Lead Substation Engineer - Physical

Westwood Professional Services•Charlotte, NC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead Physical Engineer to join our Renewables Substation team. The primary functions of this role are to lead the substation Physical engineering and design efforts for large scale, transmission-interconnected renewable energy projects and provide leadership and mentorship to a Physical design team consisting of three to five engineers and/or designers. The Lead Physical Engineer will work with (and provide direction to) other engineers, designers, and drafters to develop project deliverables that satisfy all stakeholder requirements and comply with applicable codes & standards. As part of the broader multi-discipline Substation Team, the Lead Physical Engineer will work with the Substation Project Engineer and other discipline leads to ensure design documents are coordinated and consistent between the P&C and Civil/Structural teams.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from a recognized accredited program
Minimum of 7-9 years of work experience in substation design and engineering
Strong understanding of electrical systems and substation layouts, grounding, lightning protection, illumination and clearances
PE License
Strong written and verbal communications skills
Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Familiarity with industry standards and codes (ANSI, IEEE, NEC, NESC, NERC, etc.)
General knowledge of the industry and technology trends specific to substations
Proficiency in assessing mechanical forces and thermal effects of high fault currents on rigid bus.
Familiarity with Substation major equipment and the specifications thereof: HV and MV Circuit Breakers, Power Transformers, Instrument Transformers, Disconnect Switches, Bus Work, Surge Arresters, Steel, Foundations, Capacitor Banks, Reactors

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in a consultancy environment
Previous experience with large scale renewable energy projects
General knowledge of substation construction practices
Familiarity with 3D design packages and software
Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation, CDEGS, WinIGS, AGI)
Previous project and/or discipline team leadership
Previous experience as a direct supervisor

Responsibilities

Lead the design and engineering of 35kV to 500kV physical substation layouts, ensuring optimal equipment placement, grounding, and structural integrity including development of: General Arrangements, Plan Views and Elevation Views, Grounding Plans, Cable Trough/Conduit Plans, Specifications for Major Primary Equipment (transformers, breakers, switches, etc.), Documentation for Design Calculations, Bill of Materials, Construction Documentation (Sequence and RFP), and Studies (Grounding, Lightning, Illumination, Bus Fault Stress Analysis, Insulation Coordination).
Lead a Physical team of three to five engineers and/or designers by providing mentorship, support, performance planning, monthly one on one meetings and expense and timesheet review and approval.
Assist with technical support in the following areas: Procurement, Vendor Drawing Review, Construction.
Ability to work seamlessly with a Physical Designer to develop projects.
Ability to coordinate efforts with other various external and internal project team members, with familiarity in identifying when coordination is needed with certain design disciplines such as transmission line engineers, distribution line engineers, telecom engineers, etc.
Follow department processes and procedures.
Continue strong customer focus attitude that Westwood is known for.
Provides clear and honest feedback to project team, external stakeholders, and clients.
Helps develop approaches to accommodate client unique requests.
Works to advise Management about how to maximize ROI for the team.
Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, managing timelines, and resources to ensure successful project delivery.
Prepare and review engineering calculations, detailed drawings, specifications, and reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with industry standards.
Ensure all designs meet relevant codes, standards, and regulations, including NESC, IEEE, and local utility requirements.
Implement quality control processes to review designs and deliverables, ensuring high standards of engineering excellence including cross discipline checks with other substation / service leads.
Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers and technical staff, fostering a culture of learning and professional growth.
Participate in project meetings, presenting design concepts and updates to clients and stakeholders, and addressing any concerns or feedback.
Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices, and contribute to the development of innovative engineering solutions.