Senior Lead Substation Project Engineer

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Substation Project Engineer for our Richmond, VA office. The selected candidate may work remotely from any mutually acceptable locations. Be involved in projects with our Power & Energy Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges. This position offers an on‑site, hybrid, or remote work arrangement, depending on candidate location, experience, and business needs.This OpportunityProvides subject matter technical support and leadership for multi-site/phase due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, improvement, design, development, and construction of utility, industrial, and commercial scale projects in the public and private sector. Tasks include the research, design, concept development, planning, and construction of transmission and distribution substations, power distribution, power regulation, renewable energy, as well as protection and control systems in a wide variety of contexts (utilities, transportation, building, and Federal, State, and local government projects). Provides situational guidance to PMs and managers that address current and future challenges, and that documentation and recommendations accurately account for and address risk, innovation, and future-ready opportunities. Provides leadership with ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.Your ImpactProvide oversight with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, blueprints, GIS data, substation components, equipment specifications for procurement package development and pricing, IFR/IRC detailed design and review processes, and IEEE, NESC, ANSI, NCEC, and NERC standards and regulations for design work. Coordinate, review and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for mid-level and complex projects, ensuring data integrity and work is compliant with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.Apply high-level electrical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases involving more complex infrastructure engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.Perform professional electrical engineering work and conduct more complex/comprehensive investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, resources, facilities, substation layout and bus arrangement, grounding grid design and lightning protection, and power plants to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits.Develop construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates; preparing construction safety and phasing plans, and updating infrastructure layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients.Involved from project inception to completion in the management of design and construction of infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, grading, drainage, pavement design, specifications, building materials, phasing, and construction safety plans.Oversees the development and implementation of future-ready technologies, monitoring devices, building materials, cabling, conduit and trenching design strategies, electrical design requirements, and operating strategies to account for the safety and functionality or end-users, systems, and infrastructure.Actively oversee from project inception to completion, the management of design and construction of electrical infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, site development, grading, drainage, equipment layout, elevations, specifications, building materials, phasing, and construction safety plans.Lead larger-scale electrical engineering projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.Assist with engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans and specifications, standby plans and engineering contracts, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards.Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of electrical/engineering/construction challenges and programs. Ensure technical reports and presentations explain research, findings, and recommendations to prevent, control, restore, or address electrical, design, and/or construction issues or opportunities. Maintain a high level of quality and responsiveness to client requirements in alignment with Pickett’s standards.Develop a client base for providing high level electrical engineering services including identifying additional business development opportunities.Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.Remain current in latest electrical engineering techniques and practices.Collaborates with professionals from a variety of disciplines, other engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.Who You AreRequired QualificationsBachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.10+ years of relevant post education experience as an electrical engineer providing design deliverables for capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution at a utility, industrial, or commercial scale.Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).Highly proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.Highly proficient with infrastructure design.Experience with infrastructure planning, design, and program/construction management; including comprehensive experience in working with adjacent disciplines such as electrical engineering, P&C, SCADA, and telecom.Strong knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.Highly proficient with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations. Experience with planning and conducting inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities or structures, applying applicable regulations and policiesHighly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing intricate ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with clients, regulators, project managers, and employees at all levels of the organization.Works independently to provide guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., CADD, Aspen, CAPE, ETAP, WIN IGS, Inventor, AutoCADD electrical), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.Preferred Qualifications:Master’s Degree in Engineering.Professional Engineer (PE) license.10+ years of substation design experience.Experience supporting or leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.WSP Benefits: WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings. Compensation:Expected Salary (all locations): $150,000-$180,000WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.#LI-MN1About WSPWSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service. Full timePosting Date: 2026-06-12