Lead Substation Project Engineer

WSP Global Inc.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off and parental leave

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Lead Substation Project Engineer for opportunities across Austin, Ft Worth, Houston, or Overland Park. The role supports the Power Delivery Substation Team, managing complex substation design projects, mentoring junior staff, and driving project execution in a hybrid or in-office setting.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering with 7–10 years in capital project delivery, an engineering license, and proficiency in design software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• 7–10 years of experience in electrical design for power generation, transmission and distribution.
• Engineer license required.
• Proficiency in design/build, permitting, and project work-related issues.
• Strong knowledge of infrastructure design and related codes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and quality for assigned substations projects.
• Support client relations and mentorship of junior staff.
• Perform detailed design of medium to HV substations including one-line diagrams and wiring.
• Provide construction support and coordination across disciplines.
• Travel to site for inspections and project support as needed.

Skills

Project management

Mentoring

Interpersonal communication

Technical writing

QA/QC

Design calculations

Substation design knowledge

Electrical engineering principles

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional engineer license

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

MicroStation

ETAP

CAPe/CAPE

Inventor

Job description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Substation Project Engineer for our Austin, TX ; Ft Worth, TX ; Houston, TX ; or our Overland Park, KS 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. As a key contributor, you will play a significant role in supporting complex substation design projects, managing project execution, and mentoring junior staff. This position offers the opportunity to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and make a significant impact on our team and our projects. A hybrid or in-office work setup is preferred to foster collaboration and mentorship.

This Opportunity

Provides high level technical assistance and guidance for multi-site/phase due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, design, development, and construction of utility, industrial, and commercial scale projects in the public and private sector. Tasks include the research, design, concept development, planning, and construction of transmission and distribution substations, power distribution, power regulation, renewable energy, as well as protection and control systems in a wide variety of contexts (utilities, transportation, building, and Federal, State, and local government projects). Substantiates reports and documentation to advise on material, installations, design, component, and construction specifications. Ensures 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

• The Lead 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.

• Support AL/DM with the management of relationships with alliance 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.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.

• 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.

• Engineer license required.

• Proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.

• Extensive knowledge of infrastructure design.

• Demonstrates competence and comprehensive knowledge concerning adjacent disciplines such as electrical engineering, P&C, SCADA, and telecom.

• Experience with electrical infrastructure planning, design, and construction management; including active involvement in a variety of rehabilitation, new design, and construction projects.

• 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 computations and calculations involving the application of electrical engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.

• Ability to plan and conduct inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities or structures, applying applicable regulations and policies

• 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., CADD, Aspen, CAPE, ETAP, WIN IGS, Inventor, AutoCADD 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.

• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.

• 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:

• Master’s Degree in Engineering.

• 10+ years of experience in substation design.

• Experience in 230kV through 765kV substation design and IEEE/ANSI standards.

• Experience managing people on a multi-disciplinary project team.

• Experience with MicroStation (V8 or newer), AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, or Inventor.

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.

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.