Lead Substation Engineer 2 - Grid

This position offers the opportunity to directly apply your knowledge of protective relaying and control systems for HV and EHV substations.

About the Role

As a Lead Substation Engineer, you will work on a wide range of substation modifications and upgrades to support client requirements. Responsibilities include creating calculations, document designs, and specifications, as well as preparing relaying philosophies. You will select relay, control, and communications equipment, develop SCADA and telecommunication concepts, and oversee the preparation of I/O assignments and connection diagrams.

You will guide junior and senior-level engineers and designers in protection and controls engineering design efforts, including coordinating detailed design phases. The role involves investigating, troubleshooting, and solving a variety of engineering issues, as well as performing analysis and design of single-line diagrams, substation relaying and metering diagrams, and DC schematic diagrams.

You will prepare engineering studies for client and peer review, perform independent reviews of work performed by others, and coordinate with engineers, project managers, client personnel, and suppliers. The role includes reviewing existing facilities to propose upgrades and presenting findings to clients and peers. Additionally, you will mentor less experienced engineers and may travel to client and vendor offices or plant sites for design reviews, construction coordination, and field verification.

This role offers a hybrid work arrangement from our future Lexington, KY office, with an expectation to spend three days a week in the office. A generous relocation package is available, dependent upon your location.

Responsibilities

• Create calculations, document designs, and specifications for substation modifications and upgrades.
• Prepare relaying philosophies, including selecting relay, control, and communications equipment.
• Develop SCADA and telecommunication concepts and configurations.
• Oversee preparation of I/O assignments and connection diagrams.
• Guide junior and senior-level engineers and designers in protection and controls engineering design.
• Coordinate detailed design phases for all aspects of engineering work.
• Investigate, troubleshoot, and solve a wide variety of engineering issues.
• Perform analysis and design of single-line diagrams, substation relaying and metering diagrams, and DC schematic diagrams.
• Prepare engineering studies for client and peer review.
• Perform independent reviews of calculations and drawing preparation by others.
• Coordinate with engineers, project managers, client personnel, and suppliers.
• Review existing facilities to propose upgrades and replacements.
• Present findings and recommendations to clients and peers.
• Mentor less experienced engineers.
• Travel to client and vendor offices for design reviews and to plant sites for construction coordination and field verification.
• Lead teams in using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Oversee automation and process-improvement work, including the use of AI or agentic AI tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
• 12 or more years of experience designing substations at 138kV and above.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience serving as a firm/client liaison in a support or lead engineering role.
• Experience writing and providing support documentation for relay calculations.
• Proficiency with design techniques, tools, and principles for producing technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Proficiency with any of the following programs: SKM, ETAP, ASPEN, CDEGS, or vendor software.
• Familiarity with design codes and standards such as NEC, NESC, NEMA, IEEE, and ANSI.
• Experience with various vendor protective relay equipment (e.g., SEL, ABB, GE, Areva, Basler).
• Proficiency with MS Office applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree.
• Experience with in-line, bus, and equipment protection, breaker and transformer control, RTU and data concentrator-based SCADA systems, telemetering, and communications (fiber optics, microwave, power line carrier, etc.).
• AutoCAD or MicroStation experience.
• Construction and start-up experience.
• Testing or commissioning experience.
• Experience overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks.
• Additional learning or experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields.

Benefits

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision health plans.
• Life and accident insurance.
• Disability coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Back-Up Daycare.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA).

Financial Benefits

• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account.
• Merit Scholarship Program.
• Employee Discount Program.
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program.
• Tuition Assistance.
• First Professional Licensure Bonus.
• Employee Referral Bonus.

Work-Life Balance

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST).
• Paid Vacation.
• Paid Holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Paid Bereavement Leave.
• Flexible Work Arrangements.

Pay

Compensation range: $134,546 - $205,557. The total compensation package includes a base salary and a comprehensive benefits package. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in a yearly discretionary bonus.

Schedule

Hybrid work arrangement: Three days per week in the Lexington, KY office and two days remote.