Senior Substation Engineer

Omaha Public Power District; Elkhorn Precinct (NE); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Omaha Public Power District is seeking a Senior Electrical Substation Engineer to lead technical strategy, substation design, and protection philosophies. You will oversee major projects, guide risk mitigation, and mentor engineering staff to deliver high-quality outputs.

The role requires Nebraska PE registration or reciprocity within 6 months, a BS in Electrical Engineering, and 8+ years in power system or substation engineering. Office-based with field work and travel across the service area.

Qualifications

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Nebraska or ability to obtain by reciprocity within 6 months.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Experience leading major substation projects and design activities.
• Strong mentoring and technical leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy for substation design, protection philosophies, and reliability.
• Design and deliver large substation projects including equipment replacements.
• Manage complex scoping, estimating, procurement, scheduling, and stakeholders.
• Direct consultant engineering work and manage contract expectations.
• Provide training and QC reviews to engineering staff.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Technical leadership

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer license (Nebraska)

Job description

What This Role Delivers

Senior Electrical Substation Engineers at OPPD drive technical strategy and provide expert-level engineering leadership across all aspects of substation design, system protection, and operational performance. You will develop long-term engineering standards, oversee large capital projects including substation rebuilds and transformer or breaker replacements; and guide critical risk mitigation efforts. This role delivers high-impact solutions that protect the power system, support OPPD's mission, and ensure reliable and resilient service to OPPD customers.

What This Role Will Lead & Own

• Lead technical strategy and long-term planning for substation design, system protection philosophies, and operational reliability.
• Design and deliver large, complex substation projects, including full substation builds and major equipment replacements.
• Manage advanced project responsibilities, including complex scoping, estimating, material procurement, scheduling, and stakeholder coordination.
• Direct consultant engineering work by providing requirements, reviewing deliverables, and managing contract expectations.
• Provide training, coaching, and structured mentorship to engineering staff while delivering QC reviews to ensure high-quality engineering output.
• Identify system risks and implement mitigation strategies to enhance safety, reliability, and operational performance.

What You Will Bring

• Demonstrated ability to successfully complete essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Nebraska or ability to obtain Nebraska registration within 6 months through reciprocity and relevant experience.

What Will Help You Stand Out

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
• 8+ years of experience in power system, protection, or substation engineering
• Advanced understanding of system protection, protective relays, and substation design
• Proven ability to lead complex engineering workstreams and cross-functional collaboration
• Experience developing organizational design standards or long-term protection philosophy
• Extensive experience leading major substation construction or rebuild initiatives
• Strong record of mentoring, technical leadership, and quality assurance activities

Work Location

• Office: Work will be performed in a modern office environment amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises.
• Field: Work will be performed outside in a wide variety of weather conditions (snow, rain, heat, cold, wind, etc.), terrain, and other natural environmental hazards as well as pollen and other airborne allergens.
• Travel: Must be able to travel throughout the service territory and report to various locations in a timely manner as needed.

Work Environment

• Work will be performed in high traffic environments.
• Will work around energized high voltage electrical equipment.
• Will work in construction areas that present many physical hazards.
• Will work at heights.

Strength Factor

Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Salary/Wage Info

Grade: S6

Minimum: $109,942

Midpoint: $137,428

Our Culture & Mission

At Omaha Public Power District, everything starts with people - our teams, our communities, and the customer owners who count on us. As the 12th largest public power utility in the U.S., we serve more than 900,000 people across 13 counties, and we take that responsibility seriously.

We lead with integrity, support one another, and do what's right, because how we serve matters just as much as what we deliver. Our goal is simple: provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy today and for generations to come.

We create power with purpose. Your work here has real impact; on families, on the environment, and on the future of energy. And we believe great ideas can come from anywhere.

If you want to be part of a team that takes care of the community and the people who serve it, you're in the right place. We back up our mission by taking care of our employees, too; which is why our benefits are among the most comprehensive and competitive in the region.

EOE: Protected Veterans/Disability

If you would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with OPPD, please email OPPD Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].