Substation Engineer

WSP Global Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Substation Engineer to support the Data Center Infrastructure Team in San Diego, CA, with flexible locations considered across the U.S. The role involves helping design substations, interconnections, and electrical infrastructure for large-scale data center campuses, coordinating with utilities and internal teams, and delivering detailed engineering deliverables.

You will contribute to feasibility, site evaluation, and infrastructure planning, while aligning with codes,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 3+ years of substation design experience.
• Experience supporting physical or protection & control design.
• Understanding of utility substation systems and equipment.
• Familiarity with substation design processes and standards.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to manage assignments with moderate supervision.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support multidisciplinary coordination for site evaluation, planning, and infrastructure integration.
• Contribute to proposal development, including technical input and scope definition.
• Assist in execution of substation projects across planning, design, procurement, and construction phases.
• Coordinate with internal teams, utilities, vendors, and stakeholders for project delivery.
• Participate in site visits and field activities to validate design assumptions and resolve issues.
• Support development of project schedules, deliverables, and budgets.
• Follow QA/QC procedures and verify accuracy of deliverables.
• Prepare reports, calculations, and technical documentation.

Skills

Substation design

Electrical systems

Protection & control

Project coordination

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is initiating a search for a Substation Engineer to support our 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.

In this role, you’ll help shape the early vision for substation design and electrical infrastructure supporting cutting-edge data center projects. You’ll contribute to developing preliminary concepts and layouts that inform key feasibility and planning decisions—giving you exposure to the most strategic phase of project delivery. This role contributes to early-stage substation planning and design development for data center clients, working collaboratively across business lines to support feasibility, site evaluation, and infrastructure planning.

Your Impact

• Support multidisciplinary coordination for site evaluation, planning, and infrastructure integration
• Contribute to proposal development, including technical input and scope definition
• Assist in execution of substation projects across planning, design, procurement, and construction phases
• Coordinate with internal teams, utilities, vendors, and stakeholders for project delivery
• Participate in site visits and field activities to validate design assumptions and resolve issues
• Support development of project schedules, deliverables, and budgets
• Perform substation design tasks including:
  • One-line diagrams, schematics, and wiring diagrams
  • Layouts, grounding, lightning protection, and basic SCADA systems
• Prepare design deliverables such as general arrangements, sections, BOMs, and cable/conduit plans
• Support development of equipment specifications and vendor coordination
• Follow QA/QC procedures and verify accuracy of deliverables
• Prepare reports, calculations, and technical documentation
• Work collaboratively with senior engineers and project leads
• Maintain compliance with codes, standards, and company policies
• 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
• 3+ years of substation design experience
• Experience supporting physical or protection & control design
• Understanding of utility substation systems and equipment
• Familiarity with substation design processes and standard
• Ability to perform engineering calculations and interpret technical documents
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to manage assignments with moderate supervision
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Engineering
• EIT certification; on path to obtain a PE licensure
• Experience supporting multi-discipline projects

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): $78,600 - $135,000

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.