Senior Substation Project Engineer

WSP; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Substation Project Engineer to support the Data Center Infrastructure Team in San Diego, CA, with consideration for other U.S. locations.

The role focuses on delivering electrical infrastructure for large-scale data centers, including substations, interconnections, and site power systems, with a strong emphasis on planning, design, and coordination. You will lead multidisciplinary coordination, mentor junior staff, review design deliverables, and engage with clients and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 10+ years of substation design experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Experience leading design packages or as technical lead.
• Strong knowledge of substation systems, equipment, and design standards.
• Ability to independently execute and coordinate technical work.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary coordination for site evaluation, infrastructure planning, and integration.
• Serve as interface with clients, utilities, and stakeholders.
• Lead execution of technical work during early project phases (initiation through design).
• Develop and track project scope, schedules, and technical deliverables.
• Review and produce design deliverables (plans, elevations, wiring diagrams).
• Provide QA/QC oversight and mentorship to junior staff.
• Support equipment specification and vendor evaluation.

Skills

Substation design

Leadership/coordination

Mentoring juniors

Client/stakeholder communication

QA/QC

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

PE License

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is initiating a search for a Senior Substation Project Engineer to support our growing Data Center Infrastructure Team in San Diego, CA. The following locations will also be considered: Kansas City, KS; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Portland, OR; Houston, TX; and St. Louis, MO.

As demand for AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure accelerates, our clients are developing some of the world's largest, most complex, and most power-intensive facilities. In this role, you will help deliver the electrical infrastructure that enables next-generation data center campuses—projects requiring hundreds of megawatts of power and unprecedented levels of planning, engineering, and coordination. You will work across the full project lifecycle, playing a key role in delivering critical infrastructure for some of the industry's most prominent clients.

What makes this opportunity unique is the breadth of collaboration across WSP's global organization. You will work alongside top experts in their field to solve highly complex infrastructure challenges. This multidisciplinary environment provides exposure to the full range of technical and strategic considerations required to successfully develop large-scale data center campuses. You will contribute to the planning and design of substations, transmission interconnections, and site electrical infrastructure while supporting fast-paced projects that demand innovation, technical excellence, and strong collaboration.

If you're energized by large-scale infrastructure projects, enjoy solving complex technical challenges, and want to help shape the future of digital infrastructure, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact while accelerating your career on some of the most significant power delivery projects being developed today.

Your Impact

• Lead multidisciplinary coordination for site evaluation, infrastructure planning, and integration
• Support and contribute to proposal strategy, scope, and technical approach
• Lead execution of technical work during early project phases (initiation through design)
• Serve as a key interface with clients, utilities, and stakeholders
• Conduct site visits to validate designs and address constructability challenges
• Develop and track project scope, schedules, and technical deliverables
• Perform and oversee substation design, including:
  • Physical design and/or protection & control systems
  • Layouts, grounding, lightning protection, and SCADA integration
• Review and produce design deliverables (plans, elevations, wiring diagrams, etc.)
• Provide oversight and review of engineering studies and calculations
• Support equipment specification, procurement, and vendor evaluation
• Ensure QA/QC compliance across assigned deliverables
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and designers
• Contribute to continuous improvement of design practices and standards
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
• 10+ years of substation design experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) License
• Experience leading design packages or acting as technical lead
• Strong knowledge of substation systems, equipment, and design standards
• Experience in either physical or P&C design (cross-discipline exposure preferred)
• Ability to independently execute and coordinate technical work
• Strong communication, leadership, and coordination skills
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and support junior staff
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Engineering
• Experience serving as technical lead on multi-discipline projects
• Data center or large infrastructure project experience

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation: Expected Salary (all locations): $119,600 - $213,200

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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