Substation Lead Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Substation Lead Designer

Company: Electrical Consultants, Inc.

Location: Chesapeake, Virginia, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Engineering / Power Systems Design

Date Posted: May 19, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the comprehensive design of electrical substations and transmission lines, operating within the critical 4 kV to 500 kV range, demanding a deep understanding of power system engineering principles.

• The Substation Lead Designer will be instrumental in translating conceptual designs into detailed engineering drawings, including single-line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, and physical layouts, ensuring clarity and constructability.

• This position requires a proactive approach to project execution, with an emphasis on minimal direction and strong collaboration within multidisciplinary engineering teams and with clients.

• The role involves a commitment to continuous professional development, staying abreast of evolving design software and technologies to maintain advanced skill levels and contribute to team growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The AI-generated experience level of "5-10 years" is inferred from the "5+ years" minimum requirement and the "Lead Designer" title, suggesting a need for seasoned professionals capable of independent work and potentially mentoring junior staff. The "On-site" work arrangement is directly derived from the provided location data and lack of remote specification.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and prepare complete sets of electrical and physical design drawings for substations and transmission lines, ranging from 4 kV to 500 kV, ensuring adherence to industry standards and project specifications.

• Create detailed electrical single-line diagrams, AC and DC schematics, and comprehensive wiring drawings, accurately representing system configurations and functionality.

• Execute site and facility design work, including general arrangements, structural layouts, and detailed section/profile views, to provide clear and concise representations of proposed infrastructure.

• Collaborate effectively with project engineers and other design teams throughout conceptual, preliminary, and final design phases, ensuring seamless integration of design elements.

• Actively engage in the technical review of project assignments, demonstrating continuous learning and application of advanced design knowledge and software proficiency.

• Mentor and train less experienced designers and drafters, fostering skill development and ensuring consistent quality and adherence to ECI's design standards across the team.

• Interface directly with clients to present design concepts, gather feedback, and ensure alignment with project objectives and stakeholder requirements.

• Manage design assignments with minimal supervision, prioritizing tasks to meet project schedules, budgets, and quality objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to reflect the "Lead Designer" title, emphasizing mentorship, client interaction, and independent project execution beyond basic drafting. This aligns with industry expectations for senior roles in engineering design firms.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, is preferred, though equivalent practical experience in substation design may be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience specifically in electric substation design is mandatory.

• Demonstrated experience in the preparation of electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, physical layout design, and facility design is critical.

Required Skills:

• Substation Design: Expertise in the full lifecycle of substation design, from conceptualization to final detailed drawings for voltages up to 500 kV.

• Electrical Schematics & Wiring Diagrams: Proficiency in creating and interpreting single-line diagrams, AC/DC sche