Substation Engineer (Staff, Senior, or Principal) - Denver, CO

Xcel Energy Inc; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Pharmacy Plan

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Holidays

Job summary

Xcel Energy in Denver, Colorado is expanding its Substation Engineering & Design team. We are hiring at Staff, Senior, and Principal Engineer levels to design and deliver critical substation infrastructure, supporting the clean energy transition and grid modernization.

Successful candidates will lead technical projects, mentor others, and collaborate across engineering disciplines. The role offers hybrid work with onsite expectations three days per week and opportunities to work on high-impact

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET-accredited program (electrical preferred).
• EIT/FE strongly preferred.
• Staff requires 2+ years engineering experience; Senior requires 5+ with EIT/FE or 7+ without; Principal requires 9+ with PE; 15+ without PE.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects of moderate to large size, applying technical standards and guiding teams.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, calculations, and design standards.
• Provide field engineering oversight for testing, commissioning, and operations.
• Coordinate multiple projects and mentor less experienced engineers.
• Participate in bid/evaluation processes and vendor coordination.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and work-order management in support of projects.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Project leadership

Mentoring engineers

Technical documentation

Stakeholder coordination

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Engineering degree preferred (Electrical)

Tools

PE registration

EIT/FE

Job description

Xcel Energy(NASDAQ:XEL)is a leading energy providerand Fortune 500company,dedicated toserving millionsofelectricity andnaturalgascustomersacross eight states:Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota,New Mexicoand Texas.We make energy work better forourcustomers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar-delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient,and sustainable energy. Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Build the Future of Energy with Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy is seeking talented electrical engineers to join our Substation Engineering & Design team. We are hiring at the Staff, Senior, and Principal Engineer levels, with placement based on experience, technical expertise, and demonstrated competencies.

As a leader in the clean energy transition, Xcel Energy is investing in grid modernization, reliability, resiliency, and the integration of renewable energy resources. In this role, you will contribute to the design and delivery of critical substation infrastructure projects that help power the communities we serve.

Successful candidates will have experience in substation physical and control design and a passion for solving complex engineering challenges. Depending on level, responsibilities may include technical project leadership, development of new and improved engineering solutions, mentoring engineers and designers, and serving as a valued technical resource across the organization. This position offers opportunities to work on impactful projects, collaborate with experienced professionals, and contribute to the future of the electric grid.

The job summary and responsibilities below reflect the expectations of the Senior Engineer level. Candidates hired at the Staff or Principal Engineer levels will be expected to demonstrate qualifications and competencies aligned with those respective roles.

Position Summary

Applies extensive technical expertise and has full knowledge of other related disciplines. Performs as a staff advisor and consultant in a technical specialty, a type of facility or equipment, or a program function. Carries out complex or innovative assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures. Work is expected to result in the development of new/improved techniques and procedures or new/refined equipment, materials, processes, products, and/or scientific methods. Represents the organization as the prime technical contact on contracts and projects and interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations. Work is performed without appreciable direction, and considerable latitude is exercised in determining technical objectives of assignment. Guidance relates largely to overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts and policy matters. Completed work is reviewed from a relatively long- term perspective, for desired results. May assign tasks to and direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and administrative staff, including coordination and review of work assignments. Responsible for (and may lead) multiple projects of moderate to large size or portions of major projects.

Essential Responsibilities

• Applies extensive technical expertise and has an understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines. Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to lead projects of moderate to large size, scope and complexity.
• Largely self-directed work is expected to result in the development of new or improved techniques, procedures and standards. Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.)
• Without appreciable direction exercises considerable latitude in determining ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics and Regulatory. Provides field engineering oversight and direction for activities such as support, testing, installation, inspections, commissioning etc.
• Coordinates/leads multiple projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement, installation and commissioning). May lead more critical projects with oversight of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
• Represents the organization as the prime technical contact in the bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and providing recommendations for selection. Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination with internal and external organizations.
• Effectively and with precision resolves difficult technical/business matters both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors with all formats of communication.
• May assign tasks to and/or direct engineers, technicians, craft personnel and other support staff including coordination and review of work assignments. Provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
• Leads activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.

Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,800-$106,266)

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, electrical engineering degree preferred.
• 2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
• EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.

Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,266)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred.
• 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
• Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.

Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred.
• 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with electric transmission and/or distribution substation engineering and design.
• Experience with EHV substation projects up to and including 345 kV.
• Familiarity with utility industry standards, engineering best practices, and applicable codes.
• Experience providing field, construction, commissioning, or operational support for substation projects.
• Experience leading technical project work and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.
• Experience developing engineering standards, specifications, design criteria, or work processes.
• Experience mentoring engineers, designers, or other technical personnel.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration preferred.

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.

Our Values

Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

Our Employee Commitments

• Work that makes a difference
• A team you can count of
• Opportunities to grow
• Rewards that help you thrive

Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 10/29/26

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Accessibility Statement

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.