Senior Substation Protection & Control Engineer

WSP USA; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Retirement savings

Paid time off

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Substation P&C Engineer for the Northeast, with flexibility for remote arrangements for qualified candidates. The role focuses on protection and control design for utility-scale substations, including relays, SCADA interfaces, and commissioning support.

Responsibilities include data analysis, design documents review, equipment sizing, and development of plans and cost estimates. The position offers office-based or hybrid work with potential remote arrangements in the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 5 to 7 years of relevant post‑education experience as an electrical engineer providing protection and control or electrical design deliverables for large capital projects, preferably involving substations or utility‑scale electrical infrastructure.
• Engineer in Training Certification.
• Proficient knowledge of electrical engineering principles, practices, processes, and design/build applications as applied to substation projects, with emphasis on protection and control engineering.
• Experience with infrastructure planning, design, and construction management, including active involvement in rehabilitation and new design projects, including protection and control design packages and construction and commissioning support.
• Working knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record‑keeping requirements.
• Ability to perform technical computations and calculations involving electrical engineering principles, interpret plans and specifications, and evaluate compliance with applicable regulations, including AC/DC systems, station service, and protection and control interface requirements.
• Project management experience supporting small‑to mid‑level projects, including tracking hours and expenses.
• Ability to plan and conduct inspections and investigations related to the construction and design of facilities, applying applicable regulations and policies, including protection and control installation, wiring, and testing support.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with engineering and non‑engineering audiences.
• Demonstrated self‑leadership, attention to detail, multi‑tasking, and prioritization skills in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently while providing technical guidance and QA/QC oversight to junior team members.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, and discipline‑specific design such as AutoCAD Electrical and MicroStation, as well as spreadsheets and engineering tools.
• Strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills to develop effective, economical, and logical engineering solutions, including troubleshooting and resolution of protection and control design and field issues.
• Ability to assertively direct field personnel and subcontractors to ensure work is completed safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project‑specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project‑specific requirements.

Responsibilities

• Determine well‑defined methods for collecting, compiling, and analyzing data relating to protection and control requirements, substation equipment specifications for procurement package development and pricing, IFR/IFC detailed design and review processes, and applicable IEEE, NESC, and NERC standards.
• Review and provide technical input on third‑party substation design documents, protection and control deliverables, procurement lists, and project plans.
• Perform professional and complex electrical engineering work related to the design of protection and control one‑line and three‑line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams, cable schedules, termination drawings, and panel layouts in conformance with applicable rules, standards, and permits.
• Incorporate future‑ready techniques, concept development, operating strategies, and design requirements into protective relaying philosophies and schemes, substation automation architectures, communications systems, AC/DC systems, control panel layouts, and wiring and termination strategies, accounting for safety, constructability, and long‑term operation.
• Support senior engineers with research, evaluation, and recommendations for protective relays, meters, RTUs or BCUs, telecommunications equipment, and control house and panel components, including field applications and operational considerations.
• Verify site characteristics and provide technical input on engineering, design, testing, maintenance modifications, constructability, and construction sequencing issues, with emphasis on panel installation, wiring, cutovers, and outage coordination.
• Develop engineering calculations and deliverables including DC load, battery and charger sizing, AC station service loading, CT and VT sizing and verification, protective device coordination, relay logic and settings development support, and integration requirements for substation automation systems.
• Develop plans, specifications, and cost estimates; prepare construction safety and phasing plans; and update electrical infrastructure layouts requiring coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub‑consultants, and clients, including SCADA points lists, communications requirements, and testing and commissioning scope.
• Work independently or as part of a cross‑functional team of engineers, planners, and construction professionals to execute work on multiple concurrent substation projects, assisting with protection and control design packages, material takeoffs, cost estimates, and ensuring compliance with specifications, permits, and technical documentation.
• Prepare technical data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, sketches, calculations, and illustrations to support engineering analysis and design decisions, including fault event reviews and sequence of events interpretations when applicable.
• Provide guidance and training to entry‑level engineers.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations that communicate design approaches, findings, and recommendations related to substation engineering and construction activities, including protection and control design basis and operating philosophies.
• Assist in the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of data obtained during field investigations and support development of action plans for moderate‑to‑high‑level risk mitigation activities, including protection misoperations, wiring issues, and commissioning punchlists.
• Prepare and implement site‑specific Health and Safety Plans (HASPs).
• Comply with regulatory requirements pertaining to data integrity, documentation, procedures, training, monitoring systems, and record retention, including requirements relevant to substation cyber and physical security interfaces when applicable.
• Interact with clients, utilities, contractors, and regulatory agencies in a confident and professional manner.
• Remain current in the latest substation engineering techniques, tools, and industry practices, including protective relaying, substation automation, and communications.
• Work collaboratively with other engineers and planners on substation projects supporting federally, state, regionally, and locally funded infrastructure improvements.
• 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.

Skills

Protection & control

Electrical engineering principles

Project management

Interpersonal communication

Self-leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Engineer in Training Certification

Professional Engineer License

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

MicroStation

Job description

WSP is seeking a Senior Substation P&C Engineer for the Northeast, with flexibility for remote arrangements for qualified candidates. The role focuses on protection and control design for utility-scale substations, including relays, SCADA interfaces, and commissioning support.

Responsibilities include data analysis, design documents review, equipment sizing, and development of plans and cost estimates. The position offers office-based or hybrid work with potential remote arrangements in the