Senior Electrical Engineer, Substation - Portland, OR

Senior Electrical Engineer, Protection & Controls Engineer, Team Lead

Energy Jobs With David Evans And Associates

At David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA), our Energy team provides unmatched infrastructure solutions for power delivery and renewable energy, offering expert planning and design for low- to high-voltage facilities. We ensure safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for communities across various sectors, including power generation, renewables, and transportation electrification.

Our comprehensive services are tailored to meet the technical, financial, environmental, and political needs of our clients. Whether the goal is to enhance current infrastructure or embark on a new innovative energy project, DEA has the expertise to see it through to completion and deliver a more resilient future.

The Substation Practice is seeking Senior Electrical Engineer near one of DEA’s offices in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, Utah, or Washington.

As a Senior Electrical Engineer in DEA’s Energy Business Unit, you will guide the technical execution of substation design for utility-scale wind, solar, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects throughout the United States. You will be responsible for developing the design basis and approach for all electrical aspects of utility and renewable energy collector substations.

This includes overseeing the creation of single line diagrams and general arrangements, providing technical mentoring to project team members, and ensuring the quality and adherence to client requirements. This role is focused on providing senior technical leadership and oversight across multiple substation projects, ensuring quality and consistency in design and delivery.

The location for this hybrid-friendly position is flexible with a preference for individuals who are based near one of DEA’s offices in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, Utah, or Washington. Fully remote may be considered depending on circumstances. Some travel for project execution may be required.

What You’ll Do

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the development of preliminary drawings through IFC plan sets, including providing Quality Control reviews of one-line diagrams, schematics, BOMs, specifications, general arrangements, plan views, schedules, and detailed drawings.
• Lead cross-discipline coordination with staff to finalize comprehensive project designs.
• Supervise the use of power system modeling tools (e.g., EasyPower, ETAP) to analyze systems and determine equipment ratings consistent with the basis of design.
• Oversee preparation of studies such as grounding, cable heating, short circuit, arc flash, and reactive compensation.
• Review system coordination curves and protective relay settings.
• Review calculations required for design, such as AC/DC station service loading and cable sizing.
• Mentor junior staff, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.
• Lead office support during project construction, including RFI responses, submittal reviews, and commissioning troubleshooting.
• Implement and oversee the project QA/QC plan, ensuring compliance with firmwide tools, processes, and policies including engineering decision documentation, scope of work management, and quality requirements.
• Manage complex project tasks involving special skills and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Oversee estimates for labor, material, and construction costs, and draw up specifications for the purchase of materials and equipment.
• Keep informed of new developments in electric power and integrate them into project designs.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in electrical engineering
• Ten (10) + years of direct substation engineering experience
• Registered Professional Engineer
• Experience managing complex tasks in multidisciplinary projects
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical teams
• Strong leadership, written and oral communication, and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Fifteen (15) + years of applicable industry experience
• Experience with power facility construction and commissioning
• Highly proficient in relay setpoint development including SEL and GE relay programming
• Highly proficient in applicable industry software (e.g., EasyPower, ETAP, CYMCAP, CDEGS, AcSELerator QuickSet)
• Experience as Owner’s Engineer or Engineer of Record for utility-scale BESS, wind and solar projects
• Recognized expert in one or more areas related to renewable energy project deliver

What We Offer

We foster an environment where talented professionals have the freedom and support to do their most meaningful work. Our values and company culture form the foundation of our success, creating a positive and collaborative work environment. These guiding principles are vital to our continued achievements and unwavering commitment to improving the world around us.

As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to cultivate and develop your skills and work alongside talented colleagues who are committed to improving the quality of life while demonstrating stewardship of the built and natural environments.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Financial wellness: Health Savings Account (HSA) and Lifestyle Spending Account with employer contributions
• Professional development: Support for continuing education and training opportunities.
• Work-life balance: Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holiday Pay
• Work Schedule: Flexible 9/80 schedule—every other Friday off!
• Retirement: 401k plan
• Wellbeing focus: Holistic Wellbeing Program centered on physical, emotional, financial, career, and community health
• Growth opportunities: Access to mentorship, professional support, and pathways for career advancement
• Potential salary range: $165,000/annually - $211,000/annually
• The posted salary range represents the typical range for this position and is provided in accordance with applicable state and local pay transparency laws. Actual compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and geographic location.

If you are a recruiter, search agency, or otherwise wish to refer a candidate to DEA, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate to DEA without an active and signed written agreement in place in advance with DEA Human Resources.

Any resume submitted to any DEA employee by an external recruiter without a written agreement in place at the time of submission will be considered the property of DEA and DEA will not be liable for the payment of a placement fee. If you would like to notify DEA of your interest in initiating a written agreement for services, please e-mail careers@deainc.com.

Potential office locations include: Los Angeles, CA; Ontario, CA; Santa Clarita, CA; Tustin, CA; Boulder, CO; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Fort Collins, CO; Boise, ID; Coeur d'Alene, ID; Pocatello, ID; Bend, OR; Corvallis, OR; Portland, OR; Salem, OR; Bryan/College Station, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; Bellevue, WA; Everett, WA; Olympia, WA; Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; Tacoma, WA; Vancouver, WA; Woodinville, WA; or Remote.