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

Xcel Energy•Amarillo, TX

1d•$70,000 - $156,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Substation Design Engineer is responsible for the planning, design, and delivery of electric transmission and distribution substation projects. This role involves developing safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering solutions while ensuring compliance with company standards, industry codes, and regulatory requirements. The engineer will create physical and/or protection and control designs for new substations and modifications to existing facilities, perform engineering analyses to validate design assumptions, and apply established design criteria to maintain consistency and safety. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including civil, structural, protection and control, construction, and operations, is essential to integrate complete and constructable solutions. The role also includes 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, and evaluating trade-offs to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions that balance engineering standards, risk, and constructability. This is an entry-level position designed to develop technical expertise in a particular area of specialty, performing work with conventional types of plans and equipment with relatively few complex features. Activities are of limited scope requiring knowledge of principles and techniques commonly employed in the specific area of assignments. May lead small-medium, non-critical projects and/or provide field oversight of critical projects under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor. Work is reviewed for soundness of technical judgment, overall adequacy, and accuracy. As proficiency is gained, may work on portions of larger projects. Works under supervision and follows established procedures. May supervise or coordinate the work of interns, drafters, craft personnel, technicians, and/or others.

Requirements

Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum.
0+ years relevant engineering experience (for Entry Engineer Level).
2+ years relevant engineering experience (for 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 (for Senior Engineer Level).
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE (for 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 (for Entry Engineer Level).
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred (for Staff Engineer Level).
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need (for Senior Engineer Level).
Experience in Substation physical or controlled design.

Responsibilities

Uses and applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities/assignments of limited scope.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.).
Utilizes and may assist with the development of procedures.
Provides ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics, Regulatory, etc.
May provide field engineering oversight for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections etc. under direct supervision.
Coordinates/leads projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation and commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor.
Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor, supports bid/evaluation processes by performing basic analysis and calculations on existing documentation and materials that support the preparation of bid documents.
In completing segments of technical evaluations for proposals may need to effectively communicate with other business areas of the company following appropriate processes.
Effectively exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance and complexity both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors.
May coordinate the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and/or others and provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Responsible for continuous self development of technical skills and competencies.
May perform activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.