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Substation Primary Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Substation

Denver, CO

$80K - $122K/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.

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Substation

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80K - $122K/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.

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Substation

Delta, UT · On-site

$92K - $118K/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.

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Substation

Portland, OR · On-site

$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.

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Substation

Houston, TX · On-site

$85K - $108K/yr

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

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All JobsSubstation Primary Design Engineer Jobs

Substation Primary Design Engineer information

See salary details

$62.5K

$113.6K

$149.5K

How much do substation primary design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for substation primary design engineer in the United States is $113,627.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,500.00 and $125,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Substation Primary Design Engineer vs Substation Protection & Control Engineer?

AspectSubstation Primary Design EngineerSubstation Protection & Control Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, relevant certificationsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, certifications in protection and control systems
Work EnvironmentDesigning physical substation layouts, equipment placementDeveloping protection schemes, relay settings, control logic
Industry UsageDesign and planning of substation infrastructureProtection system design and relay coordination

The Substation Primary Design Engineer focuses on the physical design and layout of substation components, ensuring proper placement and specifications. In contrast, the Substation Protection & Control Engineer specializes in designing protection schemes and control systems to safeguard equipment and ensure reliable operation. Both roles require electrical engineering expertise but differ in their core responsibilities within substation projects.

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

To thrive as a Substation Primary Design Engineer, you need strong knowledge of electrical engineering principles, substation design standards, and a relevant engineering degree (often with a PE license). Familiarity with CAD software, power system modeling tools, and industry codes such as IEEE or NEC is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help ensure accurate designs and smooth collaboration with project teams. These skills are essential for producing safe, reliable, and efficient substation designs that meet regulatory and operational requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by substation primary design engineers when working on multidisciplinary projects?

Substation Primary Design Engineers often collaborate closely with civil, protection, and control engineers, which can present challenges in aligning technical requirements and project timelines. Effective communication is essential to coordinate design changes, manage dependencies, and resolve conflicts between disciplines. Additionally, adapting to evolving industry standards and client specifications requires flexibility and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Navigating these complexities helps ensure the successful and timely delivery of substation projects.

What is a substation primary design engineer?

Substation Primary Design Engineers are specialized electrical engineers responsible for designing the main physical layout and electrical systems in power substations. They develop detailed drawings and specifications for high-voltage equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and busbars, ensuring safe and reliable power delivery. Their work includes coordinating with other engineering disciplines, adhering to industry standards, and supporting the construction and commissioning of substations. These engineers play a crucial role in expanding and maintaining the electrical grid.
More about Substation Primary Design Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Substation Primary Design Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Substation Primary Design Engineer jobs are:
Substation Primary Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Substation Primary Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,627 per year, or $54.6 per hour.

Design Engineer - Substation

Quanta Infrastructure Solutions Group, LLC

Lake Mary, FL • On-site

$86K - $109K/yr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

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.
Position Overview
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.
What You'll Do
  • 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. 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 Compensation
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Holiday Pay
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Comprehensive Health Coverage
  • Pet Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Professional Development
  • Education Reimbursement
  • Employee Discount Program

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.

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