Substation Senior Structural Engineer

HDR; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 132,107 - 204,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Paid time off

Retirement savings with employer match

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Substation Senior Structural Engineer in Salt Lake City, Utah. You will lead the structural design of high-voltage substations, collaborate with project teams, and ensure quality standards are met. Ideal candidates have 10+ years of experience in structural engineering, preferably with high-voltage projects. The position includes excellent benefits and a target salary range of $132,107–$204,500, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of structural engineering experience related to building design.
• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board.
• Proficiency with analytical software for structural design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of high-voltage switchyards and substations.
• Prepare and review construction specifications.
• Coordinate quality checks and reviews of project deliverables.

Skills

Experience with high-voltage electrical switchyard projects

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master's degree in Structural Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

AutoCAD

RAM

ETABS

Job description

Substation Senior Structural Engineer

Substation engineering is the cornerstone of an efficient, reliable, and safe power system. At HDR, our employee‑owners collaborate to design resilient infrastructure that supports modern life. As a Substation Senior Structural Engineer (Sr. SE), you will lead the structural design of high‑voltage switchyards and substations up to 500 kV, including steel structures and foundations, while partnering closely with Project Managers and multidisciplinary teams across multiple office locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, oversee, review, and/or 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. Detailed design, calculations, and detailing for fabrication, and preparation of loading and concept drawings for submittal to fabricators.
• Lead, oversee, review, and/or execute foundation design tasks for substation structures, including drilled piers, spread footings, driven piles, and other types, using industry standard software.
• Support physical substation layout designs, plans, elevations/sections, details, and associated bills of materials.
• Prepare and review specifications for construction and materials.
• Assign project tasks and provide technical guidance to project team members.
• Coordinate and perform quality checks and reviews for project deliverables in accordance with HDR Quality Management Systems (QMS). Perform quality checks and reviews of projects from other teams as needed.
• Collaborate with transmission line civil/structural engineers to cross‑train resources.
• Collaborate with other engineers to develop and maintain standards.
• Work independently and directly, mentor, train, and/or supervise one or more Project Engineers, EITs, or CADD designers.
• Lead multiple projects concurrently, utilizing teams in different locations.
• Work with senior engineers and technical leaders to identify and develop technical expertise; attend training and seminars to deepen understanding of complex concepts.
• Assist with developing technical papers and/or presentations that showcase HDR’s capabilities at industry conferences or other events.
• Participate in project reviews as needed.
• Travel may be required.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Structural Engineering.
• SE license or ability to obtain; a license in Hawaii and California is a plus.
• Experience with high‑voltage electrical switchyard and substation projects up to 500 kV.
• Familiarity with NESC, NEC, IEEE, ANSI, ASCE‑113 and other industry standards.
• Experience using design software such as PLS‑Tower, Mathcad Prime, STAAD, RISA, MFAD, L‑Pile, or equivalent.
• Previous consulting firm experience.
• Minimum 10 years of technical design experience with foundation and steel structural design for substations.
• Working knowledge of AISC‑360, ASCE‑7, ACI‑318 and other industry standards.
• Track record of working cooperatively with diverse teams, regional, department, and technical managers.
• 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.
• Minimum of 10 years of structural engineering experience related to building design.
• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position (PE or P.Eng).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, RAM, ETABS, SAFE or similar analytical software.
• Experience in design calculations and layouts; ability to design and detail in steel, concrete, masonry, and wood.
• Understanding of gravity analysis and lateral analysis.
• Previous experience with an architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm.
• Commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture.

What We Believe

HDR is a company built on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact. We value each employee’s unique experiences and perspectives, fostering a culture where authentic ideas drive innovation and community well‑being.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all contribute to an inclusive environment where every individual is welcomed, valued, and respected. Our Employee Network Groups support belonging and empowerment across diverse identities.

Benefits and Compensation

We provide a comprehensive benefits package promoting employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance, paid time off, parental leave, holidays, retirement savings with employer match, referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. The target salary range is $132,107 – $204,500, depending on experience, education, and location.

Location

Primary Location: United States‑North Carolina‑Charlotte

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

Industry

Power

Schedule

Full‑time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class

Substation Engineering

Job Posting Date

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.