Senior Designer - Substation

Overview

We are seeking a mid-to-senior level Substation Designer to support the design and development of medium- and high-voltage electrical substations for industrial facilities clients. This role is responsible for creating detailed physical substation design packages, developing engineering drawings and models, coordinating with engineering disciplines, and ensuring designs meet applicable client, utility, and industry standards. The successful candidate will work closely with Electrical Engineers, (P&C) Protection & Control Engineers and broader project teams to deliver safe, reliable, and constructible substation designs. Senior-level candidates may provide technical leadership, mentor junior designers, and lead design efforts on complex projects.

Why Join SSOE?

At SSOE, you'll work with amazing colleagues and be part of something big! We've consistently been named a ‘Great Place to Work’ and are experiencing the most successful years in our history. Along with industry‑leading salary compensation, you'll be eligible to purchase shares in the company — shares that have significantly outperformed both the S&P and Dow averages.

SSOE – The Best of Both Worlds

Our growth trajectory allows us to offer the opportunities normally associated with a large firm while embracing the collaborative and supportive culture often found in smaller firms. As a member of the SSOE team, you'll work on exciting and diverse projects for Fortune 100 clients around the globe, supported by the best technology for the task at hand. You'll experience our employee‑centric culture that strives to offer a healthy balance, flexible working arrangements, direct access to leadership at all levels, and a continuous learning mindset.

• 28% – of our employees have been with SSOE for 10 years or more.
• 15% – percentage of employees with tenure exceeding 15 years.
• 99% – our CEO’s approval rating on Glassdoor.
• 98% – portion of our clients who say they would recommend us to a colleague.

AI and Innovation

At SSOE, we don’t just talk about the future, we build it. As a leader in industry AI adoption, we empower our team to work smarter by providing responsible access to the industry leading AI Large Language Models, vibe-coding platforms, and securely integrating advanced tools into every role. From day one, you’ll receive the training and support needed to leverage AI as a core tool for enhancing productivity, sparking creativity, and streamlining complex workflows.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop detailed physical substation design packages for transmission and distribution substations ranging from 12kV through 500kV.
• Produce and maintain drawings using AutoCAD, ETAP or other applicable design software. Revit knowledge is a plus.
• Support design reviews, interdisciplinary coordination meetings, constructability reviews, and client meetings.
• Ensure drawing packages comply with client standards, NESC requirements, utility practices, and company quality procedures.
• Review vendor drawings and equipment information for incorporation into project designs.
• Perform field walkdowns and site visits as required to verify existing conditions and support project execution.
• Provide construction support by responding to RFIs, reviewing field modifications, and assisting with issue resolution.
• Mentor junior designers and modelers while promoting design consistency and quality.
• May check portions, or entire, completed drawings.
• May serve in chosen discipline as a staff advisor or consultant in the role of technical specialist requiring highly specialized knowledge and skills and the use of advanced techniques.
• Travel required.
• Valid driver's license required. May be waived for international assignments.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Drafting & Design Technology, or related technical discipline; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of substation design experience for mid-level candidates; 15+ years preferred for senior-level candidates.
• Demonstrated experience developing physical substation layouts for utility or industrial power projects.
• Working knowledge of substation equipment including transformers, circuit breakers, and switchgear.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, and power study software.
• Strong understanding of utility drafting standards and design practices.
• Ability to interpret engineering calculations, specifications, and design criteria.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Salary Range: $130,000 - $140,000/year depending on location, education, depth of relevant experience, and any specialized licensure/certifications. Opportunity for ample rewards, leadership incentive components, and generous bonus opportunities.
• Benefits: Includes comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, 401K retirement savings plan (with company matching), opportunities for professional development and training (including support for relevant licensure & certifications), and generous PTO & paid holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with intelligent substation modeling tools such as Inventor or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting utility transmission substation projects from conceptual design through construction.
• Familiarity with Protection & Control (P&C) systems, including relay panel layouts, control building arrangements, SCADA interfaces, cable routing, and protection schematics.
• Experience coordinating physical substation design with Protection & Control engineering teams.
• Transmission line design or transmission engineering experience, including understanding of line-to-substation interfaces and project coordination requirements.
• Knowledge of NESC, IEEE, NEC, and utility design standards.
• Previous experience leading designers or serving as a design lead on complex substation projects.