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Substation Design Engineer Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Design Engineer - Substation

Portland, OR

$104K - $133K/yr

The Design Engineer - Substation will perform substation design assignments including physical layout and protection & control systems while ensuring compliance with safety and construction standards.

Substation Project Lead

Lake Oswego, OR

$101K - $129K/yr

Coordinate and approve substation design packages, maintaining alignment with scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations. * Lead and mentor engineers and designers, providing technical ...

Lead EPC Substation Project Engineer

Bend, OR ยท On-site +1

$103K - $132K/yr

Lead and/or perform Substation Physical Electrical engineering design (including general arrangement, electrical plans and sections, grounding plan and details, raceway plan and details, shielding ...

Lead EPC Substation Project Engineer

Bend, OR ยท On-site +1

$107K - $195K/yr

Lead and/or perform Substation Physical Electrical engineering design (including general arrangement, electrical plans and sections, grounding plan and details, raceway plan and details, shielding ...

Substation Engineer - I/II

Portland, OR ยท On-site +1

$104K - $132K/yr

The Substation Engineer I / II supports the planning, design, and implementation of electrical substation projects for utility, industrial, and renewable energy clients. This role works under the ...

Lead EPC Substation Project Engineer

Portland, OR ยท On-site +1

$107K - $195K/yr

Lead and/or perform Substation Physical Electrical engineering design (including general arrangement, electrical plans and sections, grounding plan and details, raceway plan and details, shielding ...

Lead EPC Substation Project Engineer

Portland, OR ยท On-site +1

$104K - $133K/yr

Lead and/or perform Substation Physical Electrical engineering design (including general arrangement, electrical plans and sections, grounding plan and details, raceway plan and details, shielding ...

Principal Substation Engineer

$98K - $125K/yr

Overview Principal Substation Engineer - Remote - US At NV5, we understand the intricacies of ... Apply engineering design principles and practices including formulas. * Work and coordinate with ...

Sr. Substation Engineer

$98K - $125K/yr

Overview Sr. Substation Engineer - (Physical/P&C) - Remote - US At NV5, we understand the ... Apply engineering design principles and practices including formulas. * Work and coordinate with ...

Coordinate and approve substation design packages, maintaining alignment with scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations. * Lead and mentor engineers and designers, providing technical ...

Sr. Structural Engineer - Substation

$100K - $136K/yr

Physical substation design experience is strongly preferred. * Professional Engineering (P.E ... license. NV5 offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, life ...

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Substation Design Engineer information

See Oregon salary details

$66.1K

$120.1K

$158.1K

How much do substation design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for substation design engineer in Oregon is $120,136.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,100.00 and $132,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Substation Design Engineer job?

A Substation Design Engineer is responsible for designing electrical substations that facilitate the transmission and distribution of electricity. They create detailed plans, specifications, and layouts for substation components, including switchgear, transformers, and protection systems. Their role involves ensuring compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and reliability requirements. They work closely with utility companies, project managers, and other engineering disciplines to develop efficient and cost-effective designs. This position requires expertise in electrical engineering, CAD software, and power system analysis.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. Certain roles in high-demand industries or with executive responsibilities may also reach this compensation level.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. Substation Design Engineers typically earn lower salaries, but those in executive or highly specialized positions may reach or exceed this level with bonuses and profit sharing.

What are the main challenges a Substation Design Engineer faces during a typical project?

Substation Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, managing complex design requirements, and ensuring compliance with strict safety and regulatory standards. Balancing project schedules while addressing site-specific constraints and integrating new technologies can also pose difficulties. Effective communication with project managers, construction crews, and utility clients is essential to address issues quickly and keep the project on track. Successful engineers are proactive in problem-solving and adaptable to evolving project needs, which helps minimize delays and optimize design solutions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Substation Design Engineer position, and why are they important?

A Substation Design Engineer requires a strong background in electrical engineering, knowledge of power systems, and a relevant engineering degree, often with a Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred. Proficiency in CAD software (such as AutoCAD or MicroStation), protective relay coordination tools, and familiarity with utility standards are important technical competencies. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help facilitate effective collaboration and ensure clarity during cross-disciplinary projects. These abilities are critical for delivering safe, efficient, and reliable substation designs that meet regulatory and operational standards.

What does a substation design engineer do?

