Lead Substation Engineer - Technical Project Lead

Leidos Inc; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Lead Substation Engineer - Technical Project Lead in Reston, VA to own technical delivery from conceptual design through energization. You will guide multidisciplinary teams across physical, protection and control, SCADA, and civil disciplines to deliver an integrated, constructible substation design.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate interfaces, and ensure QA/QC while applying industry standards and best practices.

Qualifications

• BS in electrical engineering from an accredited university and 8+ years in utility substation design/engineering.
• PE license is required for the lead engineer role.
• Experience leading HV/EHV substation projects as a lead engineer or engineering manager.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering interfaces and teams.
• Strong knowledge of substations, NEC/NESC/NEMA/IEEE standards, and safety codes.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and communicate clearly with clients.

Responsibilities

• Serve as overall technical lead for HV/EHV substation EPC projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across physical, P&C, SCADA/communications, and civil disciplines.
• Define technical approach, design basis, and execution strategy.
• Provide design ownership and drive key technical decisions for integrated solutions.
• Coordinate interfaces among disciplines, suppliers, construction, and clients.
• Mentor engineers and develop future project leads.
• Lead QC reviews and ensure QA/QC across engineering deliverables.
• Engage with clients, present recommendations, and address project issues.
• Apply value engineering to deliver constructible and safe designs.
• Support energization, testing, and commissioning activities.

Skills

Lead engineer

Project leadership

Discipline coordination

Technical decision making

Team mentorship

Client communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) License

Tools

SKM

ASPEN

ETAP

CDEGS

Vendor software

Job description

Description

Leidos Engineering has an opportunity for a Lead Substation Engineer - Technical Project Lead. Leidos is seeking an experienced substation engineering leader to serve as the technical lead for complex high-voltage and EHV substation EPC projects. In this role, you will own the overall technical delivery of projects from conceptual design through detailed engineering, procurement, construction support, and energization. You will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams spanning substation physical, protection and control, SCADA/communications, relay settings, civil/structural, and related disciplines. You are not expected to be the subject-matter expert performing every discipline's detailed design; Rather, you will provide the technical leadership, engineering judgment, coordination, and oversight necessary to deliver an integrated, constructible substation design.

This position will be part of our unique and fast-growing EPC Solutions group, which sits within our Power Delivery Solutions division that provides consulting services to both public-owned and investor-owned electric utilities. These consulting services provide clients with overall project management tasks in the areas of comprehensive engineering design of electrical transmission and distribution, substation and transmission line projects nationwide.

As a Lead Substation Engineer - Technical Project Lead, you can expect to:

• Serve as the overall technical lead for HV and EHV substation EPC projects, with responsibility for the integrated technical solution and engineering deliverables.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams including substation physical, protection and control, relay settings, SCADA/communications, civil, structural, geotechnical, and other supporting disciplines.
• Establish the project's technical approach, design basis, engineering execution strategy, and interdisciplinary requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and ownership of substation physical and protection & control design, making and driving key technical decisions, resolving design issues, and ensuring an integrated, constructible solution across all engineering disciplines.
• Coordinate technical interfaces between engineering disciplines, equipment suppliers, construction teams, clients, and project management.
• Identify and resolve cross-discipline design issues and make or facilitate key technical decisions affecting safety, constructability, cost, schedule, quality, and performance.
• Oversee engineering from conceptual design and scope development through IFC design, procurement, construction support, testing/commissioning, and energization.
• Serve as a primary technical point of contact with the client and communicate technical recommendations, risks, alternatives, and decisions.
• Lead technical reviews and ensure appropriate QA/QC is performed across the engineering package.
• Mentor engineers and develop future project technical leads.
• Understand and apply industry standards, applicable state and federal safety codes, regulatory compliance requirements, and construction codes to projects.
• Create equipment, material, construction, and testing and commissioning specifications.
• Perform quality control (QC) reviews and lead QC review meetings on applicable engineering deliverables produced by junior staff, peers, and remote offices on small, medium, and large projects while adhering to the PDS quality management standard.
• Provide technical oversight, direction, and support for project teams.
• Assure proper documentation of project technical data.
• Coordinate with project managers to successfully deliver projects to our clients.
• Work directly with clients on project-related issues.
• Direct and/or participate in client meetings and job-site visits to collect and deliver design and engineering information.
• Identify and resolve project-related issues while proactively communicating and collaborating with the client.
• Perform evaluations of existing facilities to propose upgrades and replacements and present findings and recommendations to our clients.
• Apply value engineering principals for economized, constructible, and safe designs.
• Complete conceptual design (one-line and general layout) to support project planning.
• Provide professional mentorship while setting and maintaining a positive professional example for the team and junior staff

What Sets You Apart (Background Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an accredited university with eight (8) + years of prior relevant experience in utility substation design/engineering;
• Professional Engineer (PE) License Required
• Demonstrated experience serving as a lead engineer, project engineer, technical lead, or engineering manager for HV/EHV substation projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and coordinate interfaces among substation physical, P&C, SCADA/communications, civil/structural, and other disciplines.
• Strong working knowledge of both substation physical and P&C design, with technical depth in at least one substation discipline.
• Comprehensive understanding of the utility grid (power generation, transmission, and distribution) system and the theories and principles involved in substation engineering.
• Comprehensive understanding of industry standards (including NEC, NESC, NEMA, IEEE/ANSI) and their application to projects.
• Competence in researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting recommendations.
• Ability to meet deadlines under high-pressure situations.
• High level of computer competency/Proficiency with using MS Office applications.
• Team player who can work effectively in a team environment with an ability to deal with and lead a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to travel locally/regionally up to 15% of the time

You Might Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• HV/EHV project experience
• Brownfield and greenfield substation experience
• Experience working on EPC or Progressive Design Build Contracts
• Experience with serving as firm-client liaison in a support and lead engineering role.
• Prior experience as a substation lead engineer performing QC reviews and staff training/mentorship
• Experience leading renewable generation projects or interconnections
• Experience with engineering programs and software (including SKM, ASPEN, ETAP, CDEGS, or vendor software).
• Active membership in national engineering societies and work groups (IEEE, PES, etc.)
• Construction support experience.

At Leidos, we pride ourselves on being a trusted and technology-focused solutions provider. Our Power Delivery Services Team is the go-to for utilities and mobile operators who need reliable power and telecommunication expertise. We've worked with over 50 investor-owned utilities, over 160 municipals/cooperatives, and we're continuing to expand our reach. Plus, we've got an amazing group of industry-leading construction partners who help us deliver meaningful Energy Delivery Solutions. Our recognition as an industry leader has been confirmed time and time again. Engineering News-Record (ENR) has ranked Leidos among the Top 10 T&D Firms and Top 10 Power Firms.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Pay Range:Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

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