Senior Electrical Engineer/Designer - Substation Physical

CANEIL is continuing to expand its in-house electrical engineering team to support a growing portfolio of transmission, utility, industrial, renewable energy, and mission-critical infrastructure projects throughout Canada and the United States.

We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer/Designer with extensive experience in the physical design of medium- and high-voltage substations. The successful candidate will lead the development and review of substation physical design packages while providing technical guidance to project teams and junior personnel.

CANEIL offers flexible work arrangements, including remote, hybrid, and in-office options, depending on candidate location, project requirements, and team needs. Our primary offices are located in Edmonton, Alberta, and the Houston, Texas area.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is intended for an experienced substation physical design professional who enjoys detailed engineering and design work, solving complex layout and coordination challenges, and producing accurate, constructible, and defensible deliverables.

The successful candidate will lead physical substation engineering and design activities throughout all stages of a project, including conceptual development, detailed design, multidisciplinary coordination, technical review, and construction support.

A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience is required. Professional Engineers and senior designers with substantially greater experience are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly those with specialized technical expertise or demonstrated experience leading complex substation projects.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development, review, and delivery of physical design packages for medium- and high-voltage substations.
• Prepare and review key physical design deliverables, including:
• Substation general arrangements and physical layouts;
• Plans, elevations, sections, and equipment details;
• Bus layouts and electrical clearance drawings;
• Grounding grid plans and details;
• Lightning protection and shielding plans;
• Conduit, cable trench, and cable routing plans;
• Yard lighting and station service layouts;
• Equipment installation details and bills of materials.
• Develop and review equipment arrangements, bus configurations, conductor routing, electrical clearances, access requirements, and constructability considerations.
• Review equipment specifications, vendor drawings, survey information, existing station records, and client or utility standards to support complete and accurate designs.
• Coordinate design requirements with clients, utilities, equipment vendors, engineers, designers, and civil, structural, Protection & Control, studies, telecommunications, and other project disciplines.
• Identify missing or conflicting information and work with project teams to resolve technical, spatial, and constructability issues.
• Perform technical reviews and QA/QC of drawings, calculations, specifications, and complete design packages.
• Incorporate engineering markups, redlines, vendor information, client comments, and design changes into project deliverables.
• Support projects through design, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
• Participate in client meetings, design reviews, constructability reviews, technical workshops, and multidisciplinary coordination meetings.
• Assist with project scoping, proposals, level-of-effort estimates, schedules, and technical planning.
• Mentor junior and intermediate engineers and designers in substation physical design, drafting practices, technical coordination, and quality requirements.
• Remain current with applicable codes, standards, technologies, and industry practices.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized institution.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant, hands‑on experience in substation physical engineering and detailed design.
• Demonstrated experience supporting utility, transmission, industrial, generation, renewable energy, data center, or similarly complex electrical infrastructure projects.
• Experience developing and reviewing physical design packages for medium- and high-voltage substations, including single-line diagrams, general arrangements, plans and elevations, grounding, lightning protection, bus layouts, conduit and cable routing, and equipment details.
• Strong understanding of substation equipment arrangements, electrical clearances, bus configurations, grounding systems, lightning shielding, cable systems, access requirements, and constructability.
• Experience with voltage classes ranging from approximately 15 kV through 345 kV or higher.
• Ability to interpret equipment specifications, single‑line diagrams, survey information, utility standards, vendor drawings, and complex engineering design documentation.
• Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD is required. AutoCAD Electrical experience is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Bluebeam for drawing review, markup coordination, design sessions, and package compilation.
• Working knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including IEEE 80, IEEE 525, IEEE 605, IEEE 998, IEEE 1427, NESC, NEC, CEC, CSA, ANSI, IEC, and relevant client and utility requirements.
• Strong analytical judgment and the ability to identify layout conflicts, clearance concerns, design inaccuracies, incomplete information, and constructability issues.
• Strong technical writing, communication, coordination, and client‑facing skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, technical priorities, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Professional Engineer designation (P.Eng.) in Canada or PE in the United States is preferred. Candidates eligible to obtain professional registration within a reasonable timeframe may also be considered.
• Legally eligible to work in the country where the position is based.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with both air‑insulated and gas‑insulated substations.
• Experience with greenfield substations, brownfield modifications, expansions, retrofits, and equipment replacement projects.
• Experience coordinating physical design with civil, structural, grounding, Protection & Control, studies, telecommunications, and transmission line disciplines.
• Experience developing or reviewing grounding, lightning protection, bus, cable routing, station service, and yard lighting designs.
• Experience supporting construction, field verification, installation, commissioning, energization, and troubleshooting activities.
• Previous consulting experience or experience delivering multiple concurrent projects for external clients.
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring junior and intermediate engineers and designers.
• Experience supporting project proposals, budgets, schedules, resource planning, and change management.
• Experience working on projects in both Canada and the United States.

WHY JOIN CANEIL

• Work on technically meaningful and high-impact substation projects for utility, transmission, industrial, renewable energy, and mission‑critical infrastructure clients.
• Join an expanding in‑house electrical engineering team with opportunities to influence technical practices, workflows, design standards, and future growth.
• Work alongside experienced engineers, project managers, designers, and technical specialists in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
• Take ownership of complex substation physical design assignments and provide solutions that directly influence system safety, reliability, constructability, and performance.
• Access flexible remote, hybrid, and in‑office work arrangements, subject to project and team requirements.
• Pursue full‑time permanent or contract opportunities, depending on candidate qualifications and availability.
• Receive support for continuing education, technical development, and professional licensure.
• Gain exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects throughout Canada and the United States.
• Contribute to the development and mentorship of CANEIL’s growing electrical engineering and design team.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• The expected base salary range for this position is $120,000–$160,000 per year, based on experience, qualifications, professional designation, location, technical capabilities, and overall suitability for the role.
• Candidates with significantly greater experience, specialized expertise, established client relationships, or a demonstrated record of leading complex substation physical design projects may be considered above the stated range.
• All candidates will be assessed individually, and compensation will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Contract compensation may also be considered for candidates engaged on a contract basis.
• Comprehensive benefits for eligible full‑time employees, including extended health care, dental coverage, paid vacation, and an employer‑supported RRSP or retirement savings matching program, where applicable.
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote, hybrid, and in‑office options.
• Professional development and continuing‑education support.

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