Lead Electrical Engineer – Cape Town

Kirby Group Engineering; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

An engineering firm specializing in high-voltage projects is seeking a Lead HV Substation Design Engineer in Cape Town. You will lead the design of substations, ensuring compliance with international standards, and mentor a growing team. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in substation design and a strong ability to manage multiple projects. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on projects across Europe.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in substation design from kV to kV.
• Proven leadership or mentorship experience.
• Strong familiarity with AutoCAD and Revit.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead full substation design scope.
• Oversee production of detailed engineering drawings.
• Mentor junior engineers and develop local capacity.

Skills

Leadership

Electrical studies

Design compliance

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Bentley Substation

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Lead HV Substation Design Engineer to join our Cape Town-based engineering team, supporting the delivery of high-voltage substation projects in Europe, including the UK and Ireland.

About the position – Lead HV Substation Design Engineer (South Africa)

As the Lead HV Substation Design Engineer, you will spearhead the conceptual and detailed design of high-voltage substations (HV / MV), ensuring technical excellence, compliance with international standards, and mentorship of a growing team of local engineers.

Design Leadership

• Lead the full substation design scope (kV-kV), including layouts, SLDs, protection and control schematics, busbar configurations (AIS / GIS), grounding, and cable routing.
• Oversee production and review of detailed engineering drawings, including GA, wiring diagrams, control panels, schematics, and cable schedules.
• Coordinate civil / electrical interface design for site layouts, foundations, ducts and trenches.

Project Support (European Market)

• Interpret and apply European utility specifications (e.g. National Grid UK, EirGrid, ESB Networks).
• Ensure all designs comply with international (IEC, EN) and project-specific standards.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders in Europe via remote coordination and periodic site visits.

Technical Excellence

• Lead design reviews, HAZID / HAZOP sessions, and technical risk assessments.
• Conduct electrical studies such as load flow, short-circuit, protection coordination, and insulation coordination (using ETAP, DIgSILENT, or equivalent).
• Support substation automation, SCADA integration and protection system designs, compliance, QA, and documentation.
• Maintain QA records, design documentation, and revision control aligned with ISO and project-specific requirements.
• Ensure CDM compliance and safety‑by‑design principles are applied throughout.

Mentorship & Team Collaboration

• Mentor junior engineers and support the development of local engineering capacity.
• Collaborate with multi‑disciplinary teams across the Cape Town office and Europe to deliver high‑quality, on‑time engineering packages.

Necessary Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering / Electrical Power Engineering or equivalent.
• 8+ years in substation design from kV to kV (AIS & GIS Substations).
• Proven leadership or mentorship experience.
• Advantageous to be familiar with European utility standards and tender requirements (UK & Ireland).
• Strong familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, Bentley Substation, or similar.
• Experience working with utilities, EPCs, or large infrastructure firms within South Africa.
• Understanding of EN, IEC, IEEE and applicable international standards.
• Ability to manage multiple design deliverables and cross‑border coordination.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive, self‑motivated, and able to work autonomously.
• High attention to detail with a commitment to safety and quality.

For more information on this Lead Substation Design Engineer or other Lead Substation Design Engineer opportunities based in South Africa, Ireland, the UK or Europe, contact the Talent Acquisition Team in Kirby Group confidentially on or apply in confidence.