Substation Electrical Engineer
About The Position
ARCO/Murray National is seeking a Substation Engineer to join its team in Downers Grove, Illinois. The role guides the full electrical scope and leads development of substation system designs and power solutions for design-build projects. The successful candidate will lead project teams, provide technical expertise on substation engineering projects, and support work across facility and utility-related applications. The engineer leads the design and execution of electrical substation projects; develops, reviews, and approves engineering deliverables; performs electrical calculations and studies; and prepares or reviews equipment specifications, data sheets, and technical submittals. The position supports equipment replacement and substation upgrade projects, coordinates with procurement, and works with construction and commissioning teams through installation, energization, and verification. It also involves site scoping and walkdowns, compliance with applicable codes and standards, multidisciplinary coordination, project planning and cost review, and mentoring junior engineers and drafters.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
- At least 5 years of substation design and engineering experience, or comparable heavy commercial construction-related experience.
- Strong working knowledge of substation design practices for high-voltage equipment, bus systems, grounding, control and relay systems, station service, and physical layout design.
- Ability to read, interpret, and produce single-line, three-line, schematic, and layout drawings.
- Experience preparing technical specifications and bills of material, and reviewing vendor data.
- Proficiency with design tools and software such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, ETAP, SKM, Mathcad, or other power-system calculation tools.
- Experience leading projects and developing engineering schedules, budgets, and forecasts.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate across design, procurement, construction, and client teams.
- Willingness to travel to project sites as required.
Nice To Haves
- Utility-scale substation design and engineering experience.
- EIT certification.
- PE certification.
- Familiarity with engineering deliverables in a general contractor setting, including design-build or EPC support.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage engineering and design teams in the design and execution of electrical substation projects.
- Develop, review, and approve engineering deliverables, including diagrams, drawings, schematics, bus arrangements, grounding systems, cable and conduit layouts, control house layouts, relay panel arrangements, bills of materials, bus supports, and equipment foundations.
- Perform electrical calculations and studies, including short-circuit and interrupting analysis, bus loading, conductor sizing, voltage drop, and grounding or ground-grid analysis.
- Create or review specifications, data sheets, and technical submittals for major substation equipment.
- Support breaker, switch, relay panel, and RTU replacements; ring bus expansions; and line, bus, and transformer relay upgrades.
- Coordinate with procurement to evaluate vendor submittals, check compliance with specifications, and respond to technical RFIs and clarifications.
- Support construction and commissioning by reviewing contractor drawings, monitoring field installation, supporting design changes, and resolving field issues and construction deviations.
- Conduct project scoping and site walkdowns, and travel to substations or project sites as required.
- Ensure compliance with IEEE, ANSI, NESC/NEC, applicable local utility and authority standards, and company QA/QC processes.
- Provide design support through construction and commissioning, including attending factory acceptance tests, witnessing installation, supporting energization, and assisting with commissioning and verification.
- Collaborate with civil/structural, protection and control, project management, and site construction teams to coordinate design and execution.
- Support change-order reviews, cost estimating, constructability reviews, risk identification, and project planning, including schedules, budgets, and forecasts.
- Apply knowledge of substation physical design, including ground grids, rigid and strain bus, and raceway systems.
- Mentor junior engineers and drafters, review drawings and calculations for quality, and help deliver projects on time and within budget.
Benefits
- Industry-leading performance-based bonus program.
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
- Traditional and Roth 401(k).
- Tuition reimbursement for associates.
- Scholarship for associates’ children, up to $28,000 per child.
- One-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel.
- One week of paid volunteer leave each year.
- 100% charitable match.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
- Paid parental leave.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
