Substation Senior Structural Engineer

HDR; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 132,107 - 204,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

Retirement savings with employer match

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Substation Senior Structural Engineer to be part of our Nationally Ranked Power Delivery team. The role requires leading the design of high-voltage substations, overseeing junior engineers, and conducting detailed design calculations.

The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering, a Professional Engineering license, and have at least 10 years of experience in structural engineering. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of structural engineering experience related to building design.
• Professional Engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the job location.
• Experience designing high-voltage electrical switchyards and substations up to 500 kV.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of substation structural members.
• Conduct detailed design calculations and detail fabrication drawings.
• Mentor and supervise junior engineers and Project Engineers.

Skills

Structural Engineering

Project Management

Team Leadership

Problem-Solving

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master’s degree in Structural Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

STAAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

Substation Senior Structural Engineer

HDR Engineering is seeking a Substation Senior Structural Engineer (Substation Sr. SE) to join our Nationally Ranked Power Delivery team. The Sr. SE will lead, oversee, review, and execute structural engineering and design components of high‑voltage substation and switchyard projects up to 500 kV, including steel structure and foundation design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of substation structural members such as rolled steel shapes, lattice steel framing, and folded plate tubular steel shapes.
• Conduct detailed design calculations and detail fabrication drawings for steel fabricators.
• Design foundations for substation structures, including drilled piers, spread footings, and driven piles.
• Support substation layout designs, plans, elevations, sections, and bills of materials.
• Prepare and review construction and materials specifications.
• Assign project tasks and provide technical guidance to engineering teams.
• Coordinate quality checks and reviews for project deliverables per HDR’s Quality Management System.
• Collaborate with civil/structural engineers on transmission line projects and cross‑train resources.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards in collaboration with peers.
• Mentor and supervise junior engineers, Project Engineers, EITs, or CAD/Designers.
• Lead multiple concurrent projects utilizing teams across different locations.
• Engage with senior engineers and technical leaders to deepen technical expertise, attend training and seminars.
• Assist in producing technical papers and presentations for industry conferences.
• Participate in project reviews as needed.
• Travel may be required.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Structural Engineering.
• Sealed Engineering (SE) license or ability to obtain one; SE license in Hawaii and California is a plus.
• Experience designing high‑voltage electrical switchyards and substations up to 500 kV.
• Familiarity with NESC, NEC, IEEE, ANSI, ASCE‑113, and related industry standards.
• Proficiency with industry design software: PLS‑Tower, Mathcad Prime, STAAD, RISA, MFAD, L‑Pile, or equivalent.
• Prior consulting firm experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Self‑starter with strong problem‑solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• Minimum 10 years of structural engineering experience related to building design.
• Professional Engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the job location.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, RAM, ETABS, SAFE or similar analytical software.
• Experience in design calculations and layouts for steel, concrete, masonry, and wood.
• Understanding of gravity and lateral analysis.
• Previous experience with an architectural or engineering consulting firm.

Compensation and Benefits

Expected salary range: $132,107 – $204,500, based on skills, experience, education, and geographic location. Full‑time positions include a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, paid time off, children, parental leave, retirement savings with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.

Location

Primary location: Charlotte, North Carolina.
Additional locations include Round Rock, Texas; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Salem, Oregon; Baltimore, Maryland; Missoula, Montana; Houston, Texas; Irvine, California; Madison, Wisconsin; Buffalo, New York; Tacoma, Washington; Reno, Nevada; Fort Collins, Colorado; Folsom, California; Portland, Oregon; Bozeman, Montana; Durango, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Billings, Montana; Dallas, Texas; Helena, Montana; Spokane, Washington; Arlington, Virginia; Pasadena, Washington; Austin, Texas; Claremont, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Bend, Oregon; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Olympia, Washington; Vancouver, Washington; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Honolulu, Hawaii; Fulton, Maryland; Phoenix, Arizona; Louisville, Kentucky; Atlanta, Georgia; Greenville, South Carolina; Rosemont, Illinois; Walnut Creek, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Kalispell, Montana; Richmond, Virginia; Gig Harbor, Washington; Providence, Rhode Island; Cleveland, Ohio; Tampa, Florida; West Palm Beach, Florida; Columbus, Ohio; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; Olathe, Kansas; Pooler, Georgia; Bellevue, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; Wilmington, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; San Jose, California; Newark, New Jersey; Pensacola, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; White Plains, New York; St. Paul, Minnesota; San Francisco, California; Charleston, South Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia; Columbia, South Carolina; Vienna, Virginia; Orlando, Florida; Anchorage, Alaska; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Syracuse, New York; San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Glen Allen, Virginia; Riverside, California; Lincoln, Nebraska; Butte, Montana; Miami, Florida; Omaha, Nebraska; Pennington, New Jersey; Sacramento, California; Rocky Hill, Connecticut; New York City, New York; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Salt Lake City, Utah; Winston‑Salem, North Carolina; Alexandria, Virginia; Detroit, Michigan; Bismarck, North Dakota; Portland, Maine; Oakland, California; Fargo, North Dakota; Manchester, New Hampshire; Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey; Jacksonville, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; Boise, Idaho; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; Charleston, West Virginia; Hartford, Connecticut.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history or conviction records.