Senior Substation Design Engineer

AFE; Springfield (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonuses

401(k) match

Profit sharing

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Disability insurance

Dependent coverage

Job summary

AFE in Springfield, Oregon seeks a Senior Substation Design Engineer to lead design of customer-owned substations for industrial and power-generation clients. This full-time role emphasizes high-voltage substation layouts, grounding, protection, relaying, and coordination with utilities.

Responsibilities include leading projects from concept through construction drawings, performing short circuit and load flow studies, and mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with emphasis on power systems.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (Electrical).
• 10+ years senior-level electrical engineering experience, mainly in substation design.

Responsibilities

• Lead substation design projects from concept to issued-for-construction drawings.
• Develop physical designs, layouts, grounding grids and clearances.
• Prepare protection and control packages including relay coordination.
• Perform power system studies: short circuit, load flow, stability.
• Coordinate with civil/structural, SCADA, utility requirements and clients.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Substation design

Power systems analysis

Education

BS EE with electrical power emphasis

Tools

CADD/BIM

Power system analysis software

Excel

Job description

Springfield, Oregon engineering firm specializing in electrical engineering services for industrial and power generation clients has an immediate opening for a Senior Substation Design Engineer. This is a full-time, professional position leading the design of customer-owned substations serving industrial and independent power generation facilities.

Base salary, plus annual bonuses, 401(k) with up to a 5% employer match, profit sharing, paid time off, 100% employer-paid medical, dental and long-term disability insurance, 50%+ employer-paid dependent insurance coverage, and more!

Company specializes in the analysis, design, installation and maintenance of electrical power systems up to 230 kV. Our work includes:

Design Services

• Substation Physical Design (up to 230 kV) - general arrangement, bus configuration, structure and foundation coordination, grounding grid and lightning protection
• Substation Protection and Control Design - relay panels, schematics, wiring diagrams and AC/DC auxiliary systems
• Protective Relaying System Design, Coordination Studies and Relay Settings
• SCADA, Substation Automation and Communications Design and Integration
• Power System Studies - short circuit, load flow, coordination, arc flash and grounding

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead engineer for substation design projects, from conceptual layout and one-line development through issued-for-construction drawings and field support.
• Develop substation physical designs including general arrangement and section drawings, bus configurations, equipment layout, clearances and rigid/strain bus sizing.
• Perform substation grounding grid design and analysis, including step and touch potential evaluation, along with direct stroke lightning protection and shielding design.
• Specify and evaluate high-voltage equipment: power and station service transformers, GSUs, circuit breakers, switchgear, disconnect and motor-operated switches, surge arresters, CTs and PTs, capacitor banks and reactors.
• Design substation protection and control packages including relay panel layouts, three-line and AC/DC schematics, wiring and interconnection diagrams, control building layouts, and station battery and charger sizing.
• Prepare and check protective relay coordination studies and relay settings for transmission, distribution, generation and industrial applications.
• Perform and review power system studies - short circuit, load flow, device coordination, arc flash and transient/stability analysis.
• Coordinate substation designs with civil/structural, communications and SCADA disciplines, and with interconnecting utility requirements and client specifications.
• Prepare and develop designs, calculations, sketches, diagrams, schematic drawings and final working drawings.
• Generate required documentation including material lists, equipment and construction specifications, and functional specifications (FS) to meet project requirements.
• Provide engineering support during construction, commissioning and energization to ensure installation and operational testing conform to functional specifications and requirements.
• Perform design, development and quality control activities, including design review and checking of work produced by other engineers and designers.
• Support sales/estimators with specification reviews, bid preparation and responses to RFPs and RFQs.
• Support the project management process by walking jobs, communicating with clients regarding change orders and working with the Superintendent regarding job-specific staffing needs.
• Assist in the training and mentorship of junior-level engineers, designers and other staff members.
• Work with the Purchasing Department to become familiar with organization and/or customer preferred parts and suppliers, and support long-lead equipment procurement.
• Follow and support the company's safety and quality control programs and procedures.
• Perform other tasks, projects and assignments as required by the position.

Requirements

• B.S.E.E. with an emphasis in electrical power systems from an accredited program.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (Electrical).
• At least ten years of practical, senior-level, on-the-job electrical engineering experience, with a majority in substation design.
• Proven substation physical design experience including bus configurations, equipment layout and clearances, structural and foundation coordination.
• Substation grounding grid design and analysis, including step and touch potential evaluation.
• High-voltage equipment knowledge including power transformers, GSUs, circuit breakers, switchgear, disconnect switches, surge arresters, and CTs/PTs.
• Substation protection and control experience: relay coordination studies, protective relay settings, schematic and wiring diagram development, and station AC/DC auxiliary systems.
• Working knowledge of transmission and distribution voltage classes through 230 kV.
• Standards fluency: IEEE, NESC, NEC and interconnecting utility design standards.
• Familiarity with IEC 61850, DNP3 or similar substation automation and communication protocols.
• Experience with CADD/BIM design software, power system analysis software and Excel.
• Ability to communicate in a clear, accurate and professional manner, both in written and verbal format, and to represent the organization in terms of project management, customer service and leadership.
• Proven, successful leadership/management experience.
• Ability to work in the US, a valid driver's license with a good driving record, a strong desire to work in the Willamette Valley, and the ability to pass a criminal background check.
• The successful candidate must have a strong interest in power system design and analysis, good verbal communication skills and strong writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing customer-owned substations for independent power generation facilities, including generator interconnection requirements.
• Experience with industrial substations serving mills, plants and process facilities.
• Advanced power system studies: short circuit, load flow, arc flash, transient and stability analysis.
• SCADA and substation automation integration, RTU/gateway configuration and point mapping.
• Experience with NERC compliance and interconnection agreements.
• Field commissioning, testing and energization support experience.