Lead Electrical Engineer

Your Job Optimized Process Designs (OPD), a Koch Engineered Solutions company, is seeking a technical leader to drive the engineering execution of HV/MV power infrastructure and substation projects under lump-sum EPC contracts. This role serves as the technical owner from project concept through energization, balancing safety, reliability, constructability, cost, and schedule.

About the Team

Optimized Process Designs is an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm specializing in complex energy and infrastructure projects across North America, with expertise in natural gas, natural gas liquids, and petrochemical industries. OPD is part of Koch, a larger organization known for technical excellence, disciplined project execution, and a culture that empowers engineers to take ownership and create long-term value.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical leader for electrical engineering scope on EPC projects from concept through startup, driving decisions that balance safety, reliability, constructability, operability, cost, and schedule.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and designers across multiple disciplines.
• Apply sound engineering judgment to resolve complex technical issues and support successful project execution.
• Collaborate directly with clients, utilities, vendors, construction teams, and internal stakeholders throughout project development and execution.
• Support the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of engineering practices, tools, specifications, and work processes.
• Support the engineering and design of electrical power systems for industrial facilities, utility interconnections, renewable energy projects, power generation, transmission systems, and high-voltage substations.
• Perform and review power system analyses, including load flow, short circuit, arc flash, grounding, protection coordination, harmonic, insulation coordination, transient overvoltage, and reliability studies.
• Develop and review electrical system deliverables, such as one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, relay logic diagrams, control schematics, and equipment layouts.
• Support specification, selection, and application of electrical equipment, including transformers, switchgear, motor control centers, breakers, protective relays, power distribution equipment, and associated infrastructure.
• Support utility interconnection and grid compliance activities, including coordination with utilities, regional transmission organizations, and independent system operators.
• Lead or support the engineering and design of medium- and high-voltage substations and associated electrical infrastructure.
• Develop physical design concepts, including equipment arrangements, site layouts, elevations, sections, grounding systems, and construction details.
• Design and review protection and control systems, including transmission line, transformer, bus, breaker failure, feeder, and generator protection schemes.
• Apply relay protection principles and support relay settings development using platforms like SEL, GE, ABB, and Siemens.
• Coordinate physical and protection & control engineering activities to ensure designs are complete, integrated, and construction-ready.
• Develop engineering packages from conceptual design through detailed engineering and Issued for Construction (IFC) deliverables.
• Review design packages for compliance with project requirements, industry standards, and quality expectations.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, construction, and commissioning teams to support integrated EPC execution.
• Lead technical evaluations and define equipment strategies aligned with utility requirements, interconnection constraints, and project execution needs.
• Provide ongoing engineering support during construction, testing, and energization phases.
• Interface with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and clients to support interconnection approvals, permitting, and compliance requirements.
• Travel to project sites as needed, up to 15%.
• Ensure compliance with IEEE, NESC, NEC, and client standards, incorporating utility-specific requirements and interconnection criteria.
• Lead quality control reviews and design audits.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of OPD substation standards, tools, and processes.
• Serve as Engineer of Record (EOR) where applicable, ensuring design compliance, documentation integrity, and stamped deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Utility and/or EPC substation engineering experience.
• Active Professional Engineering (PE) license.
• Experience in substation physical design and protection & control engineering.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading engineering execution on EPC projects or LSTK project experience.
• Hands-on involvement with construction, testing, and commissioning support.
• Experience with power system analysis and modeling tools (e.g., ETAP, PSCAD, SKM) for system design and validation.
• Experience supporting renewable energy interconnections.
• Proven mentoring and technical leadership capabilities.

Pay

Compensation is determined by available market data and considers each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Benefits

Our goal is for each employee and their families to live fulfilling and healthy lives. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
• Life insurance, ADD, and disability coverage.
• Retirement plans.
• Paid vacation/time off.
• Educational assistance.
• Infertility assistance, paid parental leave, and adoption assistance (eligibility criteria apply).

Specific eligibility criteria are set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy, or guideline, and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter.