Freelance Remote Civil Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

At EXP, we're driven to provide innovative solutions for the world's built and natural environments. As an employee-owned, multidisciplinary engineering firm, we bring together engineers, architects, designers, scientists, and technical leaders to solve complex challenges across the energy sector. Together, we are EXP.

Are you ready to design your future?
Be our next Senior / Principal High-Voltage & HVDC Substation Electrical Engineer.

Your Work Environment at EXP

In this role, you will be part of EXP's Energy Division, supporting projects across electrical power generation, transmission, and substations, including hydroelectric facilities, renewable energy (wind and solar), medium-, high-, and extra-high-voltage transmission systems, and advanced substation infrastructure. This position can be remotely or out of any of our US offices.

You will collaborate with a highly multidisciplinary team and serve as a technical authority on complex high-voltage projects. This role offers long-term growth toward Principal and Technical Authority leadership positions within EXP's U.S. Energy practice.

What a day at EXP has in store for you

• Function as a senior technical authority and design lead in MV, HV, and EHV substations up to 765 kV, including HVDC and FACTS systems, supporting transmission, renewable interconnection, and industrial power projects.
• Perform and direct the detailed electrical and physical design of utility substations ranging from 15 kV through 765 kV, including EHV transmission substations, major interconnection facilities, and complex grid-scale infrastructure.
• Provide technical leadership on EHV system considerations, including insulation coordination, grounding and step-and-touch analysis, EMF considerations, equipment clearances, constructability, and safety requirements at the 500 kV-765 kV level.
• Lead and review advanced electrical system studies, including:
  • Load flow and contingency analysis
  • Short-circuit and grounding analysis
  • Protection coordination and arc-flash studies
  • Harmonic analysis and harmonic filter coordination
  • HVDC and FACTS system performance and interface studies
• Perform and direct others in the execution of detailed substation design deliverables, ensuring technical accuracy, constructability, and compliance with client, utility, and industry standards.
• Develop and oversee high-voltage design deliverables, including:
  • One-line diagrams and AC/DC schematics
  • Protection and control philosophies and relay schemes
  • SCADA, communications, and substation automation architecture
  • Station physical layouts, elevations, and equipment arrangements
  • Grounding grids, lightning protection systems, EMF considerations, and yard/area lighting design
• Serve as lead engineer or discipline lead on multiple concurrent substation projects, managing technical scope, priorities, and coordination across disciplines and offices.
• Perform technical QA/QC reviews for substation deliverables produced across multiple projects and offices, ensuring consistency with EXP standards and client requirements.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor and primary engineering interface with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, EPC contractors, OEMs, and renewable developers, supporting project execution and strengthening long-term client relationships.
• Provide technical guidance for HVDC and FACTS-related scopes, including front-end engineering design activities, system studies, development of technical specifications, and review of vendor design submissions, as applicable.
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), commissioning, and site activities, providing technical support during construction, testing, and energization phases.
• Mentor and support the development of junior and intermediate engineers, promoting technical excellence and knowledge sharing within the Energy Division.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to ensure technical quality, schedule adherence, and budget compliance.
• Prepare technical proposals, scopes of work, cost estimates, and schedules, and support business development and pursuit activities for HV, HVDC, and renewable interconnection projects.
• Contribute to the growth and strategic development of EXP's HV / HVDC / FACTS capabilities in the United States.

What your experience looks like

• Design and review HV and EHV transmission and substation systems for utility-scale and renewable projects
• Perform or validate equipment sizing and ratings, including power transformers, breakers, reactors, capacitor banks, and HVDC interface equipment
• Develop cable and conduit routing, trench and duct bank layouts, grounding systems, and lightning protection plans
• Coordinate technical inputs across civil, structural, protection, SCADA, and commissioning teams
• Verify drawings and data sheets for compliance with IEEE, ANSI, IEC, NEC, NESC, and client-specific standards
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (Power Systems preferred)
• 8+ years of progressive experience in high-voltage and extra-high-voltage substation engineering
• Demonstrated experience serving as project engineer, discipline lead, or technical authority on multiple substation projects executed concurrently
• Experience with EHV transmission and substation projects (500 kV-765 kV) and associated utility standards and practices
• Experience with HVDC and/or FACTS projects at a consulting, utility, or system-integration level
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
• Strong understanding of the U.S. energy and utility market, including ISO/RTO interconnection processes
• Familiarity with applicable codes, standards, and utility practices
• Experience with power system analysis tools such as ETAP, ASPEN, SKM, PSSE, PSCAD, or similar
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel for site visits as required
• Employee-owned culture with long-term career growth
• Exposure to complex HV, HVDC, FACTS, and renewable interconnection projects
• Opportunity to develop into a recognized technical authority
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and professional development support

The salary range for this role is $120,000 to 190,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate's skill set, experience, certifications, and geographic location. Compensation may vary by location due to differences in the cost of labor.

In addition to competitive pay, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for all full-time employees, including health insurance, vacation time, and 401(k) retirement benefits.

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Our story

With a mission to understand, innovate, partner and deliver, EXP provides engineering, architecture, design and consulting services to the world's built and natural environments.

Our heritage dates back to 1906, when the earliest of EXP's predecessor companies started its engineering infrastructure practice. Today, thousands of creative professionals across EXP work together to deliver extraordinary experiences year after year.

What makes us different

The passion, enthusiasm, diversity and industry-leading capabilities of our employees make us who we are. We're committed to providing a challenging work environment that cultivates career growth, encourages creativity and rewards excellence.

Find out more about life at EXP by visiting www.exp.com.

EXP is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer who fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of Race, Color, Sex, Religion, Gender, Age, National Origin, Veteran Status, Disability, Genetic Information or Testing, Family and Medical Leave, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression. 

Should you need any special accommodations, please feel free to contact us at hrsupport@exp.com and we will arrange for the most suitable accommodations based on your needs.