Substation Physical Engineering Lead

ICF; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 175,000 - 297,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a Department Manager, Substation Physical Engineering to lead and grow our substation engineering practice nationwide. You will oversee operations, provide technical leadership, and manage staff, projects, and client relations while driving growth and ensuring safety, quality, and schedule adherence.

The role requires extensive substation experience, PE licensure, and strong leadership. This nationwide remote office position offers opportunities to influence large utility programs

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, or related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 12+ years of experience in substation engineering, design, analysis, or related power delivery services.
• 12+ years of experience working with electric utilities, EPC firms, or engineering consulting organizations.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing project portfolios, resource planning, and financial performance.
• Strong knowledge of substation physical design principles, including station layout, grounding, lightning protection, AC station service, conduit systems, equipment selection, and constructability considerations.
• Experience leading engineering projects ranging from distribution substations through transmission voltage levels up to 765kV.
• Ability to travel for client presentations, field visits, industry conferences, and project reviews.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of substation physical engineers, designers, and technical specialists, establishing performance expectations, supporting career development, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Manage department staffing, recruiting, hiring, workload forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure successful project execution and achievement of business objectives.
• Oversee the delivery of substation engineering projects, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with company quality standards and client expectations.
• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for complex substation projects ranging from distribution through EHV transmission voltage levels, serving as a senior technical resource for staff and clients while promoting engineering best practices and innovation.
• Establish, maintain, and improve engineering standards, QA/QC processes, design procedures, and operational workflows to drive technical excellence, consistency, and efficiency across the department.
• Own department operational performance, including utilization, backlog management, staffing forecasts, revenue targets, profitability, and overall financial performance.
• Partner with project managers and business leaders to monitor project performance, manage risks, resolve resource constraints, and proactively address schedule, budget, and quality concerns.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with utility clients, contractors, equipment vendors, and industry partners while supporting project pursuits, proposal development, scope definition, contract negotiations, and client satisfaction initiatives.
• Identify and execute opportunities for business growth, service expansion, and market development while supporting strategic planning and contributing to the long-term success of the substation engineering practice.
• Champion company safety, quality, compliance, and professional development programs while ensuring adherence to applicable industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Provide executive oversight of engineering activities including substation physical design, grounding, lightning protection, AC station service, equipment selection, major equipment specifications, constructability reviews, and engineering studies.
• Support the development and adoption of advanced engineering technologies, digital design workflows, 3D modeling, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance project quality and delivery efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering leadership

Staff development

Client relationship management

Strategic growth

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

PE license

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Autodesk Inventor

Vault

CDEGS

AGi32

Job description

ICF is seeking a Department Manager, Substation Physical Engineering to lead and grow our substation engineering practice nationwide. You will oversee operations, provide technical leadership, and manage staff, projects, and client relations while driving growth and ensuring safety, quality, and schedule adherence.

The role requires extensive substation experience, PE licensure, and strong leadership. This nationwide remote office position offers opportunities to influence large utility programs