Senior Engineer, Digital Substations

National Grid plc; Northboro (IA); Hybrid; USD 134,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Pension plan

Job summary

National Grid is seeking a Senior Engineer to support New England Electric Digital Substations in a Hybrid role based in Northboro, MA or Millbury, MA. You will lead IEC 61850 standards, design protection and control systems, and guide digital substation projects across engineering, IT/OT, and operations teams.

The role emphasizes reliability, safety, and efficiency of transmission and distribution, with opportunities to mentor staff, contribute to standards, and participate in industry working

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology from an ABET‑accredited institution.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience in electric utility, asset management, power systems or device manufacturing environments; a Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline may be considered in lieu of one year of experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Visio.
• Experience with electric power facilities.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills across technical and non‑technical audiences, with strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as leadership capabilities.
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record that meets National Grid’s Safe Driver policy, to support travel across the U.S. service territory as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical development, application, and evolution of IEC 61850 standards across protection, control, SCADA, and substation networking systems.
• Provide technical leadership for IEC 61850-based substation projects within the capital work plan, supporting design development, testing strategies, risk mitigation, and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain digital substation reference architectures, configurations, and design guidance, including station and process bus, time synchronization, interoperability, and cybersecurity considerations.
• Lead configuration development and coordinate testing activities in the digital substation simulator/lab environment, supporting FATs, interoperability testing, proof-of-concept evaluations, and complex troubleshooting.
• Represent the Company in industry organizations and working groups, contributing to industry standards and emerging digital substation technologies.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and knowledge sharing to engineers and technical staff, strengthening organizational capability and consistency in digital substation design and implementation.
• Provide technical support for emergency response and system events involving digital substation, protection, control, and communications systems.

Skills

Power systems

Communication skills

Driver's license

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (ABET‑accredited)

Tools

MS Office

Electrical facilities experience

IEC 61850 knowledge (preferred)

Job description

National Grid is seeking a Senior Engineer to support New England Electric Digital Substations. This is a Hybrid role and can be based at Northboro, MA or Millburry, MA.

Join National Grid and help shape the future of the electric grid, where you'll work on complex engineering challenges, contribute to industry-leading projects, and play a key role in delivering the reliable, resilient, and smart energy networks of tomorrow.

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry.

To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Job Purpose

Senior Engineers at National Grid play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of our electric transmission and distribution systems. In Digital Substation roles, Senior Engineers develop standards, design and integrate protection, control, and communications systems, manage asset strategies, and support the deployment of advanced digital technologies. They collaborate across engineering, operations, IT/OT, and project teams to support the construction, maintenance, and operation of modern substations, advancing grid modernization objectives and regulatory compliance.

Key Accountabilities

• In this critical role you will lead the technical development, application, and evolution of IEC 61850 standards, ensuring consistent, reliable implementation across protection, control, SCADA, and substation networking systems in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• You will provide technical leadership for IEC 61850-based substation projects within the capital work plan, supporting design development, testing strategies, risk mitigation, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
• You will develop and maintain digital substation reference architectures, configurations, and design guidance, including station and process bus, time synchronization, interoperability, and cybersecurity considerations.
• You will lead configuration development and coordinate testing activities in the digital substation simulator/lab environment, supporting FATs, interoperability testing, proof-of-concept evaluations, and complex troubleshooting.
• You will represent the Company in industry organizations and working groups, contributing to the development of industry standards, best practices, and emerging digital substation technologies.
• You will provide technical guidance, mentoring, and knowledge sharing to engineers and technical staff, strengthening organizational capability and consistency in digital substation design and implementation.
• You will provide technical support for emergency response and system events involving digital substation, protection, control, and communications systems, including coordination with operations, maintenance, and system control organizations to investigate anomalies, support testing and restoration activities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology from an ABET‑accredited institution.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience in electric utility, asset management, power systems or device manufacturing environments; a Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline may be considered in lieu of one year of experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Visio.
• Experience with electric power facilities.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills across technical and non‑technical audiences, with strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as leadership capabilities.
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record that meets National Grid’s Safe Driver policy, to support travel across the U.S. service territory as required.

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of IEC 61850 and associated standards preferred, as well as applicable IEEE/ANSI standards, NESC, and National Electrical Code requirements.
• Engineer‑in‑Training (EIT) certification or Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Familiarity with MicroStation and experience with electrical panel and/or cabinet design, construction, and assembly.
• Experience with protective relay settings, including parameter configuration and/or relay logic development.
• Experience with protection, control systems, and troubleshooting.

More Information

Why National Grid?

• Play a leading role in advancing digital substation technologies that are transforming the future of the electric grid.
• Influence the development and implementation of IEC 61850 standards, architectures, and best practices across a large-scale utility network.
• Work on complex projects spanning protection, control, communications, automation, and grid modernization initiatives.
• Collaborate with experienced engineers and industry experts while contributing to emerging technologies and innovative solutions.
• Expand your technical leadership by mentoring others, shaping engineering standards, and representing National Grid within industry working groups.
• Build a career at a company committed to delivering safe, reliable, and smarter energy for the communities we serve.

$134,000 - $157,000 a year

National Grid will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. You must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

National Grid utilizes an assessment that evaluates the job qualifications/characteristics using AI or statistically based scoring. For more information, please view NYC Local Law 144.

This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of protected class. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. National Grid maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Our employment practices are designed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with respect throughout the hiring process and during employment. National Grid complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and we encourage a culture of respect for all.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.