Substation Project Engineer

Actalent; Bellevue (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Bellevue, WA is seeking a mid‑level Substation Project Engineer to deliver complete substation design for utility‑scale wind, solar, and Battery Energy Storage System projects across the United States. You will perform calculations, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, and provide guidance to junior engineers.

The role offers mentorship from senior engineers and opportunities for growth, with travel ~10% and a hybrid work environment in multiple West Coast locations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of direct substation engineering experience.
• PE license in a relevant jurisdiction is required.
• Experience producing design deliverables and calculations in a project environment.
• Strong background in electrical power substation design.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver complete substation design packages for utility-scale projects.
• Perform detailed engineering calculations to support design and protection schemes.
• Produce high-quality design deliverables and documentation.
• Coordinate with civil, structural, and electrical teams for integrated designs.
• Support studies related to substation performance and integration with renewables.
• Assist with construction-phase engineering and field questions.
• Mentor junior engineers and review their work.
• Collaborate with project managers to meet schedules and budgets.
• Contribute to process improvements in design methods and tools.
• Participate in client and internal meetings to discuss design decisions.

Skills

Substation design

Engineering calculations

Protection and control

Team collaboration

Utility consulting

Mentorship

PE license

Education

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Bachelor's degree in electrical or mechanical engineering

Tools

EasyPower

ETAP

Job description

Job Title: Substation Project EngineerJob Description

This mid-level Substation Project Engineer role focuses on delivering high-quality substation design for utility-scale wind, solar, and Battery Energy Storage System projects across the United States. You will contribute directly to active project delivery by producing detailed substation design packages, performing engineering calculations, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, supporting technical studies and construction-phase activities, and providing guidance to junior engineers. The position offers exposure to a wide range of substation projects and clients, strong mentorship from experienced senior engineers, and clear opportunities to grow into greater technical responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver complete substation design packages for utility-scale wind, solar, and Battery Energy Storage System projects.

• Perform detailed engineering calculations to support physical substation design and protection and control schemes.

• Produce high-quality design deliverables and technical documentation in an active project-delivery environment.

• Coordinate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including civil, structural, and electrical engineers, to ensure integrated and constructible designs.

• Support technical studies related to substation performance, protection, and integration with renewable energy facilities.

• Assist with construction-phase engineering needs, including responding to field questions, reviewing submittals, and addressing design clarifications.

• Provide guidance and informal mentorship to junior engineers, helping review their work and support their technical development.

• Collaborate with project managers and peers to meet project schedules, budget constraints, and quality standards.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of substation design processes, standards, and tools.

• Participate in client and internal meetings to explain design intent, discuss technical solutions, and support decision-making.

• Travel approximately 10% of the time for site visits, meetings, and project-related activities as needed.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of direct substation engineering experience, with a focus on physical substation design, protection and control, or both.

• Professional Engineering (PE) license in a relevant jurisdiction.

• Proven experience producing engineering calculations, design deliverables, and technical documentation in an active project-delivery environment.

• Strong technical background in substation design for electrical power systems.

• Bachelors degree in electrical or mechanical engineering.

• Experience working in utility or engineering consulting environments, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and communicate technical concepts clearly in written and verbal form.

• Solid understanding of protection and control principles and physical substation layout considerations.

• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10% of the time for project-related activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Approximately 5 to 12 years of relevant substation engineering experience, with priority given to more senior candidates.

• Consulting experience is strongly preferred, demonstrating familiarity with client-facing work and project delivery processes.

• Renewable energy experience involving utility-scale wind, solar, Battery Energy Storage Systems, or collector substations is a plus.

• Familiarity with substation design tools such as EasyPower and ETAP is highly desirable.

• Experience working on diverse infrastructure projects and modern power system technologies.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and contribute to team knowledge sharing.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in preparing calculations, drawings, and technical reports.

• Interest in long-term career development within an employee-focused engineering environment.

Work Environment

This role offers a hybrid work environment with a strong preference for candidates who can work in-office on a hybrid schedule to support onboarding, mentorship, and collaboration with the project team. The position may be based in multiple locations, including Portland, Corvallis, Bend, Salem, Bellingham, Spokane, Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, Tacoma, Vancouver, or Woodinville in the Pacific Northwest, as well as Denver, Colorado and Boise, Idaho. Remote work may be considered for candidates who exceed the stated qualifications and can effectively collaborate across locations. The work environment emphasizes stability, local project involvement, and diverse infrastructure work, supported by modern technology and tools commonly used in substation design. Team members benefit from strong career development opportunities and a balanced approach to workload and project assignments that supports a healthy work-life balance. Work is primarily office-based, using standard engineering software, documentation tools, and collaborative platforms to deliver complex renewable and power system projects.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Bellevue, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance. Life insurance with options for additional dependent coverage. Retirement planning and financial wellbeing support are highlighted as part of their benefits program.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Bellevue,WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.