Lead Substation Project Engineer

WSP in the U.S.; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 196,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible workplace model

Competitive compensation

Job summary

WSP Lead Substation Project Engineer in Lakewood, CO is responsible for high‑level technical guidance across multi‑site substations, from concept through commissioning, including protection, control, grounding, and equipment integration.

The role requires 7–10 years of post‑education HV substation design experience (15kV–230kV) and a proven track record as lead electrical engineer on concurrent projects. Hybrid/onsite/remote options depend on location and business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 7–10 years of post-education experience in substation design for utility-scale projects.
• Experience with 15kV–230kV substations and IEEE/ANSI standards.
• Lead electrical engineer on multiple concurrent projects.
• Knowledge of protection & control, SCADA, and telecom disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Assist Area Lead in achieving department goals and client relationships.
• Coordinate with alliance and utility clients for technical support.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Support proposal development and technical input across teams.
• Perform QA/QC reviews before client submission.
• Guide data collection and analysis across substations and equipment.
• Apply advanced electrical engineering across project phases.
• Lead detailed design of medium-to extra-high voltage substations.
• Prepare design documents, sections, elevations, and BOMs.
• Review studies and calculations including load flow and coordination.
• Contribute to equipment specs and vendor coordination.
• Provide technical leadership across projects and mentor staff.
• Prepare reports and presentations communicating findings.
• Interact professionally with clients, contractors, and regulators.
• Collaborate on proposals and business development.
• Stay current with substation design practices and codes.
• Occasional travel for site visits.

Skills

Leadership & mentoring

Communication skills

Independent work

QA/QC

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Inventor

Job description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Substation Project Engineer for our Lakewood, CO office. Be involved in projects with our Power & Energy Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges. This position offers an on‑site, hybrid, or remote work arrangement, depending on candidate location, experience, and business needs.

Provides high‑level technical assistance and guidance for multi‑site and multi‑phase substation projects, including investigation, design, development, and construction of utility‑scale transmission and distribution infrastructure. Tasks include research, engineering design, concept development, planning, and execution of medium‑to extra‑high‑voltage substations, including power distribution, protection and control systems, grounding, and equipment integration. Supports project execution, department initiatives, and client relationships while ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.

Your Impact

• Support the Area Lead/Department Manager in achieving department goals, maintaining high‑quality standards, and strengthening client relationships.
• Support the management of relationships with alliance and key utility clients, including coordination, communication, and technical support.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, quality, and deliverables for assigned substation projects.
• Support project reporting and proposal development efforts, including scope definition, technical input, and coordination with internal teams.
• Perform QA/QC reviews for technical deliverables prior to client submission, ensuring accuracy, constructability, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data relating to physical work sites, drawings, specifications, substation components, and equipment requirements.
• Apply advanced electrical engineering techniques across project phases including concept development, preliminary design, detailed design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
• Perform and direct others in the detailed design of medium‑to extra‑high‑voltage substations, including one‑line and three‑line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, SCADA and communications systems, station layouts, grounding grids, and lightning protection.
• Prepare supporting design documents such as sections and elevations, control enclosure details, cable and conduit plans, foundation and structural coordination details, yard lighting plans, and bills of materials.
• Review electrical studies and calculations including load flow, short circuit, grounding, protective device coordination, AC/DC systems, lightning analysis, and voltage drop.
• Contribute to and review substation equipment specifications and technical procurement documents, supporting equipment selection and vendor coordination.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight across multiple concurrent substation projects, ensuring consistency in quality, execution, and client expectations.
• Oversee and support engineers and designers through mentorship, technical review, and direction in support of project execution.
• Prepare technical reports, calculations, exhibits, and presentations to communicate design intent, findings, and recommendations to internal teams and clients.
• Interact with clients, contractors, and regulatory agencies in a professional and confident manner.
• Collaborate with internal teams on proposal pursuits, project execution strategies, and business development opportunities.
• Remain current with evolving substation design practices, technologies, and applicable codes and standards.
• Participate in occasional travel and site visits in support of project execution, construction activities, and client needs.
• 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 providing substation design deliverables for utility‑scale transmission and distribution projects.
• Experience in medium‑to high‑voltage substation design (15kV through 230kV) and application of IEEE and ANSI standards.
• Demonstrated experience acting as the lead electrical engineer on multiple substation projects occurring concurrently.
• Demonstrates competence and comprehensive knowledge concerning related disciplines such as protection & control (P&C), SCADA, communications, and telecommunications.
• Well‑defined knowledge of applicable electrical codes, standards, regulations, compliance practices, and record‑keeping requirements.
• Ability to perform and review complex engineering calculations and interpret plans and specifications.
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills when interacting with engineering and non‑engineering audiences.
• Demonstrated self‑leadership with attention to detail, multi‑tasking, and prioritization in a dynamic project environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while providing technical leadership and guidance to junior team members with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office tools, and electrical design software such as AutoCAD Electrical, Inventor, or similar platforms.
• 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 workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project‑specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 7+ years of substation design experience.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $115,200 - $195,800

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

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.

Notice To Third Party Agencies

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.