Senior Substation Project Engineer

WSP • San Diego, CA

8h • Remote

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Substation Project Engineer for its Data Center Initiation Team. This role provides technical leadership for early-stage substation development and supports strategic decision-making for large-scale data center infrastructure projects. The engineer will lead the development of innovative substation designs at the earliest stages of high-profile data center projects, enabling clients to evaluate feasibility, scalability, and long-term reliability. The role involves collaboration across WSP’s diverse business lines to assess site conditions, utility capacity, and system requirements, turning complex challenges into actionable solutions. As a technical leader, the engineer will drive substation configuration, guide critical equipment selection, and define forward-thinking electrical infrastructure strategies. Beyond design, the role includes leading multidisciplinary teams and advancing projects from initial concept through to design handoff. This is an opportunity to lead, innovate, and shape what’s next in solving complex infrastructure challenges.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
• 10+ years of substation design experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) License
• Experience leading design packages or acting as technical lead
• Strong knowledge of substation systems, equipment, and design standards
• Experience in either physical or P&C design (cross-discipline exposure preferred)
• Ability to independently execute and coordinate technical work
• Strong communication, leadership, and coordination skills
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and support junior staff
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Engineering
• Experience serving as technical lead on multi-discipline projects
• Data center or large infrastructure project experience

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary coordination for site evaluation, infrastructure planning, and integration
• Support and contribute to proposal strategy, scope, and technical approach
• Lead execution of technical work during early project phases (initiation through design)
• Serve as a key interface with clients, utilities, and stakeholders
• Conduct site visits to validate designs and address constructability challenges
• Develop and track project scope, schedules, and technical deliverables
• Perform and oversee substation design, including: Physical design and/or protection & control systems, Layouts, grounding, lightning protection, and SCADA integration
• Review and produce design deliverables (plans, elevations, wiring diagrams, etc.)
• Provide oversight and review of engineering studies and calculations
• Support equipment specification, procurement, and vendor evaluation
• Ensure QA/QC compliance across assigned deliverables
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and designers
• Contribute to continuous improvement of design practices and standards
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement savings
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation (or other personal time)
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior