Substation Engineer – Power & Data Center Projects

HDR; Louisville (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Competitive compensation

Career growth and mentorship

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

HDR is seeking a design-focused engineer with 3+ years in substation or power delivery projects. The role includes coordinating with civil, networks, and transmission teams in a collaborative, employee-owned environment.

Candidates should hold a Bachelor's in Engineering and a PE or equivalent license, with proficiency in PLS CAD, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, and Revit. Flexible remote/hybrid options are available for this full-time position in multiple US locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required.
• Experience in substation design or power delivery projects preferred.
• PE license or equivalent recognized by local board is required.

Responsibilities

• Support scope, schedule, and budget preparation; ensure milestones are met.
• Understand substation design details including yard layouts, grounding, and raceways.
• Understand protection and control design including schematics and wiring.
• Prepare calculations for grounding, lighting protection, and AC/DC studies.
• Prepare equipment specifications for procurement and testing.
• Coordinate design activities with Civil/Structural, Networks, and other teams.
• Communicate project activities with manager, clients, and others as needed.
• Mentor and supervise less-experienced EITs and Designers.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Substation design

Power delivery

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PLS CAD

AutoCAD

Plant 3D

Revit

Job description

At HDR, employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work everyday. We foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and communities, constantly asking how we impact the world.

What You’ll Do

• Support preparing scopes, schedules, and budgets, and ensure that schedules and budgets are met.
• Understand physical substation design, including yard layouts, plans, sections and details, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, interior and exterior raceways, auxiliary AC/DC power systems, and associated bills of material.
• Understand protection and control design including panel arrangements, one‑line/single‑line, three‑line, AC/DC schematics, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring.
• Prepare calculations for studies and reports (grounding, lighting protection, AC/DC load studies, etc.).
• Prepare equipment specifications for procurement and/or factory acceptance testing.
• Coordinate design activities with other departments (Civil/Structural, Networks, Transmission Line, etc.).
• Effectively communicate and coordinate project activities with manager, clients, and others as needed.
• Work independently and may direct, mentor, train, and/or supervise efforts of less‑experienced EITs and/or Designers.
• Perform other duties as needed.

What We Offer

• Exciting, high‑impact projects in power and technology sectors.
• A collaborative, people‑first culture focused on innovation and sustainability.
• Professional development opportunities, mentorship, and career growth.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• Flexible work arrangements (remote/hybrid options available).

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in substation design or power delivery projects (data center experience is a plus).
• Previous experience with an engineering consulting firm.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE) or P.Eng).
• Previous experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office and standard Power Market Sector design software (e.g., PLS CAD, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, AutoPipe, and Revit).
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.

Primary Location: United States – Tennessee – Nashville

Other Locations: United States – Kentucky – Louisville; United States – Tennessee – Memphis; United States – Tennessee – Chattanooga; United States – Kentucky – Lexington

Industry: Power | Schedule: Full‑time | Employee Status: Regular | Business Class: Substation Engineering | Job Posting: May 21, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.