Principal Primary Engineer, Substation Design I NSW

Lead as Principal Primary Engineer the design and delivery of high-voltage primary and substation projects, including providing technical mentoring and support across an established team of engineers and technical subject matter leaders. This role provides the scope to grow your career within an established Energy team, building on your extensive technical expertise in primary systems and substation design. You will be able to lead the delivery of projects from initiation to completion across technical, design, project delivery and supporting others development in the team, using your proven track record such as across applying TransGrid and/or Powerlink standards and practices for high voltage 330 kV projects up to 500kV.

In this position, you will play a key leadership role across engineering design, technical governance, and project execution. You will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and efficient substation infrastructure, while driving best practices and providing technical direction across multidisciplinary teams. This is your opportunity to guide project delivery teams across complex work packages, shape technical standards, and make a tangible impact on critical and major energy infrastructure.

How you’ll make a difference:

• Lead the development and review of primary system designs including layouts, equipment selection, earthing systems, and busbar configurations.
• Act as a subject matter expert for substation primary engineering within project teams to support project design and delivery excellence.
• Ensure technical verification tasks are completed, working within AECOM’s technical standards and processes.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including protection, control, civil, and secondary systems engineers.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers to develop their technical and project abilities.
• Interface with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure alignment with project requirements, working as a trusted advisor.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables such as drawings, specifications, and design reports.
• Support tendering, project planning, and cost estimation activities.
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and environmental standards throughout project lifecycle.
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and value engineering initiatives.

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced Primary Engineer with a track record across leading the design and delivery of primary and substation projects. You will be known for your ability to work independently, leading the delivery of projects, working collaboratively in teams, with a project and client-first focus. Experience and exposure to working across different project types, site requirements, and geographies at utility scale will be an advantage.

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Demonstrated experience working with TransGrid/Powerlink substation design standards and specifications, across a variety of projects.
• Experience in substation primary design, preferably within the Australian transmission sector (from 7+ years’ experience).
• Strong knowledge of high-voltage equipment including transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, isolators, and reactive plant.
• Experience with substation layout design, insulation coordination, and earthing systems.
• Familiarity with relevant Australian standards (e.g., AS/NZS) and industry best practices.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) is highly desirable, supported by a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline.

Why you’ll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements available, aligned with the market and client facing role requirements
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Volunteer and representation leave
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the role may close earlier than expected, so if this opportunity sounds like you, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.