Principal Substation Engineer (Seattle/Portland/Boise)

Jacobs; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 155,600 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan

Unlimited paid time off

Discretionary bonus

Company-stock purchase at a discount

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Substation Engineer in Boise, ID, to enhance T&D operations by designing and reviewing substation systems for various projects. You will collaborate with diverse teams, interface with clients, and ensure quality in project deliverables.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in electrical engineering and possesses 12+ years of substantial design experience. Benefits include health insurance, a 401(k) plan, and generous paid time off.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of substation design experience with utilities or consulting.
• Advanced knowledge of high-voltage substation components.
• Ability to perform AC/DC station service calculations.

Responsibilities

• Support utility/developer clients with substation design deliverables.
• Mentor team members across regions.
• Provide engineering oversight as an independent technical advisor.

Skills

Substation design experience

Knowledge of high-voltage components

CADD platforms experience

Strong communication skills

Mentoring skills

Education

Master’s degree in electrical engineering

Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)

Tools

Autodesk

Bentley products

Job description

Location

This role will be on-site at one of the following locations: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Boise, ID.

Role Overview

Principal Substation Engineer in Jacobs’ Energy & Power Group, responsible for supporting the expansion of T&D operations by designing and reviewing substation systems for utility upgrades, greenfield and brownfield projects, offshore wind facilities, and developer interconnection facilities.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with regional and global T&D delivery teams to support utility/developer clients and operations.
• Interface directly with clients to develop substation design deliverables from concept through IFC drawings, including general arrangement plans, sections, grounding plans, bill of materials, conduit schedules, and construction details.
• Provide engineering oversight and serve as an independent technical advisor representing owner interests.
• Mentor team members across North America and globally and participate in sales and proposal preparation.
• Participate in professional societies and industry events to promote engineering excellence.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, electrical power engineering or related discipline.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) within the United States.
• Minimum 12 years of direct substation design experience with a utility or consulting organization.
• Advanced knowledge of high‑voltage substation components including transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, capacitors, reactors, GIS, switchgear buildings, control houses, and underground cable potheads.
• Experience developing substation designs from conceptual through IFC stages, including layout plans, sections, grounding plans, bills of materials, conduit schedules, and construction details.
• Familiarity with grounding system design, lighting and lightning protection for substations.
• Ability to perform substation AC/DC station service calculations, voltage‑drop studies, and supporting equipment vendor specifications.
• Demonstrated QA/QC of design calculations, construction drawings, and specifications.
• Experience with CADD platforms such as Autodesk or Bentley products.
• Prior owner’s representative experience is preferred.
• Project scoping, task‑order preparation, design review, and owner compliance verification skills.
• Field visit and walk‑down experience, providing engineering support during construction.
• Willingness to train, mentor junior staff, and develop training modules.
• Strong communication, technical writing, and presentation skills.
• Team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Benefits

Health, dental, vision, and basic life insurance; 401(k) plan; company‑stock purchase at a discount; deferred compensation options; unlimited U.S. personalized paid time off; seven paid holidays; caregiver leave; potential merit increase, discretionary bonus, and stock.

Salary

Base salary range: $155,600 – $204,000, determined by location and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Employment

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.