Substation Design Engineer

K&A Engineering Consulting; Pleasanton (CA); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401K with Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Flexible PTO

Job summary

A leading engineering consulting firm is seeking a motivated Substation Design Engineer to join their team in California. The role involves developing engineering design packages for utility substations, producing detailed drawings, and collaborating with various teams to deliver comprehensive solutions. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, have 2–5+ years of relevant experience, and be proficient in CAD tools. Offering a competitive salary of $105,000-115,000/year and a people-first culture, this position allows for professional growth and innovation.

Qualifications

• 2–5+ years of experience in substation engineering within a T&D utility or consulting environment.
• Strong understanding of utility protection & control concepts and grid operations.
• Familiarity with SCADA integration and relay protection.

Responsibilities

• Develop complete engineering design packages for utility substations.
• Produce detailed drawings, including one-line and three-line diagrams.
• Work closely with system planning to interpret load forecasts.

Skills

Utility protection & control concepts

Grid operations

CAD platforms proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

ETAP

SKM

CYME

CDEGS

Job description

Substation Design Engineer

Location: Sacramento, Oakland, or Fresno

Department: Substation

Work Type: hybrid

K&A Engineering Consulting – is a privately held company, providing comprehensive consulting, engineering and design, program/project management, construction management, and support services to power utility and industrial clients. Specializing in substation, transmission, distribution, distributed energy resources, and EPC services, we excel in solving complex challenges with precision-driven solutions. We pride ourselves on employing top talent, fostering a culture of excellence, and building meaningful relationships with clients and employees.

Powered By Innovation, Passion, And Purpose.

Start Your K&A Career. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Substation Design Engineer to join our team at K&A Engineering in Sacramento, Oakland, or Fresno. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging projects that make a real impact in the energy and utility sectors. You’ll be part of a dynamic, people‑focused team where your expertise, ideas, and contributions will be valued and celebrated.

Role Expectations

• Develop complete engineering design packages for utility substations
• Produce detailed drawings, including:
• One-line and three-line diagrams
• General arrangement and elevation drawings
• Bus configurations (ring bus, breaker-and-a-half, etc.)
• Conduit, cable, and trench routing plans
• Grounding, lightning protection, and fencing layouts
• Equipment foundations, support structures, and raceway details
• Perform engineering calculations including grounding grid analysis, short circuit, bus ampacity, and conductor sizing.
• Prepare and review specifications for power transformers, breakers, switches, structures, relays, batteries, and auxiliary systems.
• Work closely with system planning to interpret load forecasts, system studies, and N-1/N-2 contingency requirements.
• Coordinate with protection & control engineers to integrate relaying and SCADA schemes.
• Collaborate with civil, structural, and telecom teams to deliver cohesive design packages.
• Provide technical support through construction, energization, and operation.
• Conduct site visits for condition assessments, constructability reviews, and commissioning support.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 2–5+ years of experience in substation engineering within a T&D utility or consulting environment.
• Strong understanding of utility protection & control concepts, system reliability, and grid operations.
• Familiarity with SCADA integration, relay protection, and communications systems.
• Proficiency with CAD platforms (AutoCAD, MicroStation) and utility engineering tools (ETAP, SKM, CYME, CDEGS preferred).
• Working knowledge of industry standards and utility design practices.
• Preferred: PE License.

Pay Range $105,000-115,000/year

Why Join K&A?

People-First Culture: We put our people at the center of everything we do, creating an environment where your professional and personal growth is a top priority.

Innovation & Learning: We encourage continuous learning and invest in your development through training, mentorship, and hands‑on experience.

Collaborative Team Environment: We believe in the power of collaboration and working together to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and employees.

Recognition & Growth: We’ve earned our reputation through uncompromising precision and a commitment to excellence. As an agile and fast‑growing company, we offer plenty of opportunities for your career advancement and growth.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care Spending Account
• 401K (Traditional and Roth with Company Match)
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Holidays and Flexible PTO
• Tuition Reimbursement, Parking and Transit Reimbursement, and Pet Insurance
• Long-Term Disability, Short-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

Check out our career page for more information!

The salary range for this role considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to technical ability, experience and training, licenses and certifications, and other related skillsets. The disclosed range is an estimate and has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.