Lead Substation Project Engineer

WSP in the U.S.; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings

Paid time off

Job summary

WSP USA seeks a Lead Substation Project Engineer in Columbus, OH to lead project teams, manage client relations, and oversee detailed designs for medium to extra-high-voltage substations in a hybrid work environment.

The role requires 7–10 years of electrical engineering design experience, strong leadership, and proficiency with CAD tools, with occasional travel to sites and tight QA/QC standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience) required.
• 7–10 years of post-education electrical engineering experience on capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution.
• Experience in 15kV–345kV substation design and IEEE/ANSI standards.
• Proven project leadership experience managing multiple projects concurrently.
• Proficiency in electrical design principles, QA/QC, and permitting processes.
• Competence in related disciplines (electrical civil engineering, transmission, SCADA, telecom).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for engineering and non-engineering audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead project teams and manage client relationships to meet department goals.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and quality for substations.
• Perform detailed design for medium to extra-high-voltage substations (one-line diagrams, SCADA, wiring, layouts).
• Support substation equipment specifications and material bills of materials.
• Provide construction support and coordination with disciplines.
• Mentor and train junior team members and ensure QA/QC compliance.
• Travel to sites as required by project needs.

Skills

Project leadership

Client relations

QA/QC

Electrical engineering

Detail design

Interdisciplinary coordination

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Master’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD

Inventor

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Job Description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Substation Project Engineer for our Columbus, OH office. Be involved in projects with our Power Delivery Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

This Opportunity

This key leadership role involves leading project teams, managing client relationships, and overseeing the detailed design of medium to extra-high-voltage utility substations. This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work environment, though the employee must live within a commutable distance of the office.

WSP brings global expertise in power delivery, power generation, and program management—anchored by the acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. TRC Companies have now joined WSP, deepening our power practice and expanding our energy advisory and intelligent grid services. We're partnering with clients to shape how energy systems evolve around the world—and we need your help.

Your Impact

The Substation Project Engineer is responsible for supporting the Area Lead/Department Manager (AL/DM) in achieving department goals, maintaining our high-quality standards, and strengthening client relationships.

Project Management & Client Relations

• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and quality for assigned projects.
• Grow and manage relationships with local clients.
• Perform QA/QC for deliverables to clients.
• Support project reporting and proposal development.
• Contribute to substation equipment specifications.
• Occasional travel and site visits.

Technical Design & Execution

• Perform and direct others in the detailed design of medium to extra-high-voltage substations, including:
  • One-line, schematic, and wiring diagrams.
  • SCADA and Communications.
  • Station physical layouts, sections/elevations, and control enclosure details.
  • Cable and conduit plans and details.
  • Ground grid, foundation, and structural plans and details.
  • Lightning protection and yard lighting plans.
  • Bills of Materials.
• Perform substation studies and calculations (e.g., AC, DC, Lightning Analysis, Voltage Drop).
• Specify and select substation equipment.
• Provide construction support and inter-disciplinary coordination.

Team Support & Mentorship

• Support the mentorship and training of other team members.
• Shall understand and adhere to client standards and processes while working individually or within a team.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, tracking and organizing many tasks of varying importance and size.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 7 to 10 years of relevant post education experience as an electrical engineer providing design deliverables for capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution at a utility, industrial, or commercial scale.
• Experience in 15kV through 345kV physical and electrical substation design, and IEEE/ANSI standards
• Proven experience in a project leadership role for several projects concurrently, including managing project teams
• Proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Demonstrates competence and comprehensive knowledge concerning adjacent disciplines such as electrical civil engineering, transmission line, distribution, SCADA, and telecom.
• Experience with electrical infrastructure planning, design, and construction management.
• Well-defined specific knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Well-developed ability to make technical calculations involving the application of electrical engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Demonstrated high-level of self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Highly proficient with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., CAD, Inventor, AutoCAD Electrical), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical work week.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Master’s Degree in Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in utility substation design.
• Experience with and established positive relationships with local clients.
• Experience in 345kV through 765kV substation design.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

• coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life
• retirement savings
• paid sick leave
• paid vacation (or other personal time)
• paid parental leave
• paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings

About WSP

ABOUT US

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.