Senior Engineer, Digital Substations

National Grid; Northborough (MA); Hybrid; USD 134,000 - 157,000; Full time

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 develop standards, design and integrate protection, control, and communications systems for digital substations, and help advance grid modernization objectives.

As a senior engineer, you will lead IEC 61850 initiatives, guide project teams, mentor engineers, and contribute to industry standards while ensuring reliability, safety, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology from an ABET-accredited institution.
• 5+ years in electric utility, asset management, power systems or device manufacturing; Master’s may substitute one year.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Visio.
• Experience with electric power facilities.
• Demonstrate strong communication, leadership, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead IEC 61850 standards development across protection, control, SCADA, and substation networking.
• Provide technical leadership for IEC 61850-based substation projects within the capital work plan.
• Develop and maintain digital substation reference architectures, configurations, and design guidance.
• Coordinate testing activities in the digital substation simulator/lab for FATs and interoperability tests.
• Represent the Company in industry organizations and working groups on standard development.
• Mentor engineers and staff to strengthen capability in digital substation design and implementation.
• Provide technical support for emergency response and system events involving digital substation systems.

Skills

IEC 61850

Protection systems

SCADA

Substation networking

Cybersecurity

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Eng / EET degree

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Visio

Job description

About us

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 ABETaccredited 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 nontechnical 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.


• EngineerinTraining (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.

Salary

$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.

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