Senior Substation Engineer - Physical Design

Jacobs; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 151,400 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan

Unlimited Paid Time Off (PPTO)

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Substation Physical Engineer in Houston, Texas, to lead projects in utility modernization and decarbonization.

This role involves the design and oversight of substation physical deliverables, requiring strong technical acumen and networking within the engineering community. The position offers substantial benefits, including an attractive salary range from $151,400 to $200,000.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of direct Substation Physical design experience.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or ability to acquire necessary licenses.
• Experience in development of substation physical designs.

Responsibilities

• Support utility/developer clients and operations teams.
• Provide engineering expertise and act as an independent technical advisor.
• Engage with professional societies and participate in industry events.

Skills

Substation Physical design

Electrical Engineering

High-voltage substation components

CADD platforms

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk

Bentley products

Job description

Overview

At Jacobs, we’re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, and mission‑critical outcomes. The energy industry is undergoing rapid and dramatic changes, transforming the utility landscape to enhance safety, reliability, and sustainability.

Your Impact

Jacobs is expanding its Transmission & Distribution (T&D) operations in North America and is looking for a Senior Substation Physical Engineer in its Energy & Power Group to tackle the complexities of decarbonization and utility modernization to deliver a cleaner and more secure energy future.

Responsibilities

As a Senior Substation Physical Engineer, you will:

• Work closely with regional and global T&D delivery teams to support utility/developer clients and operations teams.
• Directly interface with utility/developer clients on the development of Substation Physical design deliverables for utility upgrades including greenfield/brownfield & AIS/GIS substations, offshore wind facilities, and developer interconnection facilities.
• Provide engineering overview, expertise, and direction while acting as an independent technical advisor representing owner’s interests.
• Act as an owner’s consultant/owner’s engineer (OC/OE) when required and mentor team members across North America and globally.
• Support the sales and proposal preparation process for new contracts and ensure the high‑quality delivery of services to the client.
• Engage with professional societies such as IEEE and PES, and participate in industry conferences, seminars, trade shows, and networking events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering, or related engineering discipline (Completion of Master’s degree will account for 1 year of professional experience).
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) within United States or ability to obtain additional PE licenses if needed.
• Minimum 8 years of direct Substation Physical design experience with a utility or consulting organization.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of high‑voltage substation components such as transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, circuit switchers, capacitor banks, station service transformers, reactors, rigid bus, gas‑insulated substation (GIS), switchgear buildings, control house, underground cable potheads, etc.
• Prior experience in development of substation physical designs from conceptual through IFC drawings, including general arrangement plan and sections, conduit and trench plan and sections, grounding plan and sections, bill of materials, conduit schedules, construction details, etc.
• Familiarity with grounding system design and lighting & lightning protection designs for substations.
• Ability to perform substation AC/DC station service calculations and studies, voltage drop calculations.
• Experience reviewing related equipment vendor specifications including control house/switchgear building, construction/commissioning specifications.
• Demonstrated ability to perform QA/QC of design calculations and construction drawings.
• Familiarity with CADD platforms such as Autodesk or Bentley products.
• Prior experience as an owner’s representative is strongly preferred.
• Ability to perform project scoping, prepare task orders, review designs of work by others, and owner’s compliance verification.
• Field visit and walk‑down experience as required for client projects and providing engineering support throughout construction.
• Strong communication and technical writing skills.
• Team player with excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

Benefits

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave.

The base salary range for this position is $151,400.00 to $200,000.00. Pay is determined by location and other factors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.