design within EPC/consulting.

Responsibilities

• Develop outdoor substation primary design package (plot plans, bus elevations, grounding, cable routing) from 25 kV to 240 kV.
• Design control building electrical systems, lighting, power, HVAC, and related services.
• Perform grounding, lightning protection, load analysis, transformer sizing, insulation coordination, and bus design studies.
• Carry out MV cable ampacity/derating calculations using CYMCAP or equivalent.
• Develop specs for transformers, breakers, instrument transformers, surge arresters, disconnectors; review vendor docs.
• Maintain BOMs and support procurement; lead design reviews and interdisciplinary checks.
• Provide mentoring to junior engineers and lead technical workshops; support bids and FATs as needed.

Skills

Analytical skills

Risk assessment

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Project management

Mentoring

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

ETAP

CYMCAP

Job description

Quanta Philippines ROHQ is the regional operating headquarters of Quanta Services, Inc. located in Manila, Philippines. The ROHQ supports Quanta’s international expansion by sourcing and developing highly qualified workforce for Quanta companies in the US, Australia and worldwide. We are wholly owned by Quanta Services Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed company (NYSE:PWR).

We are seeking a dedicated Lead Primary Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for the design, documentation, and technical delivery of outdoor substation primary systems across voltage levels. This role operates within an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) environment and requires a high degree of technical expertise in outdoor substation design, combined with the ability to lead and mentor junior engineering staff.

The role involves independent management of engineering deliverables, client and vendor coordination, and contribution to the continuous improvement of internal engineering standards and practices.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, possess sharp attention to detail, and genuinely enjoy number processing, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary Substation Design

• Develop outdoor substation primary design package: including plot plans, general arrangements, bus elevations, ampacity diagrams, ground grid design, equipment and structure grounding details, and control and power cable routing for voltage levels ranging from 25 kV to 240 kV.
• Design control building electrical systems, including lighting, power distribution, HVAC power supplies, and auxiliary services.
• Perform engineering calculations and studies including grounding, lightning protection, lighting, AC/DC load analysis, station service transformer, and battery bank sizing, insulation coordination, and rigid bus design.
• Perform MV cable ampacity and derating calculations using CYMCAP or equivalent software.

Specifications & Procurement Support

• Develop technical specifications for primary equipment and apparatus, including power transformers, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, surge arresters, disconnectors, etc.
• Review vendor documentation and drawings to ensure constructability, operability, and compliance with equipment specifications, project design, and applicable standards.
• Develop, maintain, and verify bills of materials for outdoor substation installations, ensuring accuracy for procurement and construction.

Quality Assurance & Technical Review

• Review and verify engineering deliverables produced by junior and intermediate engineers to ensure compliance with project scope, client requirements, and applicable standards.
• Conduct or participate in design reviews and interdisciplinary design checks.
• Collect, interpret, and organize project engineering and vendor data to support design integrity.

Coordination & Technical Leadership

• Coordinate with other engineering disciplines (civil, structural, protection and control) to ensure integrated design compliance with project requirements and standards.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to intermediate and junior primary engineers, supporting their professional development.
• Attend and contribute to client technical meetings, design workshops, and project reviews.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of internal engineering standards, templates, and work practices.
• Support proposal development by providing engineering man-hour estimates and technical input for bids.
• Provide site construction and commissioning support as required, including resolving design-related field queries and supporting factory acceptance tests (FATs).

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or any equivalent course.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in primary outdoor electrical substation design within an EPC or consulting engineering environment.
• Strong analytical, risk assessment, and problem-solving skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
• Working knowledge of relevant Australian (AS/NZS), Canadian (CSA), or international codes and standards.
• Familiarity with IEEE, IEC, NEC, etc.
• Proficiency in design and analysis tools such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, ETAP, and CYMCAP.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring and leading small engineering teams.