Civil Engineer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 92,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Superior benefits

Employee ownership (ESOP)

Retirement plan with ESOP

Top-tier medical and dental coverage

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. in Irvine, CA is seeking a Substation Civil/Structural Engineer to design and lead civil work for substation projects. You will mentor staff, perform QA reviews, and help develop proposals to protect power infrastructure worldwide.

The role requires a Civil Engineering degree (ABET), 5+ years in electric utilities, a P.E. license, and strong GIS and structural analysis software skills. Join a 100% employee-owned leader in protection technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an ABET program.
• 5+ years of civil engineering design in electric utility.
• P.E. license required.
• Civil design for substation sites including grading, drainage, and development.
• Topographic specs, surveying, and geotech site boring knowledge.
• Familiar with permits, ROW, and easements.
• Structural analysis capability and knowledge of codes.

Responsibilities

• Lead civil engineering designs and reports for substation projects.
• Serve as technical lead and assist with proposals.
• Perform QA reviews and mentor junior staff.
• Estimate labor, material, and construction costs.
• Conduct field inspections and provide construction support.
• Create bid docs, review contracts and specs, and advise on bids.

Skills

Site grading

Drainage design

GIS proficiency

Team supervision

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. in Civil Engineering

P.E. license

Tools

RISA Foundation

MATHCAD

LPile

Hilti PROFIS

RISA 3D

STAAD Pro

SAG10

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Civil 3D

Primavera P6

Job description

The devices we make at SEL are embedded in the power grid. They prevent blackouts. They make outages safer and shorter in duration; they add cybersecurity, automation, and communication. They use cutting-edge technologies and operate at speeds that push other pieces of the grid to go faster.

As Substation Civil/Structural Engineer in Engineering Services, you’ll provide solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate, and develop civil engineering designs and reports for Substation greenfield and brownfield projects.
• Assist with proposal development and serve as the Technical Lead.
• Perform QA reviews and provide mentorship to less experienced engineers and designers.
• Estimate labor, material, and construction costs for projects.
• Conduct field inspections, investigations, and provide construction support.
• Create construction bid documents, review contracts, specifications, bids, and offer recommendations.

Qualifications

This job might be for you if you posses the following:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
• 5+ years of civil engineering design experience in the electric utility industry.
• P.E. license.
• Proficiency in substation civil engineering design, including site grading, drainage systems, and site development.
• Topographical specifications, surveying, and geotechnical site boring identification.
• Knowledge of permitting procedures, right-of-way, property lines, and easements.
• Steel structure analysis and design.
• Foundations and oil containment design.
• Development of Spill Prevention Countermeasures and Control (SPCC), Preparedness Prevention and Contingency Plan (PPC), and Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP).
• Substation access and roadways design.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Capable of supervising and training new team members.
• Proficiency in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Experience with structural analysis software, such as RISA Foundation, MATHCAD, LPile, Hilti PROFIS, and RISA 3D.
• Familiarity with design codes and standards, including ASCE 7, AISC, ACI 318, EPRI, ASTM, NESC, IBC, RUS 1724E-200, and IEEE.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in additional structural analysis software, such as STAAD Pro and SAG10.
• Experience with design software like AutoCAD, MicroStation, and Civil 3D.
• Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Primavera P6).

Location

Irvine, CA – This position is located in Irvine, CA, where you will enjoy the perfect balance of city living and preserved natural spaces. Located just forty miles from Los Angeles, adjacent to the John Wayne/Orange County airport and only a short drive to the beautiful Southern California beaches. You can enjoy a variety of great shopping, entertainment, sports, and access to great schools and universities. Irvine is known as the center of Orange County, culturally diverse and has an enjoyable climate, making it the perfect location to call home.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Superior benefits.
• Inspiring work.
• People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners.
• We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
• We're 100% employee owned.
• Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
• We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
• We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
• Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range Data Project Engineer II $92,000- $142,000 per year. Our pay ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location. We base our starting pay offer and title on location and job‑related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

About SEL

SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100 percent employee-owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers worldwide. Our mission is simple: to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.