Lead Substation Engineer - Indianapolis

ORBITAL Engineering Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

Orbital is seeking a Lead Substation Engineer to provide technical leadership for substation projects in the greater Indianapolis, IN area and throughout Indiana. The role is remote with proximity requirements and requires 5+ years of substation design or protection & control experience for voltages up to 500kV.

The candidate will lead teams, oversee deliverables, support business development, and travel as needed within the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• Professional Engineer registration preferred.
• Proficiency with NEC/NESC/NEMA/IEEE and related standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and designers.
• Lead and review substation engineering and consulting deliverables.
• Support clients and regional business development as a technical resource.
• Create electrical protection & control and physical design deliverables.
• Coordinate design activities across disciplines and with project teams.
• Develop project plans, proposals, and scopes; manage execution.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Project leadership

Substation design

Team collaboration

Code compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer registration

Tools

Substation design software

Job description

Job Title:

Lead Substation Engineer

Location:

Indianapolis, IN

FLSA Classification

Non-exempt

Job Description:

Orbital is seeking aLead Substation Engineer to provide technical support and direction for Substation projects in thegreater Indianapolis, IN area and throughout Indiana. The preferred candidate will possess 5+ years of Substation Physical or Protection & Control Design experience. The position requires substation engineering and design competencies, in a utility or consulting environment, for electric substation projects with voltages through 500kV. This is a REMOTE WORK role, but will require a candidate who resides in the greater Indianapolis area or within a reasonable traveling distance.

Responsible for technical leadership and oversight of substation engineering and consulting services for clients across the US. Primary responsibilities include creating electrical protection & control and/or physical design deliverables. Projects range in size, complexity, and voltage class from small equipment upgrades to large projects in transmission and distribution substations. The candidate may prepare, provide guidance, or assist in preparing and developing the engineering deliverables for electric substation projects. This position provides leadership and mentorship to other team members and contributes to the technical development of the group as well as the quality of our deliverables. May serve as project lead or independent reviewer for projects assigned.

Essential Functions

• Utilizes understanding of the NEC, NESC, NEMA, ANSI, IEEE, industry standard work practices, client standards, and/or other applicable guidelines to complete engineering designs.
• Act as project lead or independent reviewer for projects assigned.
• Provide technical support for clients and support regional business development initiatives as a technical resource under the direction of the Department Manager.
• Lead and mentor teams of engineers and designers and assume responsibility for their success on projects.
• Support creation of proposals and scope development.
• Work in a project team environment with other engineers and designers involved in detailed electrical design and project management of utility substation projects.
• Participate in project conceptualization, work planning, and project execution.
• Lead in the execution of engineering activities.
• Physical substation design including equipment layouts, plans, sections, details, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, cable routing, AC/DC power systems, and bills of material.
• Calculations for studies and reports and preparation of equipment and installation specifications.
• Coordination of design activities with other disciplines and groups.
• Develop and improve processes, tools and technology within the organization.
• Provide leadership, training and mentoring to other engineers and team members.
• Regularly meet and correspond with clients or external partners.
• Perform quality reviews for other engineers and designers.
• Conduct field visits for site walkdowns, constructability reviews, construction support, and other site meetings as needed.
• Support business development and marketing initiatives.
• Other assignments may include relay setting development, 3D modeling/design, or industry/professional technical committee involvement.
• Work with Project Management team to develop project plans and provide project updates.

Other Duties

Please note that this job posting does not list all duties and responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from accredited college or university, or a related field with equivalent experience.
• Professional Engineer registration strongly preferred
• Proficiency with NESC, IEEE, and other relevant codes and standards.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively organize multiple complex assignments and competing priorities to produce accurate products on time.
• Ability to collaborate in cross-functional work teams.
• The successful candidate must have exceptional analytical and decision‑making skills, and a successful record of positive interactions with clients.
• Ability to lead staff, delegate assignments and drive positive results.
• Experience in creating and reviewing substation design drawings.
• Proficient with current software applications used to perform substation design work.
• Ability to successfully work with remotely located team members.
• This position requires the ability to pass a post‑offer drug (including marijuana) and alcohol test in compliance with Federal regulations and is also subject to random testing as a condition of continued employment.

Location Note

This is a hybrid or remote position. Compensation is based on market data and internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s location.

Salary Range

$118,000-192,000 annually (based on experience, qualifications, and location)

Benefits

A commitment to excellence and hard work will be rewarded with a competitive salary, career advancement opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and work‑life balance. Our benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; a 401(k)-retirement savings plan; and supplemental insurance options. We also provide company‑paid life and AD&D insurance, company‑paid short‑term disability coverage, and a generous paid time off program to ensure you have the support and flexibility you need both professionally and personally.

About Orbital:Powered by People, Driven by Solutions

Since 1969, Orbital has been specializing in project development, project execution and asset management for the heavy industrial sectors and utilities. Our regional offices, hands‑on mentality, and world‑wide integrated teams provide an ability to leverage subject matter experts and industry best‑practices wherever a project may lie geographically. Our focus steadfastly remains on finding and delivering the best solution, regardless of where that team sits across our organization. At Orbital, our power is our people.

Our regional offices, hands‑on mentality, and world‑wide integrated teams provide an ability to leverage subject matter experts and industry best‑practices wherever a project may lie geographically.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.