Senior Substation Technical Manager

WSP•Meridian, ID

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

This Opportunity WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Substation Technical Manager for our Boise, ID office. The following locations will also be considered: Houston, TX ; Fort Worth, TX ; and Austin, TX . Be involved in projects with our Power & Energy Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges. This position offers flexibility for hybrid or remote work arrangements, depending on candidate location and business needs. As a key contributor, you will play a significant role in supporting complex substation design projects, managing project execution, and mentoring junior staff. You will thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment and have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our team and projects. The individual will work closely with globally distributed design resources to support design completion and ensure consistent, high‑quality deliverables. Your Impact Provide oversight for collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from physical work sites, surveys, blueprints, substation components, and equipment specifications. Support procurement package development and pricing, IFR/IFC detailed design, and design review processes. Ensure design work complies with applicable IEEE, NESC, ANSI, NERC, and client and utility standards and regulations. Coordinate, review, and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for mid‑level and complex projects, ensuring data integrity and compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations. Apply advanced electrical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements across various infrastructure project phases, including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operations support. Perform professional electrical engineering work and conduct complex investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, resources, and facilities. Evaluate substation layout and bus arrangement, grounding grid design, lightning protection, and overall constructability to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits. Develop construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates. Prepare construction safety and phasing plans and update substation layout plans requiring coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub‑consultants, and clients. Be involved from project inception to completion in the management of design and construction of infrastructure projects, including substation rehabilitation, expansion, and modernization efforts. Lead larger‑scale electrical engineering projects by ensuring contributors understand task requirements and schedules. Prepare and oversee project budgets; track hours and expenses; monitor project execution; and supervise subcontractors, contract work, and employees. Provide technical oversight and coordination for design work performed by globally distributed engineering resources to support timely and high-quality design completion. Assist with engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans, and specifications to ensure compliance with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards. Meet with public or private entities to discuss issues related to electrical engineering, substation design, and construction challenges. Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development. Remain current in the latest electrical engineering techniques and practices. Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines, including engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities, on federally, state, regionally, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities. 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
10+ years of post‑education experience as an electrical engineer delivering detailed design packages for utility‑scale substation capital projects, including high-voltage transmission and distribution substations.
Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
Highly proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, processes, and design/build applications related to substation engineering and project execution.
Strong knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record‑keeping requirements, including client and utility standards.
Highly proficient with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to applicable regulations and standards.
Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing complex technical ideas clearly and professionally to engineering and non‑engineering audiences.
Strong self‑leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with clients, regulators, project managers, and employees at all levels of the organization.
Works independently to provide guidance and leadership to mid‑level and senior‑level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC requirements.
Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline‑specific design software, technology, math principles, spreadsheets, and engineering tools.
Experienced with providing critical review of documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
Well‑developed critical thinking and problem‑solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, and analysis to arrive at effective and economical solutions.
Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently, including coordination with geographically distributed teams.
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.
Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Engineering.

Responsibilities

Provide oversight for collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from physical work sites, surveys, blueprints, substation components, and equipment specifications.
Support procurement package development and pricing, IFR/IFC detailed design, and design review processes.
Ensure design work complies with applicable IEEE, NESC, ANSI, NERC, and client and utility standards and regulations.
Coordinate, review, and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for mid‑level and complex projects, ensuring data integrity and compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
Apply advanced electrical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements across various infrastructure project phases, including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operations support.
Perform professional electrical engineering work and conduct complex investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, resources, and facilities.
Evaluate substation layout and bus arrangement, grounding grid design, lightning protection, and overall constructability to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits.
Develop construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
Prepare construction safety and phasing plans and update substation layout plans requiring coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub‑consultants, and clients.
Be involved from project inception to completion in the management of design and construction of infrastructure projects, including substation rehabilitation, expansion, and modernization efforts.
Lead larger‑scale electrical engineering projects by ensuring contributors understand task requirements and schedules.
Prepare and oversee project budgets; track hours and expenses; monitor project execution; and supervise subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
Provide technical oversight and coordination for design work performed by globally distributed engineering resources to support timely and high-quality design completion.
Assist with engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans, and specifications to ensure compliance with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards.
Meet with public or private entities to discuss issues related to electrical engineering, substation design, and construction challenges.
Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
Remain current in the latest electrical engineering techniques and practices.
Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines, including engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities, on federally, state, regionally, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.
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.