Electrical Engineer - Substation Design

Hanson Professional Services, Inc.; McHenry (IL); Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Performance bonuses

401(k) with matching contribution

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Comprehensive health & well-being plans

Financial wellness plans

Work-life balance programs

Job summary

A professional engineering firm is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer specializing in substation design to support power delivery projects. The role requires strong technical expertise and leadership skills, with a focus on high-voltage substations. Responsibilities include leading design, ensuring compliance with standards, and mentoring junior staff. A PE license and a minimum of 8 years' experience are required. The position is based in McHenry, Illinois, offering a salary range of $147,000 – $175,000 and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in substation or power delivery engineering.
• Strong understanding of substation equipment, protection philosophies, and utility standards.
• Proven ability to lead technical tasks and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of electrical substations (typically 69kV through 500kV).
• Ensure designs comply with applicable utility standards and power system requirements.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers.

Skills

Substation design

Electrical calculations

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

ETAP

SKM

Job description

Electrical Engineer – Substation Design

Position

Full‑Time

Location

Any (Florida and Illinois preferred)

Licensing

Professional Engineer (PE) Required

About the Role

Hanson Professional Services Inc. is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer specializing in Substation Design to support power delivery projects for utility, municipal, and industrial clients. This senior‑level role is ideal for a licensed Professional Engineer with extensive experience in high‑voltage substations, including physical layout, protection and control coordination, and interdisciplinary design integration.

The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise, leadership capability, and direct experience working with transmission and distribution utilities or power companies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design of new, expanded, and upgraded electrical substations (typically 69kV through 500kV).
• Develop and review substation designs including physical layouts and general arrangements, bus configurations and equipment arrangement, grounding systems and lightning protection, raceway and cable schedules, equipment foundations and integration with civil/structural designs.
• Perform and review electrical calculations, including ground grid analysis, short‑circuit and relay coordination support, AC/DC system design.
• Prepare construction drawings, technical specifications, design reports, and material lists.
• Coordinate substation design with protection and control engineers, SCADA, and communications teams; support breaker, transformer, relay, and protection scheme selection and integration.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable utility standards and power system requirements.
• Serve as lead engineer or technical authority on substation projects.
• Provide quality control reviews of drawings, calculations, and specifications.
• Collaborate with civil, structural, geotechnical, transmission line, and environmental teams.
• Support project managers with scope development, cost estimating, scheduling and risk identification.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers.

Industry Tools & Standards

• Applicable industry codes and standards: IEEE, NESC, NFPA (incl. NEC), ANSI, utility‑specific design criteria.
• Industry‑standard software and tools: AutoCAD or MicroStation, SKM, ETAP, or EasyPower; ground grid and fault analysis tools.
• Maintain awareness of current substation construction methods, safety requirements, and materials.

Client & Field Support

• Work directly with electric utilities, power providers, and industrial clients.
• Support construction activities through review of contractor submittals, responses to RFIs, site visits and field observations.
• Ensure design intent is effectively communicated and implemented in the field.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (required at hire).
• Minimum 8 years of experience in substation or power delivery engineering.
• Prior experience working with electric utilities, transmission and distribution companies, or power industry clients.
• Strong understanding of substation equipment, protection philosophies, and utility standards.
• Proven ability to lead technical tasks and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with EPC or owner engineer utility project delivery models.
• Experience with HV/EHV substations (230kV and above).
• Familiarity with relay protection concepts and SCADA integration.
• Experience developing proposals, cost estimates, and schedules.
• Prior experience mentoring junior staff or acting in a technical lead role.

Soft Skills & Competencies

• High level of technical judgment and attention to detail.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills.
• Client focused mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Salary Range

$147,000 – $175,000

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Performance bonuses
• 401(k) with matching contribution
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Comprehensive health & well‑being plans
• Financial wellness plans
• Work‑life balance programs

EEO Statement

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EEO—EMPLOYER

Recruiting Policy

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies/staffing firms. Resumes are only accepted from recruiters and agency/staffing firms if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position.