A substation design engineer is responsible for planning and developing electrical substations, including creating detailed layouts, selecting equipment, and ensuring compliance with safety and industry standards. They use design software and collaborate with project teams to ensure efficient and reliable power distribution systems. The role often requires knowledge of electrical engineering principles and relevant certifications.

Can you make $500,000 as an electrical engineer?

Substation Design Engineers, a specialized role within electrical engineering, typically earn salaries below $200,000 annually, with top earners in senior positions or with extensive experience potentially reaching higher figures. Achieving a $500,000 salary usually requires advanced roles, management positions, or significant bonuses and incentives in the industry.
Infographic showing various Substation Design Engineer job openings in Oregon as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 12% Contract, and 4% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,136 per year, or $57.8 per hour.

Design Engineer - Substation

Quanta Infrastructure Solutions Group, LLC

Portland, OR โ€ข On-site

$104K - $133K/yr

Other

Medical, Retirement

Posted yesterday


Job description

About Us

QISG leverages Quanta's comprehensive resources to deliver collaborative solutions for our partners' energy infrastructure needs. We use in-house talent, expertise and resources to plan, design, engineer, manage, conduct maintenance on and construct projects.

Our turnkey service capabilities provide our customers with efficiency, consistency, attention to detail and safe execution. The QISG team brings together Engineering, Safety, Quality, Material Procurement, QA/QC, Right-of-Way Acquisition, Scheduling, Environmental Planning, Permitting, Title and Land Management expertise that ensure outstanding results for our clients.

About this Role

Every moment of every day, people all over the world rely on electricity provided by Quanta Services and its customers. With its highly skilled and innovative workforce, Quanta is the largest specialty contractor in North America that powers modern life. Find your future with us by being a part of something bigger - leading the energy transition in building a better world for generations to come.

We encourage and inspire our people to embrace opportunities within our corporate office and 200 operating companies providing solutions for the utility, renewable energy, electric power, industrial, and communications industries worldwide.

Quanta's culture is about creating an environment where all employees can be themselves, are valued, and have an equal opportunity to succeed. When you join our team, you join a dynamic culture in which career development is encouraged, excellence is rewarded, and diversity is valued.

What You'll Do

The Design Engineer - Substation will perform substation design assignments including physical layout and protection & control systems while ensuring compliance with safety and construction standards. This role involves designing substation components, selecting materials, preparing design documents, and collaborating with engineers and field personnel to ensure project accuracy and efficiency. This position will report to a Supervising Engineer and be part of a substation design team with other engineers, designers, and drafters supporting substation projects across the QISG platform. There are four bands to this title; an employee moves up in band as they gain experience and demonstrate mastery of new skills.

  • Design physical substation components, including yard layouts, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, raceways, and auxiliary AC/DC power systems.
  • Develop protection and control schematics, wiring diagrams, cable lists and panel layouts.
  • Develop design drawings, calculations, and bills of material from engineering documents for planning, construction, operation, and maintenance.
  • Conduct engineering calculations, including voltage drop, cable pulling, flicker analysis, and grounding analysis.
  • Ensure project team applies engineering standards including NEC, NESC, NEMA, IEEE and ANSI
  • Perform quality reviews to check for inaccuracies, omissions, or compliance issues, and provide recommendations.
  • Work collaboratively with engineers and project teams to develop solutions and modifications as needed.
  • Maintain detailed project documentation and support engineering calculations.
  • Bring potential project-related problems and possible solutions to the attention of the stakeholders.
  • Travel out of town for short periods of time as required by projects and assignments.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
What You'll Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
  • Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is highly desirable; this is required for the Design Engineer 4 band.
  • Curiosity for and willingness to learn about the major components of a substation is required. Basic knowledge of these components is a plus.ย  Previous design or construction experience is highly desirable.
  • No experience required in the electric utility industry for entry level positions. More experience performing detailed design for high voltage substation projects could result in a higher-level position.
  • Word processing, spread sheet, and e-mail software.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Working in a team environment
  • Communicating effectively with co-workers
  • Able to deal with ambiguity and ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks and determine priorities in a complex environment.

Travel Requirements:

  • Role will require travel as necessary to achieve job responsibilities, up to 10-25% of the time.
What You'll Get
  • Competitive salary - overtime is available.
  • Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
  • Professional development opportunities.
Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and/or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. We prohibit all types of discrimination and are committed to providing access and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. For additional information or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview, or hiring processes or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us the Company's Human Resources department.

Employment Type: OTHER