The Substation Engineer II - Physical will be part of an electric substation design team and will be responsible for the engineering and design of multiple projects ranging from small “quick turn-around” to large complex substations. This position provides the opportunity to directly apply your knowledge of engineering to design projects ranging from 12kV to 500kV. 

As a Substation Engineer - Physical, you will apply NESC, NEC, ASCE and other applicable standards in engineering design and will independently perform engineering analyses, plans and specifications, as well as material procurement and construction documents.

Job Duties:

• Support the execution of substation physical design projects with general guidance from senior engineering staff, contributing to scope, schedule, and deliverable development.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary project team (engineering, drafting, and project management) to develop coordinated and integrated substation design packages.
• Prepare substation physical design deliverables with increasing independence, including general arrangements, plan and elevation views, equipment layouts, and cable routing/conduit plans.
• Apply engineering principles to interpret field data, perform analysis, and develop practical, technically sound design solutions related to station configuration and physical layout.
• Perform and/or support engineering studies such as grounding design, lightning protection evaluation, and bus fault force analysis to ensure safe and reliable substation operation.
• Perform calculations related to station service and DC system requirements, including basic sizing and load evaluations.
• Support the development of equipment specifications and bills of material for major substation equipment (e.g., transformers, breakers, switches), consistent with project requirements and client standards.
• Apply applicable codes, standards, and client requirements (e.g., NESC, NEC, IEEE, ASCE) to ensure designs are compliant, safe, and constructible.
• Utilize standard engineering software and design tools to perform analysis, develop deliverables, and support project documentation with minimal oversight.
• Coordinate with internal disciplines (protection and controls, civil, structural, transmission, distribution, geotechnical, survey) to ensure alignment and integration across all design elements.
• Communicate with clients and internal stakeholders to relay technical information, support design reviews, and assist in resolving project-specific issues.
• Perform quality control checks on assigned work and incorporate feedback to ensure adherence to company standards, processes, and procedures.
• Manage multiple assigned tasks and smaller deliverables across concurrent projects, maintaining accountability for schedule, quality, and completeness.
• Support procurement and construction activities, including submittal reviews, responding to RFIs, and providing design clarifications.
• Participate in site visits, field walkdowns, and client meetings to collect data, verify existing conditions, and support project coordination.
• Incorporate constructability considerations into design development and support field execution through issue identification and resolution.
• Communicate effectively through clear written documentation and professional verbal interactions with team members and internal teams.  Supervised coordination directly with clients.
• Demonstrate continued technical development, increasing independence in engineering tasks, and the ability to take ownership of defined portions of project work; may provide guidance to less experienced staff as appropriate.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
• 2–5 years of relevant experience in substation or related power engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering principles to real-world design problems with limited supervision.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining quality, consistency, accuracy, and reliability.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a team-oriented environment and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Must be able to effectively manage a significant number of projects while maintaining work product quality, consistency, accuracy, and reliability.
• Proficiency in MS Office Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Project)

For Preferred Consideration (Not Required):

• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification with progression toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
• Experience with transmission, distribution, or substation projects.
• Familiarity with applicable industry standards (e.g., NESC, IEEE, ASCE).
• Experience with design and drafting tools such as AutoCAD or similar platforms.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve. 

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do. 

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.