Job Title: Senior Electrical Engineer - Substation
Location: Akron, OH / Columbus, OH
Duration: Direct Hire (Fulltime)
Travel: 25%
Work Model: Fully Onsite
 
Project Overview:

• The manager is looking for candidates with actual substation design experience in the utility / T&D space.

Strong target backgrounds:

• Substation design.
• Utility / T&D consulting.
• Physical substation design.
• Protection & Controls / P&C.
• High-voltage substation projects.
• Engineering consulting experience preferred.

Functional Area 1: Physical Substation Design

• This is the physical layout / outside design side of the substation.
• Candidates in this lane may come from a physical engineer, substation designer, or electrical/mechanical engineering background if they have been doing physical substation design.

Relevant experience includes:

• Physical arrangement of substations.
• Above grade and below grade substation design packages.
• Outside layout of substations.
• Connecting major substation equipment together.
• Substation plan/layout work.
• Grounding and lightning analysis/design.
• Lighting and security design.
• Design sketches.
• Equipment specifications.
• Bill of materials.
• Field inspections for substation facilities.
• Design quality reviews.
• Use of design software.

Helpful tools/skills:

• AutoCAD.
• Vendor drawing / vendor print experience.
• MicroStation 3D experience is helpful due to client usage.
• Knowledge of IEEE, NESC, and utility standards.

Relevant JD Responsibilities:

• Lead preparation and development of substation design packages, including physical arrangement above and below grade.
• Lead electrical studies such as grounding and lightning analysis.
• Lead lighting and security design.
• Lead substation calculations, including insulation, AC station service, DC systems and battery sizing, voltage drop, cable sizing, and conduit fill.
• Lead preparation of design sketches, equipment specifications, bill of materials, and other required deliverables.
• Lead field inspections for substation facilities on public and private utility systems.
• Apply IEEE, NESC, and other industry/utility standards, guides, specifications, and procedures.
• Lead complex assignments requiring advanced tools and techniques.
• Perform design quality reviews.

Functional Area 2: Protection & Controls / P&C

• This is the relay/control side of the substation.
• Candidates in this lane are typically more traditional electrical engineers with substation P&C experience.

Relevant experience includes:

• Protection & Controls engineering.
• Protective relaying and control.
• Schematics.
• Wiring diagrams.
• Relay/control design.
• Traditional P&C work within the substation / T&D space.
• Electrical design deliverables tied to substation controls.

Relevant JD Responsibilities:

• Lead preparation and development of substation design packages, including protective relaying and control.
• Lead preparation of schematics and wiring-related design deliverables.
• Lead electrical calculations tied to substation systems, including DC systems and battery sizing, voltage drop, cable sizing, and AC station service.
• Apply IEEE, NESC, and other industry/utility standards, guides, specifications, and procedures.
• Lead complex assignments requiring advanced tools and techniques.
• Identify, communicate, and lead resolution of project issues.
• Perform design quality reviews.

Shared Senior Substation Engineer Responsibilities:

• These responsibilities apply across both Physical Design and P&C candidates:
• Lead substation projects from conceptual phase through completion.
• Work with the project team through the design and construction process.
• Adapt engineering plans according to budget constraints, design factors, or client needs.
• Lead preparation of cost estimates and other required deliverables.
• Manage project schedule and meet deliverable deadlines under supervision.
• Manage project budget for assigned deliverables under supervision.
• Work closely with the project team to ensure deliverables and services meet client expectations.
• Ensure projects follow internal QA/QC guidelines.
• Meet and correspond with clients or outside personnel to build relationships with key client contacts.
• Lead preparation of proposals, including schedule and budget estimates.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all company policies and standards.

Education & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related degree from an ABET-accredited program and 7 years of substation project or related experience. OR
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or related degree from an ABET-accredited program, successful completion of the FE exam, and 7 years of substation project or related experience.

Preferred:

• Consulting experience.
• Professional Engineer / PE license.
• General Qualifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Ability to apply diversified engineering knowledge across broad assignments.
• Ability to devise new approaches to problems encountered.

Interview Process:

• Initial 30-minute Teams screen / meet-and-greet.
• Formal interview after that (Formal interview is usually in person if the candidate is local, but exceptions can be made for non-local candidates.).

Insights for Recruiter:

• Client is hiring for a Senior Electrical Engineer – Substation role supporting high-voltage substation projects from 13kV to 765kV.
• This req is posted for both Akron and Columbus, but it is the same role/posting with two location options.
• The manager is open to candidates for either Akron or Columbus and is also open to relocation discussions.
• The job description is written as a full “do-it-all” senior substation engineering role. However, based on the manager discussion, the role can realistically be filled through one of two functional backgrounds:
• Physical Substation Design.
• Protection & Controls / P&C.
• A candidate who can do both would be ideal, but most candidates will usually specialize in one area.
• Please focus on candidates with true substation design experience.
• Generic electrical engineering or adjacent industry experience is not enough unless the candidate has hands-on substation design exposure.
• Avoid over-prioritizing candidates who only have adjacent industry experience unless they have direct substation design experience. The manager specifically mentioned that adjacent industry transfers have not always worked well.
• Manager estimated around $130K base for a first-time senior-level candidate. Benefits, bonus structure, ESOP, and 401(k) are additional selling points.
• Manager is open to relocation discussions. Relocation is expected to be more of a stipend/lump sum rather than full relocation.

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 110000.00/Yearly.