Substation Design Engineer (Entry, Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy • Amarillo, TX

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Xcel Energy is seeking a Substation Design Engineer to join their team. This role is responsible for the planning, design, and delivery of electric transmission and distribution substation projects. The engineer will develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering solutions, ensuring compliance with company standards, industry codes, and regulatory requirements. Key responsibilities include creating physical and/or protection and control designs for new and existing substations, performing engineering analyses, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The engineer will also manage project deliverables, schedules, and technical scope, support construction by resolving field issues, and evaluate trade-offs to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions. The position is designed to develop technical expertise in a specialty area and may involve leading small-medium projects or providing field oversight under the direction of a higher-level engineer. The role works under supervision and follows established procedures, with opportunities to coordinate the work of interns, drafters, and technicians. Continuous self-development of technical skills is expected, and may include activities such as budgeting and work order management.

Requirements

• Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum.
• 0+ years relevant engineering experience (Entry Engineer Level)
• 2+ years relevant engineering experience (Staff Engineer Level)
• 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE (Senior Engineer Level)
• 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE (Principal Engineer)
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred Electrical Engineering degree.
• EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) preferred (Entry Engineer Level)
• EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred (Staff Engineer Level)
• PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need (Senior Engineer Level)
• Experience in Substation physical or controlled design (Principal Engineer)

Responsibilities

• Planning, design, and delivery of electric transmission and distribution substation projects.
• Developing safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering solutions.
• Ensuring compliance with company standards, industry codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Creating physical and/or protection and control designs for new substations and modifications to existing facilities.
• Performing engineering analyses to validate design assumptions.
• Applying established design criteria to maintain consistency and safety.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams (civil, structural, protection and control, construction, operations) to integrate complete and constructable solutions.
• Reviewing and approving drawings, specifications, and material requirements to support project execution.
• Managing project deliverables, schedules, and technical scope.
• Supporting construction by resolving field issues and design conflicts.
• Evaluating trade-offs to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions that balance engineering standards, risk, and constructability.
• Using and applying technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities/assignments of limited scope.
• Supporting the development of technical documentation (designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards).
• Utilizing and assisting with the development of procedures.
• Providing ongoing technical support for project activities (Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics, Regulatory).
• Providing field engineering oversight for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections under direct supervision.
• Coordinating/leading projects or portions of projects (research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation, commissioning) under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor.
• Supporting bid/evaluation processes by performing basic analysis and calculations on existing documentation and materials.
• Effectively exchanging information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance and complexity both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors.
• Coordinating the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and/or others and providing guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
• Responsible for continuous self development of technical skills and competencies.
• Performing activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave

What This Job Offers

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