Substation Project Engineer

Jacobs; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 151,400 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan

Unlimited paid time off

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Texas is seeking a Principal Substation Engineer to support utility and developer clients in the energy sector. The role requires extensive experience in substation design, high-voltage components, and collaboration with delivery teams. Candidates should have strong communication skills and be willing to mentor junior staff. Benefits include health insurance, a 401(k) plan, personalized paid time off, and a competitive salary range of $151,400 to $200,000.

Qualifications

• 5 years of direct Substation design experience with a utility or consulting organization.
• Advanced knowledge of high-voltage substation components.
• Familiarity with grounding system design and lighting protection designs.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with T&D delivery teams to support utility/developer clients.
• Mentor team members across North America and globally.
• Participate in professional societies and industry events.

Skills

Substation design experience

High-voltage components knowledge

CADD platform experience

Communication skills

Tools

Autodesk

Bentley products

Job description

Role Overview

The energy industry is undergoing rapid and dramatic changes, transforming the utility landscape to enhance safety, reliability and sustainability. In response, Jacobs is expanding its Transmission & Distribution (T&D) operations in North America and is looking for a Principal Substation Engineer in its Energy & Power Group to tackle the complexities of decarbonization and utility modernization to deliver a cleaner and more secure energy future.

Responsibilities

As a Principal Substation Engineer, you will work closely with regional and global Transmission & Distribution (T&D) delivery teams to support our utility/developer clients and operations teams as we expand our energy transition portfolio. You will interface directly with utility/developer clients on development of Substation design deliverables for utility upgrades including greenfield/brownfield & AIS/GIS substations, offshore wind facilities, and developer interconnection facilities. You will act as an engineer providing overview, expertise, and direction while representing owner’s interests and may serve as an Owner’s consultant/Owner’s Engineer (OC/OE). You will mentor team members across North America and globally, support the sales and proposal process for new contracts, and deliver high‑quality services to the client. You will also participate in professional societies such as the IEEE and PES and attend industry conferences, seminars, trade shows, and networking events to promote company services and stay updated on industry innovations and advancements.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5 years of direct Substation design experience with a utility or consulting organization
• Advanced knowledge of high‑voltage substation components (transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, capacitor banks, gas‑insulated substation (GIS), switchgear buildings, control house, underground cable potheads, etc.)
• Prior experience developing substation designs from conceptual through IFC drawings, plans, sections, grounding plans, bill of materials, conduit schedules, construction details, etc.
• Familiarity with grounding system design and lighting & lightning protection designs for substations
• Ability to perform substation AC/DC station service calculations and studies, voltage‑drop calculations
• Prior experience reviewing equipment vendor specifications and construction/commissioning specifications
• Demonstrated ability to perform QA/QC of design calculations and construction drawings
• Experience with CADD platforms such as Autodesk or Bentley products
• Prior experience as an owner’s representative preferred
• Capability to scope projects, prepare task orders, review design work, verify owner’s compliance
• Ability to conduct field visits and walk‑downs as needed for client projects and support construction
• Willingness to train, mentor junior staff and develop training modules and processes
• Strong communication and technical writing skills
• Team player with excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills

Benefits

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs offers an unlimited U.S. personalized paid time off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, caregiver leave, and certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonuses, and stock.

Compensation

The base salary range for this position is $151,400.00 to $200,000.00. Pay is determined by location and other factors such as experience and education.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.