Director - Utility Substations (Denver)

Who We Are

Atwell, LLC is a bold leader in the consulting, engineering, and construction services industry, delivering a broad range of creative solutions to clients in the real estate & land development, and energy markets. We have a strong national presence and a diverse, award-winning project portfolio. Atwell is a privately owned company, with 2,000+ passionate team members across 75+ locations and growing!

Atwell, LLC is a proud recipient of the following 2025awards:

• Ten consecutive years in a row as a “Best Place to Work” by Zweig Group (#11)
• Recognized as #70 in the ENR Top 500 Design Firms, ranked in every region
• Recognized in Crain's “Fast 50” as one of the fastest-growing companies (#14)
• Recognized as the 2025 ENR Design Firm of the year for the Southeastern US

Director – Utility Substations   About the Position  

As the Director of Utility Substations, you will provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for teams delivering substation Physical, and Protection & Control (P&C) engineering services to utility clients. This role is responsible for driving consistent, high-quality execution across the portfolio while aligning team performance with organizational objectives and client expectations.  

The Director leads a functional group of engineering teams within the substation discipline, with accountability for establishing and maintaining departmental standards, best practices, and quality assurance processes. This role focuses on enhancing operational efficiency, improving workflows, and strengthening technical capabilities through structured processes and training.  

In addition, the Director is responsible for guiding the group to meet business objectives, including revenue targets, resource utilization, and strategic growth initiatives. Key responsibilities include workforce planning and resource alignment across projects, mentoring and developing Team Leads and engineers, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance environment focused on client success.  

The Director also plays a critical role in shaping the group’s technical direction, advancing industry engagement, and ensuring the team is well-positioned to deliver reliable, compliant, and constructible substation solutions.  

Salary Range: $150,000 – 200,000 / year  

The salary range above is based upon the Denver, Colorado labor market.  

This opportunity is available to both local / in-office (Lakewood, Colorado) and full-time remote candidates.  

Essential Responsibilities   Strategic Planning and Forecasting  

• Collaborates with VP to develop and implement a multi-year group plan to achieve department and company goals for growth, efficiency, and profitability  

• Collaborates with VP, Business Development and Sales to identify potential clients that could benefit from NEI’s expertise  

• Strengthens existing client relationships and encourages repeat business by ensuring exceptional project delivery and proactive communication. Encourages and monitors client feedback to address concerns and continuously improve service quality. Assists with client contacts and communication  

Industry Involvement  

• Ensuring the team has representation on the right IEEE or other industry committees and sub boards  

• Producing a plan for the department to produce at least 1 white paper or conference presentation a year.  

Leadership and Collaboration  

• Builds and maintains a high-performing substation group, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement  

• Collaborates with other departments and leaders to ensure alignment of goals, objectives, and expectations across the organization  

• Performs other duties as assigned  

Resource Allocation and Management  

• Develops appropriate team structure and mix of staff  

• Leads hiring efforts for lead engineers and team leaders  

• Assists in interviewing and onboarding new team members across substation design teams  

• Forecasts future staffing needs  

• Monitors and manages group workload and team utilization, forecasting workloads based around project sizes and scope  

Management of Execution and Performance  

• Manages quality and deliverables across multiple teams ensuring client satisfaction and timely completion of project deliverables  

• Reviews the work of teams for general quality and ensures accuracy as required  

• Monitors group progress and performance, identifies and addresses obstacles and adjusts as needed to ensure successful project completion  

• Reviews and manages documentation around financial statements, including, but not limited to, revenue, write-offs, COGS, overhead expenses, and net income  

• Serves as a mentor to Team Leads and Engineers across teams  

• Participates and engages with the Business Development team to provide technical guidance, pricing details, and scope to ensure cross-functional alignment  

• Facilitates a seller-doer model to maintain existing client relationships and build new ones.  

• Prepares a variety of documents and reports associated with projects including cost estimates, budget reports, and studies  

• Maintains professional understanding of all applicable Codes and Standards, and construction practices  

Process Development and Improvement  

• Develops, outlines, updates, and implements Standard Best Practices (SBPs) and enforces them to ensure high-level execution from various team members  
• Coordinates the creation and implementation of new tools, processes, workflows, and training programs that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and quality across the group.  

Must Have Qualifications & Experience  

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology (BSEE or BSEET) from an accredited institution; power systems focus preferred  

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in substation engineering, including Protection & Control (P&C) or Substation Physical, with at least 4 years in a leadership or team management role  

• Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred  

Technical Expertise  

• Strong knowledge of electrical power systems, substation design, and Protection & Control (P&C) engineering, including protective relaying principles and Substation Physical principles  

• Experience delivering comprehensive substation design packages  

• Proficiency with industry-standard regulations, compliance requirements and strong background creating cohesive processes  

• Working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and utility practices related to substation design and operation  

Leadership & Professional Skills  

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage complex projects and initiatives, driving high-quality outcomes  

• Proven track record of improving processes, enhancing efficiency, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives  

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage competing demands  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels  

• High level of professional judgment, accountability, and decision-making capability  

• Proven ability to build relationships, foster collaboration, and contribute to a positive, inclusive team culture  

Additional Requirements  

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