Substation Physical Engineering Lead (PE)

Mesa Associates, Inc; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Holiday Pay – 10 Days Annually

Group Medical/Dental Insurance

Life Insurance (Company Paid)

Disability Insurance (Company Paid)

401(K) Retirement Savings plan

401(K) Matching Contribution

Section 125/Cafeteria Plan

Long Term Care Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Fitness Center Reimbursement

Annual Performance Bonus

9/80 Work Schedule Option

Job summary

Mesa Associates, Inc. is seeking a senior Substation Physical Design Lead in Chattanooga to manage a small team of engineers, designers, and drafters. You will lead design reviews, coordinate across disciplines, and ensure packages meet IEEE/NESC/ASCE standards while keeping clients informed.

The role emphasizes PE sign/seal responsibilities, leadership development, and proactive process improvements in a dynamic substation environment with periodic travel to client sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering (ABET Accredited).
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license – Required. Multi-state licensure or willingness to obtain reciprocity is a plus.
• 6+ years in the substation/utility industry, with 4+ years in substation physical design across voltage ranges spanning 12kV to 230kV.
• Deep substation physical expertise – Foundations, structural steel, grounding, cable routing, equipment power ratings, clearances, and conductor sizing across utility standards (IEEE, NESC, ASCE).
• Experience with grounding, lightning, and lighting studies – both performing them and reviewing the team's calculations.
• Client-facing communicator – Able to lead design reviews, kickoffs, and scope discussions directly with utility clients and other consultants.
• A coach's mindset – you find it rewarding to develop the engineers around you as to ship your own deliverables.
• Steady under pressure – balancing technical and people responsibilities when project demand spikes.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small cross-experience team of substation physical engineers, designers, and drafters; mentor and set technical direction.
• PE review and sign/seal packages requiring a PE seal.
• Own client communication on substation physical scope: kickoffs, design reviews, RFI responses, change orders, closeout documentation.
• Shape Mesa's internal substation physical standards, templates, QA checklists, and lessons-learned library.
• Coordinate with Protection & Controls, Civil, Studies, Scoping, and other disciplines to keep multi-discipline packages aligned.
• Perform design oversight and final QA to ensure compliance with codes and client requirements.
• Identify process improvements and develop internal time-saving tools and templates.
• Approve timesheets, overtime, and vacation requests; oversee expense reports.

Skills

Substation design

Grounding & lightning studies

Client communication

Leadership / mentoring

Project leadership

QA/checking

Travel willingness

Education

ABET Accredited Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

AutoCAD

Bentley MicroStation

Bluebeam Revu

WinIGS

CDEGS

ETAP

Job description

Mesa Associates, Inc. is seeking a senior Substation Physical Design Lead in Chattanooga to manage a small team of engineers, designers, and drafters. You will lead design reviews, coordinate across disciplines, and ensure packages meet IEEE/NESC/ASCE standards while keeping clients informed.

The role emphasizes PE sign/seal responsibilities, leadership development, and proactive process improvements in a dynamic substation environment with periodic travel to client sites.