Senior Electrical Engineer - Substations

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Performance bonuses

Medical aid

Provident fund

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer (Substations) for projects nationwide, based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will design, specify, manage and commission high‑voltage substations, ensuring compliance with SANS, Eskom and IEC standards.

You will lead design teams, collaborate with multidisciplinary engineers, mentor juniors, and oversee testing and commissioning, with a hybrid work setup from Nelspruit.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Master's degree or P.Eng registration is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in high‑voltage substations.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design of high-voltage substations (up to 400kV), including SLDs, protection schemes, earthing, and cable management.
• Prepare technical specifications for transformers, circuit breakers, isolators, busbars and instrument transformers.
• Manage substation projects from conceptual design through procurement, construction and commissioning.
• Conduct site visits and assessments for new or upgraded substations.
• Ensure designs comply with SANS, Eskom standards and IEC.
• Provide technical support to procurement, construction and site teams.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and equipment.
• Liaise with clients, project managers, and regulators; mentor junior engineers.
• Oversee testing and commissioning of substation systems.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree or P.Eng registration

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic engineering firm involved in major energy infrastructure projects across South Africa , is seeking a highly experienced Senior Electrical Engineer with a specialization in Substations. This role is based in **Nelspruit, Mpumalanga**, a region experiencing significant growth in energy development. You will be responsible for the design, specification, project management, and commissioning of high-voltage substations, ensuring compliance with national and international standards. This position offers the chance to work on challenging and impactful projects, contributing to the reliability and expansion of the national grid. You will lead design teams, collaborate with multidisciplinary engineers, and provide expert technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle. If you are a seasoned substation engineer looking for a challenging role in a growing region, this opportunity in **Nelspruit** is ideal.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical design of high-voltage substations (up to 400kV), including single-line diagrams, protection schemes, earthing systems, and cable management.
• Prepare technical specifications for substation equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, isolators, busbars, and instrument transformers.
• Manage substation projects from the conceptual design phase through to detailed design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
• Conduct site visits and assessments for new substation projects and existing asset upgrades.
• Ensure all designs comply with relevant South African National Standards (SANS), Eskom standards, and international best practices (e.g., IEC).
• Provide technical support to procurement, construction, and site teams during project execution.
• Perform technical evaluations of vendor proposals and equipment.
• Liaise with clients, project managers, and regulatory authorities to ensure project objectives are met.
• Mentor and guide junior electrical engineers and designers.
• Oversee the testing and commissioning of substation electrical systems.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• A Master's degree or P.Eng registration is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in the design and engineering of high-voltage substations.
• In-depth knowledge of substation design principles, protection relays, control systems, and SCADA.
• Experience with HV equipment specification and selection.
• Proficiency in relevant design software and calculation tools.
• Strong understanding of South African grid codes and electrical safety regulations.
• Excellent project management, leadership, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, collaborating with teams both on-site and remotely from **Nelspruit, Mpumalanga**.
• Proven track record of successful project delivery.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package, including performance bonuses, comprehensive medical aid, and a provident fund. This position provides excellent opportunities for professional development, working on diverse and technically demanding substation projects across South Africa . Join our client in **Nelspruit** and contribute to the critical infrastructure development of the region.