Staff Electrical Engineer - Substation

Gables Search Group; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gables Search Group is seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to design high-voltage substations (13kV–500kV) across the U.S. and internationally. You will handle protection & control and/or physical layout design, from small upgrades to large transmission systems.

You will develop scopes, estimates, and schedules while creating one-lines, schematics, and wiring diagrams. Collaboration with civil, transmission, and SCADA teams is essential, along with mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program with 3+ years of relevant experience (or a Master's degree with 2+ years)

Responsibilities

• Execute substation engineering deliverables, including physical layouts, grounding systems, raceways, auxiliary power, and protection & control designs
• Develop project scopes, proposals, engineering cost estimates, and schedules
• Prepare substation design documents such as one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel arrangements
• Perform calculations and studies related to grounding, lightning protection, and load analysis
• Specify and evaluate equipment for procurement and factory acceptance testing
• Coordinate with internal teams — civil/structural, transmission line, and SCADA/telecom — to deliver fully integrated designs
• Mentor junior engineers and participate in quality reviews
• Interface directly with clients, support construction teams, and contribute to business development efforts
• Support or lead specialized initiatives such as relay settings, 3D design, or technical committee participation

Skills

Protection & control

Physical layout

Substation design

Client interface

Mentoring

Education

ABET-accredited BSEE; 3+ years

MS with 2+ years

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Microsoft Office

Job description

We're seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to support the design and engineering of high-voltage substations (13kV–500kV) for projects across the U.S. and internationally. This role focuses on protection & control and/or physical layout design, spanning everything from small distribution upgrades to large-scale transmission systems. You'll work on critical infrastructure that strengthens the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute substation engineering deliverables, including physical layouts, grounding systems, raceways, auxiliary power, and protection & control designs
• Develop project scopes, proposals, engineering cost estimates, and schedules
• Prepare substation design documents such as one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel arrangements
• Perform calculations and studies related to grounding, lightning protection, and load analysis
• Specify and evaluate equipment for procurement and factory acceptance testing
• Coordinate with internal teams — civil/structural, transmission line, and SCADA/telecom — to deliver fully integrated designs
• Mentor junior engineers and participate in quality reviews
• Interface directly with clients, support construction teams, and contribute to business development efforts
• Support or lead specialized initiatives such as relay settings, 3D design, or technical committee participation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program with 3+ years of relevant experience (or a Master's degree with 2+ years)
• EIT certification preferred
• Prior experience in substation design or electrical consulting
• Proficiency with engineering software and design tools (AutoCAD, MicroStation, Microsoft Office Suite)
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across disciplines

Come join a collaborative team shaping the future of energy infrastructure — with real opportunities for career growth, hands-on mentorship, and the chance to work on high-impact projects that strengthen the power grid for the communities that depend on it.