Lead Substation Engineer - Physical

Socket.dev; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead Physical Engineer to lead the substation design for large-scale renewable energy projects and mentor a small design team.

The role collaborates with electrical, civil/structural, and drafting teams to deliver coordinated design documents that meet codes and stakeholder requirements. The candidate will guide grounding, protection, illumination, and seating of major equipment while ensuring adherence to industry standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an accredited program.
• 7–9 years of work experience in substation design and engineering.
• Strong understanding of electrical systems, grounding, lightning protection, illumination and clearances.
• PE License required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with industry standards and codes relevant to substations.
• Knowledge of substation equipment and their specifications (HV/MV breakers, transformers, etc).
• Proficiency in assessing mechanical forces and thermal effects of high fault currents on rigid bus.

Responsibilities

• Provide design leadership: general arrangements, plan/elevation, grounding, cable routes, and equipment specifications.
• Lead a Physical team of three to five engineers and/or designers with mentorship and performance reviews.
• Coordinate with Physical Designer and other disciplines to ensure consistent design across teams.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with NESC, IEEE, and local utility requirements.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote continuous improvement within the team.

Skills

Substation design

Team mentorship

Communication skills

Problem solving

Industry standards knowledge

Coordination across disciplines

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

PE License

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

CDEGS

WinIGS

AGI

Job description

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead Physical Engineer to join our Renewables Substation team. The primary functions of this role are to lead the substation Physical engineering and design efforts for large scale, transmission-interconnected renewable energy projects and provide leadership and mentorship to a Physical design team consisting of three to five engineers and/or designers.

The Lead Physical Engineer will work with (and provide direction to) other engineers, designers, and drafters to develop project deliverables that satisfy all stakeholder requirements and comply with applicable codes & standards. As part of the broader multi-discipline Substation Team, the Lead Physical Engineer will work with the Substation Project Engineer and other discipline leads to ensure design documents are coordinated and consistent between the P&C and Civil/Structural teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from a recognized accredited program
• Minimum of 7-9 years of work experience in substation design and engineering
• Strong understanding of electrical systems and substation layouts, grounding, lightning protection, illumination and clearances
• PE License
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Familiarity with industry standards and codes
• General knowledge of the industry and technology trends specific to substations
• Proficiency in assessing mechanical forces and thermal effects of high fault currents on rigid bus
• Familiarity with Substation major equipment and the specifications thereof:

• HV and MV Circuit Breakers
• Power Transformers
• Instrument Transformers
• Disconnect Switches
• Bus Work
• Surge Arresters
• Steel
• Foundations
• Capacitor Banks
• Reactors

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience in a consultancy environment
• Previous experience with large scale renewable energy projects
• General knowledge of substation construction practices
• Familiarity with 3D design packages and software
• Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation, CDEGS, WinIGS, AGI)
• Previous project and/or discipline team leadership
• Previous experience as a direct supervisor

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design Leadership
  • General Arrangements
  • Plan Views and Elevation Views
  • Grounding Plans
  • Cable Trough/Conduit Plans
  • Specifications for Major Primary Equipment (transformers, breakers, switches, etc.)
  • Documentation for Design Calculations
  • Bill of Materials
  • Construction Documentation (Sequence and RFP)
  • Studies
• Grounding
• Lightning
• Illumination
• Bus Fault Stress Analysis
• Insulation Coordination
• Team Leadership/Supervision Lead a Physical team of three to five engineers and/or designers by providing mentorship, support, performance planning, monthly one on one meetings and expense and timesheet review and approval.
• Technical Support
  • Procurement
  • Vendor Drawing Review
  • Construction
• Active Coordination
  • Ability to work seamlessly with a Physical Designer to develop the above projects
  • Ability to coordinate efforts with other various external and internal project team members, with familiarity in identifying when coordination is needed with certain design disciplines such as transmission line engineers, distribution line engineers, telecom engineers, etc.
• Support Consistency
  • Follow department processes and procedures
  • Continue strong customer focus attitude that Westwood is known for.
• Support Business
  • Provides clear and honest feedback to project team, external stakeholders, and clients.
  • Helps develop approaches to accommodate client unique requests.
  • Works to advise Management about how to maximize ROI for the team.
• Project Management Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, managing timelines, and resources to ensure successful project delivery.
• Engineering Documentation Prepare and review engineering calculations, detailed drawings, specifications, and reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with industry standards.
• Regulatory Compliance Ensure all designs meet relevant codes, standards, and regulations, including NESC, IEEE, and local utility requirements.
• Quality Assurance Implement quality control processes to review designs and deliverables, ensuring high standards of engineering excellence including cross discipline checks with other substation / service leads.
• Mentorship Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers and technical staff, fostering a culture of learning and professional growth.
• Client Interaction Participate in project meetings, presenting design concepts and updates to clients and stakeholders, and addressing any concerns or feedback.
• Continuous Improvement Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices, and contribute to the development of innovative engineering solutions.
• Travel Requirements 10% (or less)

Other Expectations

• This position is classified as in-office, full time.
• Preferred office locations:
  • Austin, TX
  • Houston, TX
  • Madison, WI
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Westminster, CO
  • Westwood promotes policies which allow for flexible working conditions, including the ability to work from home as needed

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.