Lead Decarbonization Engineer

WSP USA; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 98,300 - 175,230; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Paid vacation and parental leave

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Lead Decarbonization Engineer to join our Power & Energy Advanced Complimentary Services team. This role involves leading electrification projects and providing senior-level technical leadership in electrical infrastructure design and assessments.

Responsibilities include preparing IFC-level electrical design documents and site evaluations. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, 7-10 years of experience, and a PE license. Join us in accelerating the shift to a lower-carbon future!

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of progressive experience delivering electrical power system design.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required (CA, WA, NY, or TX preferred).
• Strong working knowledge of NEC, IEEE, ANSI standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and review of IFC electrical design documents.
• Perform site visits and field assessments to evaluate existing infrastructure.
• Collaborate with clients and utilities on electrification projects.

Skills

Electrical power system design

Field assessment and evaluation

Utility coordination

Design tools (AutoCAD, Revit)

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ETAP

SKM

AGi32

Job description

Join WSP’s Energy Infrastructure Solutions – Advanced Complementary Solutions team, where we’re accelerating the shift to a lower-carbon future. Our work sits at the forefront of grid-connected electrification, behind-the-meter energy systems, and power solutions across a wide range of industries.

WSP USA is seeking a Lead Decarbonization Engineer to join our Power & Energy Advanced Complimentary Services (ACS) team in our Seattle, WA or New York, NY office. You will help WSP fully leverage the capabilities of all Power & Energy teams to meet critical energy challenges in the U.S. market.

This Opportunity

• This role provides senior-level technical leadership for the planning, assessment, design, and delivery of behind-the-meter electrical infrastructure projects, ranging from 35 kV utility interconnections to end-use equipment and devices.
• The team supports electrification projects across medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (MHD/HDV) charging, port electrification, aviation, industrial facilities, commercial developments, and renewable energy systems, with direct involvement from concept development through Issued for Construction (IFC) documentation.
• In addition to new design work, assess existing behind-the-meter electrical systems and energy infrastructure to identify upgrades and modifications needed to support electrification and decarbonization goals. Perform site visits, evaluate system capacity and code compliance, evaluate existing electrical systems, and develop clear technical assessment findings and recommendations.
• Collaborate closely with clients and utilities; develop equipment specifications; mentor junior engineers; and ensure all deliverables meet NEC, IEEE, ANSI, and applicable jurisdictional requirements with a high standard of quality and technical rigor.

Your Impact

• Lead the preparation and review of IFC electrical design documents for behind-the-meter systems from 35 kV through MV/LV distribution and device-level design, with a primary focus on charging and electrification infrastructure.
• Perform site visits and field assessments to evaluate existing electrical infrastructure, capacity, constructability, and code compliance; document findings and develop engineering recommendations.
• Serve as technical lead for utility coordination, including service applications, interconnection requirements, utility standards compliance, and coordination with utility protection and metering teams.
• MV switchgear and substations
• Power distribution systems
• Lighting systems and controls
• Grounding and bonding systems
• Lightning protection systems
• Develop and review equipment specifications, data sheets, and procurement packages for major electrical equipment.
• Perform and/or review electrical calculations, including:
• Load studies and equipment sizing
• Short-circuit and arc-flash studies
• Protective device coordination
• Grounding touch and step voltage analysis
• Prepare and review power system studies using ETAP, SKM, or equivalent software, and provide technical oversight of modeling assumptions, results, and reports.
• Support renewable energy and decarbonization projects, including integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) within behind-the-meter electrical architectures.
• Provide technical mentorship, oversight, and QA/QC for junior engineers and designers.
• Utilize AutoCAD Electrical and Revit to support coordinated, model-based and multi-discipline designs (Revit proficiency preferred).
• Perform lighting design and analysis using AGi32.
• Collaborate directly with clients to understand electrification and decarbonization goals, operational needs, phasing strategies, and technical constraints.
• Coordinate with other engineering disciplines, subconsultants, utilities, AHJs, and contractors throughout design, permitting, and construction.
• Prepare technical assessments, reports, calculations, and presentations suitable for client, utility, and regulatory review.
• Remain current with evolving electrical codes, standards, and best practices related to power systems, electrification, and decarbonization.
• 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.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 7-10 years of progressive experience delivering behind-the-meter electrical power system design and assessments.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required (CA, WA, NY, or TX preferred).
• Demonstrated experience preparing IFC-level electrical design documents.
• Strong working knowledge of:
• NEC, IEEE, ANSI, and applicable local and utility standards
• MV/LV power distribution systems and switchgear
• Grounding, bonding, and lightning protection design
• Experience with power system analysis tools such as ETAP, SKM, or equivalent.
• Proficiency with industry design tools (AutoCAD Electrical; Revit preferred).
• Ability to independently lead complex technical work and mentor junior engineers.
• Experience conducting site assessments and field investigations and translating findings into clear engineering recommendations.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with clients, utilities, and regulatory agencies.
• Proven commitment to quality, safety, and ethical engineering practice.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Experience with renewable energy systems, including PV and BESS.
• Experience with electrification projects for MHD/HDV charging, ports, aviation, and industrial facilities.
• Experience with AGi32 lighting design.
• Advanced proficiency in Revit.

*Relocation assistance could be taken into consideration for the ideal candidate.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $98,300-$175,230

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, 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

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.

www.wsp.com

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.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.