Lead Substation Engineer – Technical Project Lead

Leidos

1d•$107,900 - $195,050

About The Position

Leidos Engineering is seeking an experienced substation engineering leader to serve as the technical lead for complex high-voltage (HV) and extra-high-voltage (EHV) substation EPC projects. The role owns overall technical delivery from conceptual design through detailed engineering, procurement, construction support, testing and commissioning, and energization. It provides technical leadership, engineering judgment, coordination, and oversight to deliver integrated, constructible designs across multidisciplinary teams; the role does not require performing every discipline's detailed design. The position is part of the EPC Solutions group within the Power Delivery Solutions division, which provides consulting services to public-owned and investor-owned utilities. The work includes comprehensive engineering design for electrical transmission and distribution, substation, and transmission line projects nationwide. The technical lead establishes the project’s technical approach, design basis, and engineering execution strategy; coordinates interfaces among engineering disciplines, suppliers, construction teams, clients, and project management; and serves as a primary technical point of contact for clients. The role also leads technical and quality reviews, supports project delivery, mentors engineers, evaluates existing facilities, and develops recommendations for upgrades and replacements. Local and regional travel of up to 15% is expected.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an accredited university.
Eight or more years of prior relevant experience in utility substation design or engineering.
Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
Demonstrated experience as a lead engineer, project engineer, technical lead, or engineering manager for HV/EHV substation projects.
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and coordinate interfaces among substation physical, P&C, SCADA/communications, civil/structural, and other disciplines.
Strong working knowledge of both substation physical and P&C design, with technical depth in at least one substation discipline.
Comprehensive understanding of the utility grid, including power generation, transmission, and distribution, and of substation engineering theories and principles.
Comprehensive understanding of industry standards, including NEC, NESC, NEMA, and IEEE/ANSI, and their application to projects.
Ability to research engineering and design issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare and present recommendations.
Ability to meet deadlines in high-pressure situations.
High level of computer competency and proficiency with MS Office applications.
Ability to work effectively in a team and lead people from varied socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
Strong written and oral communication skills and strong organizational skills.
Ability to travel locally and regionally up to 15% of the time.

Nice To Haves

HV/EHV project experience.
Brownfield and greenfield substation experience.
Experience working on EPC or Progressive Design Build contracts.
Experience serving as a firm-client liaison in a support and lead engineering role.
Prior experience as a substation lead engineer performing QC reviews and staff training or mentorship.
Experience leading renewable generation projects or interconnections.
Experience with engineering programs and software, including SKM, ASPEN, ETAP, CDEGS, or vendor software.
Active membership in national engineering societies and work groups, such as IEEE or PES.
Construction support experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as the overall technical lead for HV and EHV substation EPC projects and own the integrated technical solution and engineering deliverables.
Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across substation physical, protection and control, relay settings, SCADA/communications, civil, structural, geotechnical, and supporting disciplines.
Establish the technical approach, design basis, engineering execution strategy, and interdisciplinary requirements for projects.
Provide technical leadership and ownership of substation physical and protection and control design; make and drive technical decisions, resolve design issues, and ensure integrated, constructible solutions.
Coordinate technical interfaces among engineering disciplines, equipment suppliers, construction teams, clients, and project management.
Identify and resolve cross-discipline design issues and make or facilitate decisions affecting safety, constructability, cost, schedule, quality, and performance.
Oversee engineering from conceptual design and scope development through IFC design, procurement, construction support, testing and commissioning, and energization.
Serve as a primary technical point of contact with clients and communicate technical recommendations, risks, alternatives, and decisions.
Lead technical reviews and ensure appropriate QA/QC across engineering packages.
Mentor engineers and develop future project technical leads.
Apply industry standards, state and federal safety codes, regulatory requirements, and construction codes to projects.
Create equipment, material, construction, and testing and commissioning specifications.
Perform QC reviews and lead QC review meetings for engineering deliverables produced by junior staff, peers, and remote offices, following the PDS quality management standard.
Provide technical oversight, direction, and support for project teams.
Ensure proper documentation of project technical data.
Coordinate with project managers to deliver projects successfully to clients.
Work directly with clients on project-related issues, participate in client meetings and job-site visits, and proactively communicate and collaborate to resolve issues.
Evaluate existing facilities, propose upgrades and replacements, and present findings and recommendations to clients.
Apply value engineering principles to develop economical, constructible, and safe designs.
Complete conceptual one-line and general-layout designs to support project planning.
Provide professional mentorship and set a positive professional example for the team and junior staff.