Substation Project Manager

CDM Smith; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 120,973 - 211,723; Full time

Job summary

CDM Smith is looking for a Substation Project Manager in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The successful candidate will manage multi-discipline engineering teams and oversee complex substation projects for electric utility clients. Key responsibilities include leading proposal development and ensuring project quality and compliance. A Bachelor's degree and PMP certification are required along with a minimum of 10 years of experience in project management. The role offers a competitive salary range of $120,973 to $211,723 and hybrid work options may be available.

Qualifications

• 10 years of related experience.
• PMP (PMI), CCM or DBIA certification required within 12 months of hire.
• Experience managing substation projects and programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex substation engineering projects from early concept to construction.
• Lead proposal development and project scope definition.
• Mentor and lead multi-discipline project teams.

Skills

Project Management

Engineering Design

Consulting

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Degree in Engineering, Construction Management or related field

Tools

Project Management Software

Job description

Job Title

Substation Project Manager

Job Description

CDM Smith (Industrial Division) is seeking to fill an exciting Substation Project Manager (Substation PM) position in our established and growing business supporting electric utility and substation clients across the United States. The Substation PM will lead multi‑discipline engineering teams delivering critical substation programs and projects across the utility and mission‑critical markets, including consulting, engineering, design‑build, and EPC (engineer, procure, construct) delivery. Experience should include physical substation design and protection and control for brownfield and greenfield substations up to 345 kV, as well as the ability to execute safely, compliantly, and with a strong focus on constructability and operational readiness.

CDM Smith’s Industrial Division serves Utility, Data Center, Power, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Food & Beverage, Metals & Mining, Manufacturing, and other industrial clients. In this role, the Substation PM will support portfolio‑style substation capital programs for investor‑owned utilities (IOUs) as well as fast‑paced, schedule‑driven substation and interconnection projects for data center clients—often with accelerated timelines, parallel workstreams, and highly coordinated stakeholder expectations.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience managing consulting, engineering, design‑build, and/or EPC (engineer, procure, construct) substation projects and programs for investor‑owned utilities and mission‑critical clients. Experience should span all project phases, from site feasibility and front‑end planning through detailed design, procurement, engineering services during construction, commissioning, and closeout. This individual will help clients plan and deliver multi‑project portfolios and rapid‑turn projects by managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk; aligning deliverables to client standards and operating requirements; and coordinating internal and external stakeholders to achieve safe, high‑quality outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage small to large complex substation engineering projects from early concept development through detailed design and construction support, including breaker and transformer replacements, new bay additions, and protection relay upgrades.
• Lead proposal development by defining scope, schedule, staffing, and cost, partnering with Sales Leader and marketing team to produce compliant, competitive submissions.
• Direct multi‑discipline substation engineering teams (e.g., physical, P&C, civil/structural) and coordinate compliance deliverables to meet quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Manage quality, risk, schedule, and change management.
• Serve as a mentor and leader of multi‑discipline project teams.
• Perform guidance and review at the project level while assuring discipline and quality standards are adhered to.
• Serve as the main client contact and liaison during project execution to deliver a legendary client experience and grow the account.
• Apply experience and innovation to solve problems of high complexity in the area of expertise with support from the engineering team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 10 years of related experience.
• PMP (PMI), CCM or DBIA certification is required (within 12 months of hire or promotion onto the Approved Project Manager list).
• Domestic and/or international travel may be required; frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties and project demands.
• Equivalent directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• Design‑build and/or EPC project delivery experience, including procurement coordination, construction oversight, and commissioning/turnover support.
• Experience with portfolio‑level substation program planning and execution (e.g., multi‑site capital programs), including managing and coordinating substation engineering teams to deliver consistent, on‑time design packages.
• Data center / mission‑critical substation experience delivering under accelerated schedules with a focus on energization readiness, turnover, and schedule certainty.
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) preferred.
• Additional relevant credentials (e.g., CCM, DBIA) and/or mission‑critical commissioning training/certifications are a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range: $120,973 – $211,723. Bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Work Location: United States – Nationwide. Hybrid work options may be considered for the successful candidate.

EEO Statement

We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.