Entry Level Substation Protection Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

This position offers you the opportunity to work in a project team environment with other engineers and designers involved in the detailed electrical design and project management of high voltage substation projects. As a Substation Engineer 2, you will:

• Take an active role in project conceptualization, work planning, and project execution.
• Support challenging assignments that include investigating, trouble-shooting, and solving a wide variety of electrical engineering issues.
• Prepare reports that present technical and project information in a clear and concise manner and meet client requirements and S&L formats.
• Develop your career via peer-learning through sharing of knowledge with other experienced engineers by way of S&L’s systems of process and associated “Communities of Practice.” 
• In addition, you may have the opportunity to travel to client sites as needed.

This role offers a hybrid work arrangement. You'll spend three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.

Dependent upon your location, this opportunity offers a generous relocation package.

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential skills and experience:

• This position requires a Bachelor of Science degree with strong preference in an Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace or Chemical Engineering degree, and/or coursework including Coding, 3D Modeling/Design, and experience using agentic AI.
• Knowledge of design techniques, tools and principles involved in production of technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models with the ability to visualize parts in 3D without the aid of a computer.
• 1 or more years experience in the power or electric utility industry.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple projects under budget and time constraints.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Experience in reviewing design drawings created by others.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications. 

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• A BSEE degree is preferable.
• A degree from an ABET accredited engineering program.
• 1 or more years experience in the design of substations 138kV and above.
• Familiarity in designing or developing AI applications and/or agents.
• Ability to prepare substation grounding calculations, direct stroke shielding calculations, battery & charger sizing calculations, etc.
• Physical layout and protection & controls experience.
• Ability to work with Designer to develop substation single line diagrams, relaying & metering diagrams, DC schematic diagrams, substation plan & sections, grounding plans, etc.
• Familiarity with ANSI/IEEE/NEMA standards as they relate to substation design. This includes the National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI - C2).
• PE license.
• AutoCAD experience.

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to solve problems using modern tools:

• You are expected to take engineering problems from issue to solution using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Many engineers in these roles build or use automation to create calculations, summarize technical documents, or draft design documentation, including appropriate use of agentic AI tools, with strong engineering judgment and verification of results.
• Programming or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate calculations, design checks, reporting, or data transformation is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other training in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that helps you apply automation or agentic AI to real engineering problems.

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back-Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA

• 401(k)
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.