Lead Engineer - Substation

Qualus; Trussville (AL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Short/Long-Term Disability

401(k) match

FSA

Parental Leave

Paid Time Off

Holidays

Job summary

Qualus seeks a Lead Substation Engineer to drive high‑voltage substation design, mentor junior engineers, and elevate technical excellence across complex utility projects. You will guide work from concept to construction, coordinating with clients and cross‑functional teams to deliver safe and reliable power solutions, while ensuring QA/QC and project integrity.

Ideal candidates bring an ABET‑accredited Electrical Engineering degree, 10+ years in substation design, and strong communication and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electrical Engineering from ABET‑accredited program.
• 10+ years of experience in Substation physical design engineering.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent document management and organization skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and interact with clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design power utility substations adhering to applicable codes and client standards.
• Design ground grids and lightning protection plans.
• Perform load, ampacity, and cable calculations.
• Create equipment specifications and cost estimates.
• Develop conceptual designs and facility layouts.
• Prepare support docs for procurement, construction, and O&M.
• Lead client meetings and site visits for data collection and presentation.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure project success.
• Oversee QA/QC processes and mentor junior engineers and designers.

Skills

Substation design

Leadership

Client coordination

Team mentoring

Communication

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Overview

Power your future with Qualus as a Lead Substation Engineer. As a Lead Substation Physical Engineer, you'll serve as a technical subject matter expert, leading the design of high-voltage substations that power communities and critical infrastructure. You'll develop innovative, code-compliant engineering solutions, mentor junior engineers, and help drive technical excellence across complex utility projects. Working closely with clients and across cross-functional teams, you'll influence project success from concept through construction while ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety, and reliability. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving challenging technical problems, developing others, and making a lasting impact on the future of the electric grid.

Responsibilities

• Design power utility substations utilizing applicable codes and client standards (if available). Typical design to include general arrangement, equipment and electrical layout, elevation views, cable trench, grounding, conduit drawings, details, bill of materials, and AC and DC power systems.
• Design ground grids based on applicable codes utilizing industry available software.
• Design lightning protection and grounding plans.
• Complete calculations such as AC and DC load, bus spans, and ampacity calculations.
• Create equipment and material specifications for procurement of engineered equipment as well as development of design scope and cost estimates.
• Complete conceptual designs and layouts for facility planning studies.
• Prepare additional support documentation as needed to assist procurement, construction , and operation/maintenance of systems being designed.
• Direct and/or participate in client meetings/job site visits to collect or deliver design and engineering data.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, clients, vendors, and contractors to ensure successful project execution and resolution of technical issues.
• Lead and participate in client meetings and job site visits to collect design data, present engineering solutions, resolve technical issues, and support project execution.
• Lead and ensure compliance with the company’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) processes, including technical review and approval of engineering design packages.
• Provide technical mentorship and oversight to junior engineers and designers, including reviewing calculations, drawings, and specifications to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with project requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering (or a related engineering discipline) from an ABET accredited institution.
• 10+ years of experience in Substation physical design engineering.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent document management and organization skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and interact professionally with clients and stakeholders.

#LI-BL1

Benefits & Compensation

Qualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certificates, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

Company Overview

Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, energy efficiency and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 2,000 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.

We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.

Job Locations

US-AL-Trussville

ID

2025-4704

Category

Engineering & Advisory

Position Type

Regular Full Time

Remote

No

Salary Range

$150,000 - $200,000/Year (USD)