Early Career Electrical Engineer (ESSP)

WSP in the U.S.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Retirement savings

Paid sick leave

Paid vacation

Paid parental leave

Bereavement/voting leave

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking an Early Career Electrical Engineer in our Denver, CO office to participate in power delivery projects. You will perform electrical studies, SCADA development, and coordination with utility and industrial clients, supporting planning, protection, and data acquisition tasks.

The role emphasizes learning, hands-on field exposure, and collaboration across cross-functional teams. Requires a recent engineering degree or in-progress studies, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or current enrollment in an engineering program.
• Analytical mindset with sound judgement for evaluating situations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet objectives.
• Proficiency in technical writing, office tools, and predictive models.

Responsibilities

• Perform electrical studies and SCADA development/troubleshooting for utility and industrial clients.
• Contribute to power delivery studies including generation facilities, substations, and transmission systems.
• Develop and verify protection, planning, grounding, and data acquisition tasks.
• Travel to project sites to support validation, commissioning, and field tests.
• Prepare technical reports with calculations, sketches, and documentation.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Strong communication skills

Independent work

Technical writing

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

AcSELerator Quickset

AcSELerator Architect

GE Enervista

ASPEN Oneliner

SKM-PTW

ETAP

RSCAD/RTDS

Python Scripting

PowerWorld

PSS/E

PSLF

CDEGS

PSCAD

Wonderware

Clearview

AcSELerator RTAC

Visual Basic

Job description

Job Description

WSP is currently initiating a search for an Early Career Electrical Engineering (ESSP) for our Denver, Colorado office. Be involved in projects with our Power Delivery ESSP department and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

This Opportunity

The successful applicant will be responsible for performing electrical studies and/or developing and troubleshooting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for utility and industrial/commercial clients. Applicable power systems primarily include conventional and renewable generation facilities, substations, transmission systems, and distribution systems.

Your Impact

• Protective Relaying: short circuit and symmetrical component analysis, time-current coordination, protection scheme and criteria development, relay settings calculation, integration with SCADA systems, NERC compliance, and arc flash analysis. Applicable software: AcSELerator Quickset (SEL-5030), AcSELerator Architect, GE Enervista, ASPEN Oneliner, SKM-PTW, ETAP, RSCAD/RTDS. Bullet 2 related to impact and responsibilities of the role
• Power System Planning Studies: steady-state real and reactive power flow including outage contingencies, generation interconnect feasibility, P-V and Q-V analysis for voltage stability margins, dynamic stability performance, automation of large batch simulations, working with models from NERC regional entities (WECC, MRO, SERC etc.), NERC compliance. Applicable Software: PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld, Python Scripting
• Design Studies: substation grounding, corona and electric and magnetic fields, insulation coordination (lightning, switching surge, and contamination performance), transient (time domain) simulation, power quality (harmonics, voltage flicker, over/under voltage, etc.), motor starting, AC interference (transmission line interaction with railroads and pipelines). Applicable Software: CDEGS, ATP-EMTP, PSCAD
• Networking and Communications: design and configure network and communication paths for Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), protective relays, meters, Human Machine Interface (HMIs), PLC’s and other SCADA system equipment; develop basic specifications for fiber optic, microwave, power line carrier, or radio communication paths; travel to project sites to troubleshoot and commission network and communication systems. Applicable network and communication protocols: DNP, Modbus, SEL Communication Protocol, Goose Messaging, IEC 61850
• Logic and Control Systems: develop and implement logic and control schemes for remote and local operation of power system equipment; develop programs on various platforms for implementation of these schemes; travel to project sites to test and commission the control schemes. Applicable Logic and Control Platforms: SEL RTAC, Orion, Cooper SMP, GE-D20
• Data Acquisition: Prepare points lists of all data to be transferred between control centers and controlled apparatus, assign and program data addressing and routing information, develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens, travel to project sites to test and commission data transfer schemes. Applicable Software: Wonderware, Clearview, AcSELerator RTAC, Visual Basic, OSIPI, Python scripting, etc.
• Support senior engineers with research and recommendations of fundamental components identified in design requirements, as well as field equipment applications and operations.
• Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software.
• Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects.
• Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work, including project controls, business deployment, construction, procurement, document control, and permitting teams.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Required Qualifications

• Must be recent Engineering Graduate (Bachelor’s Degree), or enrolled in a university pursuing a degree in engineering
• Analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Within one (1) year of graduation
• GPA above 3.0/4.0
• Power system courses covering topics such as three-phase power, load flow and reactive compensation, protective relaying, symmetrical components, transmission line theory, power system transients, dynamic stability, and power system electromagnetics
• Internships and experience in technical areas and software listed in the Job Description section
• Engineer In Training (EIT) certification, with the expectation to work toward professional engineering registration (PE)

Disclaimer

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

WSP Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, disability, and life
• retirement savings
• paid sick leave
• paid vacation (or other personal time)
• paid parental leave
• paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $76,800 - $93,800

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

ABOUT US

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.