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Substation Civil Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

WSP

Lead Civil Engineer

Lake Oswego, OR · On-site

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Civil Engineer for our Power Delivery Substation Civil/Structural Group to perform engineering design for electrical substations. The candidate will ...

WSP

Lead Civil Engineer

Lake Oswego, OR · On-site

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Civil Engineer for our Power Delivery Substation Civil/Structural Group to perform engineering design for electrical substations. The candidate will ...

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Substation Civil Engineer information

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$38K

$82.7K

$123K

How much do substation civil engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for substation civil engineer in the United States is $82,674.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,500.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges a Substation Civil Engineer faces during project execution?

Substation Civil Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple disciplines (electrical, structural, and environmental), managing project timelines amidst permitting or weather delays, and ensuring strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards. Balancing fieldwork with design and documentation responsibilities can also be demanding, especially when adapting plans to unforeseen site conditions. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are essential to efficiently address these issues and keep projects on track.

What are substation civil engineers?

Substation civil engineers are professionals who design, plan, and oversee the construction and maintenance of the civil aspects of electrical substations. Their work includes the layout of foundations, structural supports for equipment, site grading, drainage systems, access roads, and fencing. They ensure that the substation’s physical infrastructure meets regulatory, safety, and operational standards, and they often collaborate closely with electrical engineers and utility companies. Substation civil engineers play a key role in ensuring the reliability and safety of power distribution systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Substation Civil Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Substation Civil Engineer, you need a solid background in civil engineering principles, structural analysis, and a relevant bachelor's degree, often accompanied by a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Proficiency with design software such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and knowledge of industry standards like IEEE and NESC are typically required. Strong project management, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and handle project challenges. These qualifications and skills are crucial for ensuring the safe, reliable, and cost-effective design and construction of electrical substations.

What is the difference between Substation Civil Engineer vs Electrical Substation Engineer?

AspectSubstation Civil EngineerElectrical Substation Engineer
Primary FocusDesign and construction of civil infrastructure for substationsDesign and maintenance of electrical systems within substations
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Civil Engineering, PE license often preferredBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, PE license often preferred
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, civil design officesElectrical design labs, substation sites
Industry UsagePower utilities, infrastructure projectsPower utilities, electrical contractors

While both roles are essential in substation projects, the Substation Civil Engineer focuses on civil infrastructure, such as foundations and structures, whereas the Electrical Substation Engineer concentrates on electrical systems. Understanding these differences helps in selecting the right career path or job role within the power industry.

More about Substation Civil Engineer jobs
What states have the most Substation Civil Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Substation Civil Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Substation Civil Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Substation Civil Engineer jobs are:
Substation Civil Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Substation Civil Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,674 per year, or $39.7 per hour.
Lead Civil Engineer

Lead Civil Engineer

WSP

Lake Oswego, OR • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago

WSP rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 67 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 58 rated business consultants

Job description


WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Civil Engineer for our Power Delivery Substation Civil/Structural Group to perform engineering design for electrical substations. The candidate will work on projects with our Civil/Structural Team and be part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.
This Opportunity
Under minimal supervision, leads other engineers, designers, and drafters, and performs all aspects of electrical substation civil design, including permitting support, site layout, grading design, stormwater analysis, survey coordination, and civil construction support. Tasks may include developing civil construction specifications, cost estimates, engineering proposals, and project schedules. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.
Your Impact
  • Provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, GIS data, subsurface utility information, maps, hydrologic analysis, geotechnical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.
  • Apply high-level civil engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various substation project phases, including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
  • Support of substation physical design with layout placement within the site, top of concrete elevations, and coordinating with multiple disciplines on interface points.
  • Preparation of stormwater calculation packages to satisfy client, jurisdictional, and WSP requirements.
  • Coordinate with all disciplines contributing to electrical substation design.
  • Evaluate the constructability of the civil design of electrical substations.
  • Assure plans adhere to client and WSP standards.
  • Development of civil construction specifications, cost estimates, engineering proposals, and project schedules.
  • Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner.
  • Strong command of the English language with good written and oral communication skills to work effectively with other team members.
  • Ability to successfully participate in multiple projects concurrently and manage budgets and schedules.
  • We expect everyone on the team to assume ownership of the project's goals and success.
  • Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
  • Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, or closely related discipline.
  • 10+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering and civil design.
  • Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
  • Highly proficient with civil engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
  • Highly proficient with infrastructure design.
  • Experience with infrastructure planning, design, and program/construction management; including project involvement in a variety of rehabilitation and reconstruction, new design, and construction projects.
  • Strong knowledge of relevant civil construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
  • Highly proficient with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
  • Experience with planning and conducting inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities or structures, applying applicable regulations and policies.
  • Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing intricate ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
  • Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with clients, regulators, project managers, and employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Works independently to provide guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
  • Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, InRoads, Geopak, GeoSlope, ANSYS, STADD, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
  • Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
  • Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
  • Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
  • Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
  • Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
  • Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience in electric utility substation design.
  • Ability to successfully participate in multiple projects concurrently and manage budgets and schedules.

Disclaimer:
  • Hybrid and remote work opportunities are available.

WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
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About Us
About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation - no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.

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