Substation Project Structural Engineer

HDR; Kalispell (MT); On-site; USD 90,682 - 145,990; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Employee assistance program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Substation Project Structural Engineer to work on high-voltage electrical projects across multiple locations. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in structural design related to substations and a relevant engineering degree. This full-time position offers competitive compensation and a robust benefits package inclusive of health insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience with high-voltage electrical switchyard projects.
• Professional engineering license (e.g., PE or P.Eng).
• Previous experience with an engineering consulting firm.

Responsibilities

• Execute structural engineering tasks for substation structural members.
• Prepare and/or review specifications for materials.
• Coordinate quality checks for project deliverables.

Skills

Technical design experience with high-voltage projects

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Organizational and problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

PLS-Tower

RISA

STAAD

Job description

Substation Project Structural Engineer

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

The Substation Project Structural Engineer has broad technical knowledge and experience with the structural design components of high‑voltage electrical switchyard and substation projects up to 500kV, including steel structure and foundation analysis & design. Leveraging that knowledge and experience, they work in close coordination with Project Managers (PM) and project teams in multiple office locations to execute the structural engineering and design components of substation projects. The Substation Project Structural Engineer may also train, mentor, and guide EITs across the practice and help senior engineers & technical leaders in the development and implementation of best practices to advance our capabilities across this discipline.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute structural engineering tasks for a variety of substation structural members such as rolled steel shapes, lattice steel framing, and folded plate tubular steel shapes. Engineering duties include detailed design, calculations, and detailing for fabrication or development of loading and concept drawings for submittal to a steel fabricator to design and fabricate.
• Execute foundation design tasks for substation structures, including drilled piers, spread footings, driven piles, and potentially other types, using industry standard software.
• Prepare and/or review specifications for construction & materials.
• Assign project tasks to EITs and provide technical guidance to non‑structural project team members.
• Coordinate and/or perform quality checks and reviews for project deliverables per the HDR Quality Management Systems (QMS) requirements, processes, and procedures to deliver a world‑class quality product to the client. Perform quality checks and/or reviews of projects from other teams on an as‑needed basis.
• Collaborate with other engineers to develop and maintain standards.
• Work independently and mentor and train one or more EITs and designers.
• Execute multiple projects concurrently, collaborating with teams in different locations.
• Participate in project reviews as needed.
• Some travel may be required.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• Technical design experience with physical/outdoor design of high‑voltage electrical switchyard and substation projects of varying complexity.
• Familiarity with the latest NESC, NEC, IEEE, ANSI, ASCE‑113 and other industry standards.
• Experience using industry standard design software, including PLS‑Tower and Mathcad Prime, AutoCAD or MicroStation.
• Minimum 5 years of technical design experience with high‑voltage electrical switchyard and substation projects, including foundation and steel structural design.
• Working knowledge of the latest AISC‑360, ASCE‑7, ACI‑318, and other industry standards.
• Experience using industry standard design software, including STAAD, RISA, MFAD, L‑Pile, or equivalent.
• Self‑starter with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong conceptual, organizational, problem‑solving, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered (e.g., PE or P.Eng).
• Previous structural engineer experience
• Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, RISA, Staad, SAP, Tedds, RAM, ETABS, SAFE or similar
• Previous experience with an architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must

Benefits and Compensation

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including 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 is $90,682 – $145,990, depending on skills, experience, education and geographic location.

Location

Primary: United States – North Carolina, Charlotte

Schedule & Status

Full‑time, Regular

Job Posting

Nov 24, 2025

Equal Employment Opportunity

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.