Electrical Engineer IV, Substation Design

The Opportunity

A high-growth electric utility solutions firm — one that pairs consultant-level engineering depth with the hands-on insight of an actual utility operator — is adding an Electrical Engineer IV, Substation Design to its growing Southern California team. Through a sister utility operations company, the firm underpins long-term utility privatization contracts that provide an unusually stable, well-funded project pipeline: dozens of substations and an extensive microgrid footprint, all generating real design and O&M work rather than one-off studies.

There are no silos here. Engineers move across the full project lifecycle — concept design, modeling and studies, field walk-downs, cost estimating, and construction support — and stay connected to the systems they design well past the drawing set. For a senior substation engineer who wants ownership of technically demanding work (sub-transmission, substations, switching stations, advanced microgrids from 500 kW to 10 MW) without being boxed into a single phase of the project, this is a rare seat.

Note: this role sits with a federal contractor. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Resident and able to obtain Military Base Security Access Clearance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and study complex power systems, including sub-transmission systems, substations, switching stations, and commercial/industrial distribution networks.
• Lead technical analysis, from concept design alternatives and engineering calculations through complex system modeling in ETAP (or equivalent) and protective device coordination studies.
• Own project deliverables end to end — electrical specifications, bills of material, cost estimates, and technical documentation for substation and distribution projects.
• Engage directly in the field, conducting walk-downs, site surveys, and take-offs with clients, subcontractors, and construction personnel, and presenting concept designs to management and customers.
• Serve as a client-facing project lead, managing RFIs, construction schedules, and deliverable tracking as the primary point of contact through the design/review process.
• Maintain deep protection and relaying expertise, analyzing fault events, power quality issues, and loading scenarios, and guiding corrective action.
• Keep the organization current on utility industry standards and codes across O&M, replacement/renewable, and new installation work.
• Mentor junior engineers, strengthening the team's technical bench over time.

Why This Role Stands Apart

This firm operates one of the more distinctive platforms in the industry: an engineering consultancy that also holds direct operational ownership of the systems it designs. For an engineer, that shows up in a few concrete ways:

• Your work doesn't stop at the drawing set. You stay connected to the asset through commissioning and operations, seeing directly how your design decisions hold up in the field.
• Broader technical exposure, faster. Engineers here work across design, field execution, and client interface rather than a single narrow lane — accelerating the jump from competent engineer to trusted technical authority.
• A genuinely stable pipeline. Long-term utility privatization contracts mean the project backlog isn't dependent on any single client relationship or market cycle.
• A culture built around retention, not churn. Hybrid schedule, real work-life balance, and a track record recognized externally as a top employer.

Candidate Profile

• BSEE from an accredited university, with emphasis in power systems
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license (required)
• 8+ years of experience in the electric utility industry
• Expert-level knowledge of medium-voltage substations and distribution systems
• Expert with power system analysis, distribution system modeling, and protective device coordination
• Experience with ETAP or an equivalent power system analysis platform
• Comfortable preparing time/cost/labor estimates from blueprints, specifications, and proposals
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Project for construction scheduling
• Strong oral and written communication skills; effective as both a technical lead and client-facing contact

Additional Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or Permanent Residence required (federal contractor)
• Must be able to obtain Military Base Security Access Clearance
• Valid driver's license required
• 15-25% travel (depends of project cycle) 

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary of $150,000–$180,000, based on experience, plus eligibility for a Short-Term Incentive Plan. Full benefits package includes medical, dental, and life insurance, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off and holidays, and a competitive relocation package.