Lead Substation Engineer

ThinkingAhead; Lansing (MI); Remote; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

ThinkingAhead is seeking a Lead Substation Engineer to drive hands-on substation design, set technical standards, and help build the team from the ground floor. The role reports to the VP of Engineering and is remote, with the headquarters in Michigan.

The candidate will lead technical work, mentor others, and ensure quality across projects while coordinating with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders in the utility sector.

Qualifications

• PE license active and in good standing.
• 8–15 years in substation engineering.
• Hands-on physical design experience required.
• Knowledge of utility design standards and lifecycle.
• Experience leading projects or mentoring engineers.
• Strong written and verbal communication; capable of remote work.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Civil Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead physical design of substations, including layout and grounding.
• Develop and review design packages for constructability and standards.
• Serve as technical lead on projects from concept to construction.
• Coordinate with protection, civil, structural, and procurement teams.
• Mentor engineers and set design standards.
• Provide PE oversight and stamp as required.

Skills

PE license

Substation engineering

Hands-on design

Remote work capable

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Civil Engineering

Job description

A growing engineering and design firm is hiring a Lead Substation Engineer: a licensed PE who will run substation design work hands-on, set technical standards, and help build the team from the ground floor.

• Reports to: VP of Engineering
• Location: Remote (company headquartered in Michigan)
• Experience: 8-15 years in substation engineering
• Compensation: $150,000-$175,000 base

About the Company

This is a small engineering and design firm with the backing of a much larger parent. It was launched a few years ago by a well-established utility procurement and construction company, so it has the stability, relationships and project pipeline of an established business without the layers of a big consultancy.

The team is currently 15 people. Engineers here work close to leadership, see projects through from design to construction, and have real influence on how the practice grows.

The Role

The Lead Substation Engineer is the senior technical voice for substation work and reports directly to the VP of Engineering. This is a hands-on lead role, not a pure management seat: you will be doing physical design yourself while setting the standard for how the team delivers. You will review and mentor other engineers and designers, and take ownership of quality on substation projects as the practice scales.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and perform physical design of substations, including site and equipment layout, grounding, conduit and cable routing, structural and foundation coordination, and construction drawings
• Develop and review substation design packages for accuracy, constructability and compliance with utility and industry standards
• Serve as technical lead on projects, owning scope, schedule and quality from concept through construction support
• Coordinate with protection and control, civil, structural and procurement teams, including the parent company's construction and supply groups
• Mentor and review the work of engineers and designers, and help establish design standards and best practices
• Act as a technical point of contact for clients and utilities
• Provide PE oversight and stamp as required

Required Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license, active and in good standing
• 8-15 years of substation engineering experience
• Hands-on physical design experience on substation projects, which is a must-have for this role
• Working knowledge of utility design standards and the full substation design lifecycle
• Experience leading projects or mentoring other engineers and designers
• Strong written and verbal communication, and comfort working independently in a remote setting
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Civil Engineering, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Protection and control (P&C) experience, including relay settings, schematics or panel design
• Experience with transmission or distribution substations at multiple voltage levels
• Familiarity with working alongside procurement and construction teams

Compensation and Location

Base salary is $150,000-$175,000, depending on experience. The position is fully remote, with the company based in Michigan.

Why This Role

• Lead a practice early, with direct access to the VP of Engineering and a real say in how the team is built
• Do hands-on design work rather than only managing others
• Join a 15-person team with the financial backing and client relationships of an established parent company
• Work remotely

Compensation:

$160,000 per year