Senior Electrical Engineer - Physical Substation

CDM Smith is a company dedicated to providing an unmatched employee experience and fostering personal leadership and career growth. They are seeking a Senior Substation Engineer – Physical to lead the design and execution of extra high voltage substations, ensuring safe and reliable solutions for clients while mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and execution of EHV substation projects, including physical layout, protection and control systems, grounding, and equipment specifications
• Serve as the technical authority and mentor for engineering teams, providing guidance on design standards, codes, and best practices
• Oversee and validate technical deliverables, ensuring alignment with client requirements, industry standards, and internal quality protocols
• Interface directly with clients, vendors, and subcontractors to define project scope, resolve technical issues, and ensure successful project delivery
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent substation projects
• Develop and review scoping documents, engineering calculations, and technical specifications for EHV substations (typically 230 kV to 765 kV)
• Supervise and delegate tasks to junior engineers and designers, ensuring quality and consistency in engineering output
• Lead internal and external coordination efforts across disciplines and stakeholders to support integrated project delivery
• Conduct internal quality assurance reviews and ensure compliance with CDM Smith’s quality management systems
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, change management, and the development of engineering standards and tools
• Participate in strategic planning, resource management, and performance evaluations for engineering staff
• Contribute to business development efforts, including proposal preparation, client presentations, and technical strategy development
• Provide technical leadership in the selection of equipment and materials, based on complex research and analysis
• Act as responsible engineer in charge (EOR) for assigned projects, ensuring technical integrity and regulatory compliance
• Support career development and mentoring of engineering staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Electronic Engineering, or Electrical Technology or related discipline
• Professional engineering (PE) license
• 12 years of related experience
• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree
• Domestic and/or international travel may be required
• Proven experience in Extra High Voltage (EHV) substation design across voltage classes ranging from 13.8 kV to 765 kV, including both open-air and Gas Insulated Substations (GIS)
• Strong background in physical design and protection & control (P&C) systems for high-voltage substations
• Proficient in preparing detailed engineering deliverables such as: One-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, connection diagrams, equipment arrangement, grounding, foundation, conduit plans, raceway drawings, plan and section views, and signage/nameplate documentation
• Skilled in performing advanced engineering studies and calculations including: Lightning protection analysis, Conduit fill, and voltage drop calculations, Surge arrester sizing and AC/DC station service loading and Auxiliary power equipment sizing
• Experienced in designing various bus configurations for EHV substations
• Proficient in the use of CDEGS, WinIGS, or similar programs for lightning and grounding studies
• Proficiency in assessing mechanical forces and thermal effects of high fault currents on rigid bus
• Strong foundation in transmission systems, grid stability, fault analysis, and load flow studies, with experience in modeling using ETAP, CYME, PSCAD, and PLS-CADD
• Proficient in EHV substation design (AIS/GIS), including layout planning, equipment selection, grounding, lightning protection, and insulation coordination (345kV and above)
• Familiar with SF6 gas-insulated and air-insulated systems, and well-versed in industry standards such as IEEE, IEC, NESC, ANSI, and OSHA
• Skilled in protection and control integration, including control buildings, panels, and coordination with civil teams on foundations, grading, and drainage
• Experienced in construction practices, commissioning, testing, and interpreting field markups/redlines; knowledgeable in arc flash mitigation and safety compliance
• Effective in managing cross-disciplinary teams, budgets, and timelines; strong communication skills for technical writing, client presentations, and issue resolution