
Lead Substation Engineer - Physical Design (Midwest)
Chicago, ILJobSeen 1 day agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago
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At a glance
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
Jacobs is seeking a Lead Substation Physical Engineer to support utility and developer projects across its Transmission & Distribution operations. The role develops substation physical design deliverables, interfaces with clients, and provides engineering oversight and independent technical advice on utility upgrades and major T&D programs. The engineer applies client standards and delivers project work independently; prior utility transmission and distribution design experience and involvement in professional societies are regarded favorably.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
The energy industry is undergoing rapid and dramatic changes, transforming the utility landscape to enhance safety, reliability and sustainability. In response, Jacobs is expanding its Transmission & Distribution (T&D) operations in North America and is looking for a Lead Substation Physical Engineer in its Energy & Power Group to tackle the complexities of decarbonization and utility modernization to deliver a cleaner and more secure energy future.
As a Lead Substation Physical Engineer, you will be working closely with our regional Transmission & Distribution (T&D) delivery teams to support our utility/developer clients and operations teams as we expand our energy transition portfolio. You will play a crucial role in directly interfacing with utility/developer clients on development of Substation Physical design deliverables for utility upgrades including greenfield/brownfield & AIS/GIS substations, offshore wind facilities, and developer interconnection facilities. Prior experience in the design of utility transmission and distribution systems will be highly regarded.
In addition, with evolving needs during energy transition, Jacobs is often called upon as program managers to deliver the major programs and overhauls of the T&D networks. You will provide engineering overview, expertise, and direction while acting as an independent technical advisor representing owner's interests.
The successful candidate shall demonstrate proficient technical knowledge in Substation Physical Design applied to transmission and distribution projects for utilities and developers. You will be in a client interfacing position and will be responsible for understanding the client standards, provide feedback on the application and be able to develop Substation Physical design deliverables fully and independently as required for the projects on-time and within the budget.
Involvement with professional societies such as the IEEE, PES and similar including interest in participating in industry conferences, seminars, trade shows, and networking events to promote company services and stay updated on industry innovations and advancements is a plus.
#epjobs #naepjobs
This position will be opened for at least 3 days.
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Bachelor's or Advanced Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering or related engineering discipline (Completion of Master’s degree will account for 1 year of professional experience)
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Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) within United States
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Minimum 15 years of direct Substation Physical design experience with utility or consulting organization
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Advanced knowledge and understanding of High Voltage substation components: Transformers, Circuit Breakers, Disconnect Switches, Circuit Switchers, Capacitor Banks, Station Service Transformers, Reactors, Rigid Bus, Gas Insulated Substation (GIS), Switchgear buildings, Control house, underground cable potheads, etc is strongly preferred
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Prior experience in development of substation physical designs from conceptual through the development of IFC drawings including general arrangement plan and sections, conduit and trench plan and sections, Grounding plan and sections, Bill of Materials, Conduit Schedules, Construction details, etc.
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Familiarity with grounding system design and lighting and lightning protection designs for substation
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Ability to perform substation AC/DC Station Service calculations and studies, voltage drop calculations
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Prior experience in development and review of related equipment vendor specifications including control house/switchgear building, construction/commissioning specifications
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Demonstrated ability to perform QA/QC of design calculations, construction drawings, and specifications.
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Familiarity and experience with CADD platforms such as Autodesk or Bentley products
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Prior experience as a owner’s representative is strongly preferred
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Ability to perform project scoping, prepare task orders, design review of work by others, owner's compliance verifications
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Ability to perform field visits and walk-downs as required for client projects and providing engineering support for clients through the construction
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Strong communication and technical writing skills
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Team player with great interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.
How this job compares
Set against the 1,103 open Substation Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 7, 2026.
- Pay
- This postingNot listed
- Illinois median$128–201K/yr36 salary ranges
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 46 open Substation Engineer jobs in Illinois and 1,103 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Illinois
- CDM Smith10 open
- Black & Veatch8 open
- Jacobs (this employer)6 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 15 years of experience; Substation Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 8 years at the median (1,019 postings).
- Education
- 610 of the 1,103 open Substation Engineer jobs (55%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 7, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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