Electrical Substation Engineer

About the role

This Substation Engineer role focuses on delivering detailed physical substation engineering for mid to large-scale projects in a high-voltage environment. You will design and support projects that operate at voltages above 138 kV, collaborate closely with EPC construction teams, and use AutoCAD and MicroStation to produce high-quality engineering deliverables. The position offers the opportunity to work on complex transmission and power delivery systems while contributing to a leading power engineering organization with an employee-focused culture and flexible work options.

Responsibilities

• Provide physical substation engineering for mid to large-scale substation projects, ensuring designs meet technical, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and review detailed physical substation layouts, including equipment placement, grounding design, and civil/structural coordination.
• Design and support high-voltage electrical systems at 138 kV and above, including 269 kV, 500 kV, and up to 765 kV where applicable.
• Prepare and maintain engineering drawings and documentation using AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical, including one-line and three-line diagrams, schematics, and control drawings.
• Create and modify substation design drawings using MicroStation, ensuring accuracy and consistency across project deliverables.
• Support EPC projects by coordinating with internal teams and external stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with transmission and distribution (T&D) teams to ensure seamless integration of substation designs into broader power delivery systems.
• Coordinate with utilities and other external entities to align substation designs with utility standards, operational requirements, and interconnection needs.
• Contribute to the design of raceways, conduit, cable routing, and foundations to support physical substation equipment and control systems.
• Support the development of protection and control (P&C) related drawings and documentation as needed, while maintaining a primary focus on physical substation engineering.
• Assist with the development of station layouts, grounding plans, and structural arrangements to ensure reliable and maintainable substation facilities.
• Review vendor drawings and equipment data to ensure compatibility with project requirements and design standards.
• Participate in project meetings and provide technical input to support scheduling, constructability, and field execution.
• Work closely with construction teams to clarify design intent and address field questions related to physical substation design.
• Ensure that all design work aligns with applicable codes, standards, and best practices in power delivery and substation engineering.

Requirements

• At least 4+ years of substation engineering experience; 3+ years may be acceptable if combined with a relevant Master’s degree.
• At least 4+ years of experience supporting high-voltage electrical systems at 138 kV and above.
• Demonstrated physical substation engineering experience, including station layout, equipment placement, grounding design, and civil/structural coordination.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical for developing substation drawings and schematics.
• Proficiency with MicroStation for creating and modifying substation design documents.
• Experience working on transmission, power delivery, and substation design projects.
• Knowledge of high-voltage levels such as 138 kV, 269 kV, 500 kV, and exposure to 765 kV systems.
• Experience supporting EPC construction projects or working in an EPC project environment.
• Understanding of electric utility practices, power systems, and high-voltage electrical design.
• Ability to develop and interpret one-line and three-line diagrams, schematics, and control drawings.
• Experience with utilities coordination and working with power and electric utility stakeholders.
• Background in electrical engineering with a focus on T&D, power, or substation engineering.
• Ability to work with voltages higher than 138 kV when designing substation projects.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, constructible engineering deliverables.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field, which may offset some experience requirements.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license is a strong plus.
• Experience with 765 kV substation systems is a plus.
• Construction Background or experience working closely with construction teams is a plus.
• Exposure to or experience with protection and control (P&C), SCADA, and related systems is beneficial.
• Familiarity with station layout, grounding design, civil/structural coordination, and foundation design.
• Experience with equipment placement, cable routing, conduit, and raceway design.
• Ability to work on consulting-side projects and collaborate with multiple clients and stakeholders.
• Experience with power, utilities, and electric utility coordination in a consulting environment.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field, which may offset some experience requirements.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license is a strong plus.
• Experience with 765 kV substation systems is a plus.
• Construction Background or experience working closely with construction teams is a plus.
• Exposure to or experience with protection and control (P&C), SCADA, and related systems is beneficial.
• Familiarity with station layout, grounding design, civil/structural coordination, and foundation design.
• Experience with equipment placement, cable routing, conduit, and raceway design.
• Ability to work on consulting-side projects and collaborate with multiple clients and stakeholders.
• Experience with power, utilities, and electric utility coordination in a consulting environment.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital, 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available, Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents), Short and long-term disability, Health Spending Account (HSA), Transportation benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave), Workplace Type: Fully onsite position in Houston, TX. Application Deadline: This position is anticipated to close on Aug 4, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.