Principal Engineer - Substation

Job summary

Provide senior technical authority and oversight for substation projects from concept through design, construction, and commissioning, including approving engineering deliverables and serving as Professional-of-Record when required. Lead technical reviews, mentor teams, advise clients, coordinate multidisciplinary design, support construction and business development, and uphold safety, quality, schedule, and budget requirements.

Job details

Position Overview Power your future with Qualus in our Grid Engineering Canada business. We are seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer (P.Eng.) to join our growing teams in Vancouver, BC and Calgary, AB. This role offers the opportunity to provide senior technical leadership on complex transmission and distribution substation projects, support utility and renewable energy clients, and help shape the continued growth of our Canadian engineering practice. You will serve as a technical authority across all phases of project execution, from concept development through detailed design, construction, and commissioning. This position is ideal for an experienced engineer who is recognized for technical excellence, enjoys solving complex engineering challenges, mentoring engineering teams, and building strong client relationships while delivering innovative, high-quality substation solutions. Responsibilities Serve as the senior technical authority for electrical substation projects ranging from 12 kV to 735 kV. Serve as Professional-of-Record (PoR), taking accountability for technical accuracy, quality, and compliance of design deliverables, as required. Provide advanced technical leadership and oversight for substation design activities, including layouts, station service systems, grounding systems, and equipment selection. Lead the development, review, and approval of key deliverables, including: One-line and phasing diagrams Substation layouts, sections, and equipment arrangements Grounding/grid design and studies Conduit and cable routing designs Provide technical oversight and guidance for complex engineering studies, including grounding, lightning protection, insulation coordination, bus design, and equipment integration. Develop and approve engineering documents such as design criteria, specifications, reports, studies, and construction packages. Act as a senior technical interface with clients, utilities, and stakeholders, providing trusted engineering advice and supporting project execution and business development initiatives. Lead technical workshops, client meetings, design reviews, constructability reviews, and risk assessments. Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers, EITs, designers, and project teams. Lead independent technical reviews and quality reviews to ensure consistency, compliance, and engineering excellence across projects. Review and approve vendor drawings and technical submissions to ensure alignment with specifications and project requirements. Provide senior engineering support during construction, including field reviews, responding to RFIs, troubleshooting, and resolving complex technical issues. Coordinate across multidisciplinary teams (civil/structural, protection & control, telecom, etc.) to ensure integrated and optimized designs. Support the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, procedures, and best practices. Ensure projects are delivered within scope, schedule, and budget while maintaining high-quality standards. Champion safety-by-design principles, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives. Support proposal development, technical pursuits, and client relationship management activities. Assist in preparing estimates and proposals based on Request for Quotation (RFQ) requirements. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized university. Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada (registration in British Columbia or ability to obtain). 20+ years of experience in transmission and distribution engineering, with significant experience in substation design. Demonstrated experience serving as a technical authority, senior engineering lead, or Professional-of-Record on complex substation projects. Strong expertise in substation design, including layouts, grounding systems, bus design, insulation coordination, station service systems, and major equipment integration. In-depth knowledge of applicable codes and standards (Canadian Electrical Code [CSA C22.1], IEEE, IEC) and understanding of OH&S requirements. Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship across multiple projects and teams. Proven ability to manage complex technical challenges and make sound engineering decisions. Experience supporting business development, client engagement, and proposal preparation is considered an asset. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong client relationships. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with exceptional engineering judgment. Benefits & Compensation Qualus offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, which may include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, Retirement Savings Plans (including employer matching where applicable), Flexible Spending and/or Health Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, and Company Holidays. Benefits offerings may vary based on position, work location, and eligibility requirements. The compensation range for this position is provided in accordance with applicable laws and market practices. The final base salary offered may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, internal equity, performance, and business needs. Compensation ranges are subject to change at the Company's discretion and as permitted by applicable law. Company Overview Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, energy efficiency and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 2,000 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. Equal Opportunity Employer We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US. We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.

What you’ll do

Provide senior technical authority and oversight for substation projects from concept through design, construction, and commissioning, including approving engineering deliverables and serving as Professional-of-Record when required. Lead technical reviews, mentor teams, advise clients, coordinate multidisciplinary design, support construction and business development, and uphold safety, quality, schedule, and budget requirements.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Canadian P.Eng. registration or eligibility to obtain it, and more than 20 years of transmission and distribution engineering experience with substantial substation design expertise. Candidates should have experience as a technical authority or Professional-of-Record, strong knowledge of Canadian Electrical Code, IEEE and IEC standards, and demonstrated leadership, communication, and engineering judgment.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Parental Leave
• Paid Time Off
• Company Holidays

Listed skills

• Multidisciplinary Coordination · Preferred
• Mentorship · Preferred
• Client Relationship Management · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Substation Design
• Electrical Engineering
• Technical Leadership
• Grounding Systems
• Bus Design
• Insulation Coordination
• Station Service Systems
• Equipment Integration
• Engineering Studies
• Project Quality Reviews
• Client Relationship Management
• Mentorship
• Construction Support
• Multidisciplinary Coordination
• Proposal Development
• Professional-of-Record Accountability
• Request For Quotation (RFQ)
• Technical Authority
• Safety by Design
• Workplace Inclusivity
• Technical Issues
• Accountability
• Cable Routing
• Time Off Management
• Project Implementation
• Equipment Selection
• Resilience
• Planning
• Electrical Power Transmission And Distribution
• Telecommunications
• Social Security
• Business Development
• Customer Relationship Management
• Construction
• Decision Making
• Communication
• Constructability
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Data Security
• Engineering Design Process
• Electrical Codes
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Engineering Support
• Innovation
• Interpersonal Communications
• Problem Solving
• Legislation
• Program Management
• Quality Assurance
• Quality Management

Job areas

• Engineering
• Energy
• Management & Leadership
• Consulting
• Principal Engineer
• Electrical Substation Engineer
• Electrical Engineers

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