Substation Engineer

Actalent; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Stock-related benefits

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Actalent, a global engineering services leader, seeks a Substation Project Engineer/Manager in Phoenix, AZ. You will lead substation design, power delivery, and utilities projects, managing scope, schedule, budget, and quality while mentoring junior staff and supporting business development.

You will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, travel occasionally for client meetings, and drive high-quality outcomes in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Active PE license required.
• 7+ years related engineering experience.
• 2+ years project management experience.
• Strong substation engineering/design experience.
• Proficiency in power distribution, high voltage, and utility design.
• Experience with project scope/schedule/budget/risk/change management.
• Ability to lead engineering teams through full project life cycle.
• Excellent client communication and relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute substation engineering projects from scope through closeout.
• Develop scopes, schedules, and budgets and ensure adherence to objectives.
• Apply project management tools: lifecycle, WBS, earned value, risk, changes.
• Coordinate engineers and teams across disciplines.
• Oversee engineering and non-engineering project components incl. permitting and ROW.
• Lead QA/QC for EPC projects to meet quality standards.
• Provide technical leadership in substation design and related engineering.
• Mentor and supervise junior engineers and staff.
• Maintain client relationships and progress reporting.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Substation design

Power distribution

Communication

QA/QC

Team coordination

MS Office/MS Project

AutoCAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering (preferred)

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Office

MS Project

MS Access (plus)

Job description

Job Title: Substation Project Engineer / ManagerJob Description

This role leads and executes substation engineering projects of varying sizes and complexity, from initial scope and proposal development through project closeout. You will manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality while coordinating multidisciplinary teams and providing technical leadership in substation design, power delivery, and utility engineering. The position also contributes to business development, client relationship management, and mentoring of junior engineers, offering a strong platform for professional growth within a large, employee-focused organization.

Responsibilities

• Execute and manage all aspects of substation engineering projects, including scope development, proposal preparation, project planning, execution, and closeout.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets, and ensure adherence to project objectives, client requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Apply core project management tools and techniques, including project life cycle management, work breakdown structures, financial management, earned value tracking, risk management, and change management.
• Coordinate the work of engineers and other project team members throughout the entire project life cycle to ensure integrated and timely delivery.
• Oversee both engineering and non-engineering components of projects, including public involvement, environmental permitting, right of way acquisition, construction management, and related services.
• Lead the QA/QC process on EPC projects and ensure deliverables meet world-class quality standards.
• Provide technical leadership in substation design, power distribution, power delivery, high voltage, relay, and utility design engineering.
• Direct, mentor, train, and supervise assistant project managers, project engineers, and junior design staff, fostering their professional development.
• Perform client management activities, including regular communication, progress reporting, and issue resolution to maintain strong client relationships.
• Support and participate in business development efforts, including identifying opportunities, supporting marketing initiatives, and contributing to proposal development.
• Engage in business development activities to support existing and new clients in the region, including occasional travel for client meetings and project execution.
• Support distribution, transmission line, communication, and system protection and planning projects, where applicable.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure effective internal and external communication and alignment across disciplines.
• Contribute to growing a local team of engineers and technicians to support current and future projects.
• Perform other duties as needed to support project and organizational goals.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• At least 7 years of related engineering experience.
• A minimum of 2 years of project management experience.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Strong experience in substation engineering and substation design.
• Proficiency in electrical engineering principles related to power distribution, power delivery, high voltage, and utility design.
• Experience with project management, including scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change management.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and lead engineering teams through the full project life cycle.
• Proficiency with MS Office and MS Project; familiarity with MS Access is a plus.
• Experience with AutoCAD for engineering and design tasks.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a proactive, collaborative attitude.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with clients, internal teams, and stakeholders.
• Commitment to quality, including leading and participating in QA/QC processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or a related field is preferred.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is preferred.
• Experience with distribution, transmission line, communication, and system protection and planning projects is beneficial.
• Experience with public involvement, environmental permitting, and real estate or right of way acquisition is an advantage.
• Background in construction management or oversight of construction-related services is helpful.
• Experience working on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) projects is a plus.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior engineers and design staff.
• Strong interest in continued learning and professional growth.
• Ability to support marketing, proposal development, and other business development activities.
• Enthusiasm for contributing to an employee-focused, ownership-minded culture.
• Capability to travel occasionally for business development and project execution as needed.

Work Environment

This position operates in a hybrid work environment, typically combining 2 to 3 days in the office with 2 to 3 days working remotely each week. The role supports teams located in Phoenix, Tucson, and Albuquerque, providing flexibility while maintaining strong collaboration with colleagues and clients. You will work with modern engineering tools and software, including MS Office, MS Project, and AutoCAD, within a professional office setting that emphasizes quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement. The organization offers a large-company platform with opportunities for growth, performance bonuses, and stock-related benefits, fostering a culture of ownership, engagement, and long-term career development.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Phoenix, AZ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $85.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 18, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Phoenix,AZ.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.