Substation Project Engineer (Northwest Region)

HDR; Gig Harbor (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision care

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Paid time off

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Retirement savings plan with employer

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Substation Project Engineer in the United States (Gig Harbor area) to join a growing Power Delivery team. The role focuses on high voltage substation design, including protection & controls, grounding, and yard layouts, with opportunities to mentor junior engineers.

Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, PE license, and at least four years of relevant substation design experience. Travel and strong collaboration across departments are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 4+ years in substation design including diagrams, grounding, and control systems.

Responsibilities

• Support scopes, schedules and budgets and ensure timelines are met.
• Understand substation physical design: yard layouts, grounding, protection, and control buildings.
• Develop one-line diagrams, general arrangements and wiring diagrams.
• Prepare grounding, lighting protection, and AC/DC load studies calculations.
• Prepare equipment specs for procurement and factory acceptance testing.
• Coordinate design activities with Civil/Structural, Networks, Transmission teams.
• Mentor and supervise junior staff as needed.

Skills

Substation design

One-line diagrams

Protection & controls

Coordination with teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Tools

PLS CAD

AutoCAD

Plant 3D

Revit

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR Engineering is currently seeking a Substation Project Engineer to join our growing and nationally ranked team of Power Delivery professionals.

Opportunities are available in these preferred locations: Anchorage, Boise, Billings, Missoula, Portland Seattle, Spokane.

Primary Responsibilities

You will be part of a rapidly growing team wanting to take your career to the next level. Having developed foundational expertise in high voltage substation design, including physical and protection & controls design, you will be ready to undertake a more complex and responsible role requiring you to work independently while at times, directing, mentoring, training, and/or supervising less-experienced EITs and/or Designers.

As a Substation Project Engineer, your role will encompass the following:

• Support preparing scopes, schedules, and budgets, and ensure that schedules and budgets are met
• Understands physical substation design including yard layouts, plans, sections and details, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, interior and exterior raceways, auxiliary AC/DC power systems, and associated bills of material
• Understands protection and control design including panel arrangements, one lines/single lines, three lines, AC/DC schematics, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring
• Prepare calculations for studies and reports (grounding, lighting protection, AC/DC load studies, etc.)
• Prepare equipment specifications for procurement and/or factory acceptance testing
• Coordinate design activities with other departments (Civil/Structural, Networks, Transmission Line, etc.)
• Effectively communicate and coordinate project activities with manager, clients, and others as needed
• Works independently and may direct, mentor, train, and/or supervise efforts of less-experienced EIT's and/or Designers.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
• Minimum 4 years of experience in substation design.
• Specific experience performing aspects associated with substation design, including: One Line Diagrams, General Arrangements, Sections, Grounding, Conduit Plans, Foundation Plans, Material Lists, Relay and Control Systems, Control Schematics, and Wiring Diagrams.
• Strong computer skills Microsoft Office and electrical design software.
• Some travel may be required.
• Experience with substation design for 12kV thru 500kV desired, experience thru 765kV an added benefit.
• Previous experience with an architectural/ engineering or engineering consulting firm desired.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Previous experience in project execution within the Power Market Sector.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office as well as standard Power Market Sector design software. (examples include PLS CAD, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, AutoPipe, and Revit)
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture
  
  

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) {Montana}: $80,000 - $125,000 {Spokane, WA}: $80,000 - $125,000 {Seattle/Bellevue/Everett, WA}: $97,440 - $145,000 {Olympia, WA}: $82,000 - $130,000 {Gig Harbor, WA}: $90,000 - $138,000 {Vancouver, WA}: $85,000 - $135,000 Primary Location:United States-Idaho-Boise Other Locations:United States-Washington-Tacoma, United States-Washington-Everett, United States-Idaho-Coeur d'Alene, United States-Washington-Bellevue, United States-Montana-Butte, United States-Oregon-Bend, United States-Montana-Kalispell, United States-Oregon-Portland, United States-Montana-Bozeman, United States-Washington-Gig Harbor, United States-Oregon-Salem, United States-Alaska-Anchorage, United States-Oregon-Ashland, United States-Washington-Seattle, United States-Montana-Missoula, United States-Montana-Billings, United States-Montana-Helena, United States-Washington-Spokane, United States-Washington-Olympia, United States-Washington-Vancouver Industry:Power Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Substation Engineering Job Posting:Jul 23, 2026


At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.