How to hire a substations electrical engineer

How to hire a substations electrical engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step substations electrical engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a substations electrical engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new substations electrical engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a substations electrical engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the substations electrical engineer you need to hire. Certain substations electrical engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect substations electrical engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of substations electrical engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Substations Electrical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Substations Electrical Engineer	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).	$32-53
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Outside Plant Engineer	The job of an outside plant engineer revolves around design, constructing, and maintaining plant infrastructure, engineering, and conducting route analysis of aerial and underground fiber-optic installations. Typical day-to-day duties include assisting clients in resolving issues when they arise, developing engineering plans, schedules, and costs relevant to the projects, and providing guidance on telecommunication issues... Show more	$29-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • IEEE
   • Ac
   • Dc
   • Substation Design
   • Equipment Specifications
   • Line Diagrams
   • Engineering Design
   • NEC
   • Substation Projects
   • Substation Equipment
   • Cost Estimates
   • Autocad
   • Design Drawings
   • KV

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform review and quality assurance of protection and control design drawings assuring both client and NEC requirements are meet.
   • Perform battery calculation and develop detail DC system design.
   • Lead HV transformer replacement and circuit breaker as well.
   • Develop substation/switchyard (GIS and AIS : 13kV up to 550kV) general arrangement, layout and elevation drawings.
   • Incorporate NERC FAC ratings, IEEE standards, Xcel standards, component limitations, and physical constraints in substation designs.
   • Work with many hourly electricians to test, diagnose and repair transformers, circuit breakers, voltage regulators, etc.

   More substations electrical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your substations electrical engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A substations electrical engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, substations electrical engineers' average salary in utah is 40% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level substations electrical engineers earn 39% less than senior-level substations electrical engineers.
   • Certifications. A substations electrical engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a substations electrical engineer's salary.

   Average substations electrical engineer salary

   $88,149yearly

   $42.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level substations electrical engineer salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average substations electrical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Mexico	$104,285	$50
   2	California	$99,549	$48
   3	Texas	$98,730	$47
   4	Florida	$98,390	$47
   5	Maryland	$96,727	$47
   6	Massachusetts	$95,868	$46
   7	New Jersey	$94,795	$46
   8	Virginia	$93,705	$45
   9	Iowa	$92,295	$44
   10	Tennessee	$91,811	$44
   11	Oklahoma	$91,286	$44
   12	Delaware	$91,038	$44
   13	New York	$89,617	$43
   14	Minnesota	$88,890	$43
   15	Connecticut	$88,760	$43
   16	Maine	$88,090	$42
   17	North Dakota	$87,978	$42
   18	Pennsylvania	$87,795	$42
   19	Missouri	$86,053	$41
   20	North Carolina	$85,997	$41

   Average substations electrical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kiewit	$93,353	$44.88	435
   2	Randstad North America, Inc.	$91,961	$44.21	2
   3	Stantec	$90,074	$43.30	306
   4	POWER Engineers	$89,245	$42.91	82
   5	Ampirical	$89,182	$42.88	11
   6	David Evans and Associates	$89,116	$42.84	7
   7	Eversource Energy	$89,099	$42.84	17
   8	Sargent & Lundy	$88,975	$42.78	1,186
   9	DiGioia Gray	$88,818	$42.70
   10	System One	$88,623	$42.61	37
   11	Blue Ridge Energy	$88,539	$42.57
   12	Burns & McDonnell	$88,377	$42.49	264
   13	CE Power	$88,348	$42.48
   14	HDR	$88,082	$42.35	65
   15	Orbital Engineering	$88,061	$42.34	76
   16	EN Engineering	$87,949	$42.28	20
   17	RG Vanderweil	$87,899	$42.26	25
   18	Aerotek	$87,361	$42.00	68
   19	Albrecht & Co.	$87,219	$41.93
   20	Power International Holding	$86,737	$41.70	1

4. Writing a substations electrical engineer job description

   A substations electrical engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a substations electrical engineer job description:

   Substations electrical engineer job description example

   A successful candidate will have experience on various substation projects from 69kV up to 500kV and/or a strong understanding of electrical distribution systems.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Develop Substation layout drawings including, plan and elevations, yard layouts, grounding, grounding details, raceway, raceway details, control building layouts, cable lists, and material lists on new and existing substations.
   • Develop Substation one lines, three lines, Aux AC Power Systems, DC Power Systems, DC Schematics, SCADA and Communications Systems, Relay Panel Layouts, Equipment Wiring, and Cable Schedules for new and existing substations.
   • Perform engineering calculations & prepare reports.
   • Prepare equipment specifications, for substation equipment, components, and construction.

   Minimum Qualifications

   • Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering.
   • Advanced Degree strongly preferred.
   • EIT or ability to obtain within 6-12 months of hire.
   • 2+ years progressive experience in design and engineering with power distribution and/or high voltage substations.
   • Experience on Renewable (Wind, Solar & Energy Storage) will be considered as an asset.
   • Commitment to driving strong business performance, continuous improvement, and best practices.
   • Hands on experience in AUTOCAD & MicroStation will be considered as an asset.

   At Gannett Fleming, we believe in improving the lives of the people we serve. We believe in innovation and social responsibility. We believe in the diversity of our team and the creative solutions they provide. We believe in embracing change and emerging technologies while maintaining an unmatched standard of quality. We believe in creating an environment where employees can thrive at home and at work. We believe in engaging our employees, building lasting relationships with our clients, and, in turn, making a difference in the world.

   We offer a comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, our tax-deferred 401 (K) savings plan, and the opportunity to incentive compensation for eligible positions. We are committed to your personal growth and professional development, so we offer tuition reimbursement, access to internal and external training programs and support active participation in professional organizations.

   Gannett Fleming is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law.

   NO AGENCIES PLEASE : Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will not be accepted.

   Location:Chicago, IL , St. Louis, MO and Marlton, NJ

   Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find substations electrical engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any substations electrical engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level substations electrical engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your substations electrical engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit substations electrical engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit substations electrical engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new substations electrical engineer

   Once you've selected the best substations electrical engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new substations electrical engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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