Senior Substation Engineer

IDOM USA; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Hybrid work arrangement

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

IDOM USA is seeking a licensed PE with extensive substation and power systems design experience for a hybrid Sacramento-based role. You will own the detailed design of LV substation systems, coordinate with traction power and utility interconnections, and supervise submittals through construction.

You will mentor junior engineers and ensure compliance with NEC/NESC/IEEE/NFPA standards while delivering robust, code-compliant designs for a high-speed rail program.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering required.
• Active PE license in California.
• 8+ years of substation and power systems design experience.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, NESC, IEEE and NFPA standards.
• Proficiency with ETAP or SKM and BIM coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead the detailed design of substation LV systems and equipment.
• Perform and review power system studies (load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, arc flash).
• Coordinate interfaces with medium-voltage and traction power design and Power SCADA.
• Seal design deliverables as a licensed PE and support submittal cycles with the design-build team.
• Review vendor and contractor submittals and support the design through construction and commissioning.
• Mentor junior engineers as the substations team grows.

Skills

Substation design

Power systems analysis

NEC/NESC/IEEE/NFPA knowledge

Leadership/mentoring

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Active PE license (California)

Tools

ETAP

SKM

BIM coordination

Job description

IDOM is part of the team delivering the Traction Power, Signaling, Communications and Systems design for the program's first operating segment. Our scope covers the systems that make a high-speed railway run: traction power and substations, train control, and the communications backbone — designed to the most demanding international high-speed standards and adapted to U.S. codes and practice. California High-Speed Rail is the first true high-speed rail system in the United States: a fully electrified, 220-mph railway that will transform mobility across the state and set the technical benchmark for every future high-speed program in North America. Very few engineers will be able to say they designed it. This is that opportunity.

Why this role is a career move

• Design the first 220-mph railway in America — a once-in-a-generation infrastructure program with visibility across the entire U.S. transit industry.
• Work shoulder to shoulder with IDOM's international high-speed rail experts — direct technical exchange with the engineers who have designed and commissioned HSR communications systems in revenue service.
• Grow with the program: the team is scaling through 2027 and the program horizon extends into the 2030s, with clear paths toward technical leadership and management as the U.S. practice expands.
• As a licensed PE, take real design responsibility on a landmark project — not a review desk: your engineering will be built.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

You will join the Traction Power team, reporting to IDOM's Power Systems Manager, and take design ownership of substation and low-voltage power systems for the high-speed rail program:

• Lead the detailed design of substation LV systems and equipment: AC/DC auxiliary power, switchgear, protection and control, grounding and bonding, cabling and raceway.
• Perform and review power system studies (load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, arc flash) using ETAP or SKM.
• Coordinate interfaces with the medium-voltage and traction power design (25 kV autotransformer-fed system), utility interconnections, and Power SCADA.
• Seal design deliverables within your area of competence as a licensed PE and support submittal cycles with the design-build team and the Authority.
• Review vendor and contractor submittals and support the design through construction, testing and commissioning.
• Mentor junior engineers as the substations team grows.

Minimum Academic & Professional Requirements:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Active PE license (California).
• 8+ years of experience in substation and power systems design (utility, industrial or transit).
• Strong command of NEC, NESC, IEEE and NFPA standards applicable to substation design.
• Proficiency with power system analysis tools (ETAP or SKM) and design coordination in BIM environments.

Location

Sacramento, CA (preferred), with a hybrid arrangement; candidates based elsewhere who are open to frequent travel to the project site in California will also be considered. Relocation support may be available for the right candidate.

• COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION – Including Incentive compensation based on company performance
• JOB ENRICHMENT AND CAREER ENHANCEMENT
• GREAT BENEFITS – Company contributions to Health Savings Accounts, medical insurance, dental insurance, short-term disability, long term disability, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, 401(k), paid time off, holiday pay, and other benefit programs
• EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITIONS
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- IDOM, Inc. invests in developing its professionals including job-related professional training with tuition reimbursement opportunities
• $150k-$250k per year, depending on all candidate factors, such as qualifications, experience level, etc.
• Work-Life Balance, Flexible Hours, and remote working days. Role is considered Hybrid, with some on-site work.
• Long term career path, in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environments

Idom is an employee-owned international engineering, architectural and consulting firm. Our company has more than 5500 professionals in 45 offices in the Americas, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In the US we emphasize providing professional engineering and consulting services to the sectors of Power, Petrochemical, Renewable Energy, Astronomy, Research Test Facilities, Manufacturing, Pulp and Paper, Pharmaceutical and the Food and Beverage market sectors. Our company has been in business since 1957. We have a backlog of interesting and technically challenging projects in the US and worldwide. Please refer to our global website, www.IDOM.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.