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Principal Substation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Arcadis is currently seeking a highly motivated Principal Substation Electrical Engineer to join our Power Delivery & Renewable team. Arcadis' Power Delivery group partners with clients to provide ...

Arcadis is currently seeking a highly motivated Principal Substation Electrical Engineer to join our Power Delivery & Renewable team. Arcadis' Power Delivery group partners with clients to provide ...

Principal Substation Electrical Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$143K - $175K/yr

Arcadis is currently seeking a highly motivated Principal Substation Electrical Engineer to join our Power Delivery & Renewable team. Arcadis' Power Delivery group partners with clients to provide ...

EPC Substation Engineer

$100K - $128K/yr

Competency in applying basic theories and principals involved in substation engineering. * Experience with Engineering, Procurement & Construction turnkey projects for electric utilities is strongly ...

Substation Engineer Senior, Lead or Principal Location: Rapid City, SD, United States Job ID: 36265 Date Posted: Aug 27, 2026 Position will close at 12:00am CT on Sep 18, 2026 Salary: $ 97150 to ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Substation Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal substation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal substation engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal substation engineer?

Principal Substation Engineers are senior-level professionals responsible for overseeing the design, development, and maintenance of electrical substations. They lead engineering teams, ensure compliance with industry standards, and manage projects from conception through completion. Their expertise is crucial in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of power transmission and distribution systems. Principal Substation Engineers often collaborate with utilities, contractors, and regulatory agencies to deliver reliable electrical infrastructure.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal substation engineer?

To excel as a Principal Substation Engineer, you need deep expertise in electrical engineering, substation design, and project management, typically supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering and a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with industry software such as AutoCAD, ETAP, and protection relay settings, as well as knowledge of relevant codes and standards, is crucial. Outstanding leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for coordinating multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These competencies ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable delivery of complex substation projects critical to power system performance.

What are some common challenges faced by principal substation engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Principal Substation Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing multiple complex projects, coordinating with cross-disciplinary teams, and staying current with evolving industry standards. Effective communication and strong project management skills are essential for managing timelines and ensuring alignment between design, construction, and operations teams. Regular professional development and collaboration with regulatory bodies also help address technical and compliance-related challenges, supporting successful project delivery and career growth.

What is the difference between Principal Substation Engineer vs Substation Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Substation EngineerSubstation Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferredBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; PE license may be preferred but less common
Work EnvironmentLead design, project management, and oversight of substation projectsAssist in design, construction, and maintenance of substations
Industry UsageUsed in large utilities, engineering firms, and project leadership rolesCommon in utility companies and engineering teams

The Principal Substation Engineer typically holds a senior, leadership role overseeing substation projects, requiring advanced credentials and experience. In contrast, the Substation Engineer focuses on technical execution and support. Both roles are vital in the electrical power industry, but the Principal Substation Engineer has broader responsibilities and higher-level oversight.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Substation Engineer jobs?

For Principal Substation Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Substation Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal Substation Electrical Engineer

Charleston, SC

Arcadis
Engineering Professional Services • 10K+ employees

$130K - $159K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Arcadis rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 22 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play.

With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world's most complex challenges and deliver more impact together. Role description: Arcadis is currently seeking a highly motivated Principal Substation Electrical Engineer to join our Power Delivery & Renewable team. Arcadis' Power Delivery group partners with clients to provide comprehensive plans that incorporate all aspects of their projects.

You can see this in the work we do for our clients, the opportunities we create for our people, and in our efforts to enhance the communities in which we live and work. We bring together world-class resources and the latest innovative technologies to help define the cities and experiences of tomorrow. This is a senior Lead Technical position within the Power Delivery & Renewable unit of Arcadis.

The position requires candidate directly interface with Arcadis power delivery team specially with Substation Electrical Team with technical and project management assignments, project engineering, proposal management and business development. The candidate will also make sure day-to-day client engagement, project and proposal coordination, project execution, resource planning, and hands on technical solution role. The position is accountable to ensure project execution in accordance with all applicable codes and standards, including all of Arcadis's policies and procedures, such as Safety, Environmental, Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

The incumbent will also work closely with other Power Delivery departments, including the Project Engineering, Protection & Control Engineering, Transmission Engineering, Distribution Energy, Renewables, and System Planning and Studies teams, as well as with other Arcadis business divisions and sectors. The position consisting in the coordination of the Power Delivery & Renewables (PD&R) team and performing hands on substation electrical engineering, detail design and studies for utility and developer clients in North America. The incumbent will also work closely with other renewable energy team (e.g

wind, solar, green H2, etc.) with Arcadis business units. As part of the Power Delivery & Renewable team, you will help improve quality of life. Role accountabilities: Manage and grow Substation Electrical team working with Power Delivery & Renewables Leader and Manger of Substation Electrical group

You will also ensure resource planning and utilization of protection and control team on large/complex projects and perform quality reviews. Support, develop, and deliver utility, developers, and all aspect of clients' projects from development conceptual layout/plan thru detailed design and completion of construction support. Coordinate closely with civil, structural, protection & control, system planning and studies, SCADA/telecommunications, water, and geotechnical engineers to develop complete Issue for Construction design packages for all projects.

Review, perform, and QA all engineering studies necessary to complete projects detailed engineering package. Act as Project Manager, Proposal Manager, Program Manager, Account Manager and Technical Lead to support services and plan, develop, and grow power delivery client goal and business growth for the region Serve as a mentor to junior members of the team. Conduct quality assurance/quality control on the work of other electrical engineers, electrical designers, or technicians.

Participate in meetings with clients, contractors, and vendors to support business development and project execution. Work with Power Delivery & Renewables (PD&R) Leader to develop plans to client development, account growth, department growth, resource planning, winning and execution strategy, quality control improvement, and all project financial performance to meet PD&R team success. We are seeking an individual with a strong team player mindset and excellent communication skills to join our team.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to collaborate effectively with colleagues. Additionally, this position may involve travel of up to 20% to client sites and customer meetings, both within North America and potentially internationally. Qualifications & Experience: Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in preparing substation physical layouts, sections & elevations, bus configurations, cable and conduit design & sizing, grounding, control building, lighting & lightning, and all aspects of HV and EHV substation engineering & design and studies and standards practice of transmission, substation, distribution, and generation system for both AIS and GIS substations in both utility-scale, developer, and/or large industrial facilities.

Must have experience within Power Delivery Substation Electrical consultancy businesses and understand power delivery, generation and renewables business. PE License Must be proficient in critical Engineering Software e.g., SKM, ASPEN, ETAP, CAPE, CDEGS, WinIGS and have design experience adhering to National Electrical Code, National Electric Safety Code, IEEE codes and standards, and county, city and state codes, ordinances and standards Preferred Qualifications Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Why Arcadis. We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best

We believe everyone's contribution matters. It's why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together. You'll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you'll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet.

Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you. Together, we can create a lasting legacy. Join Arcadis.

Create a Legacy. Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part-time positions.

These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $122,760 - $220,968.

Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location. #hybrid #LI-SP1


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About Arcadis

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our work with clients has a direct impact on people's lives and on the planet. We make moving, living and belonging in cities safer, more resilient and more sustainable. By partnering with our clients as responsible custodians of our earth's resources, we can create a sustainable planet. We continue to think of new ways to make positive impacts and create better experiences for people; data driven and digital solutions have become part of the Arcadis DNA. Working together with clients and using techniques like design thinking, we can get to the heart of our clients' most pressing challenges and work together to solve them.

Industry

Engineering professional services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Highlands Ranch, CO, US