Substation Engineer; Entry Senior, or Principal

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the entry‑engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the staff and senior engineer levels.

A Substation Design Engineer is responsible for the planning, design, and delivery of electric transmission and distribution substation projects. The role includes creating physical and protection and control designs for new substations and modifications to existing facilities, performing engineering analyses to validate design assumptions, and applying established design criteria to maintain consistency and safety. The engineer collaborates closely with cross‑functional teams—including civil, structural, protection and control, construction, and operations—to integrate complete and constructable solutions, reviewing and approving drawings, specifications, and material requirements to support project execution.

Additionally, the role involves managing project deliverables, schedules, and technical scope, supporting construction by resolving field issues and design conflicts, and evaluating trade‑offs to deliver practical, cost‑effective solutions that balance engineering standards, risk, and constructability.

This is an entry‑level position designed to develop technical expertise in a particular area of specialty. The work involves conventional plans, investigations, surveys, structures or equipment with relatively few complex features for which there are precedents. Activities are of limited scope requiring knowledge of principles and techniques commonly employed in the specific narrow area of assignments. The engineer may lead small‑to‑medium, non‑critical projects and/or provide field oversight of critical projects under the direction of a higher‑level engineer or supervisor.

• Uses and applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities of limited scope.
• Supports the development of technical documentation (including designs, testing, calculations, reports, and standards) and assists with the development of procedures.
• Provides ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics, and Regulatory.
• Might provide field engineering oversight for commissioning and testing activities under direct supervision.
• Coordinates or leads projects or portions of projects (including research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation, and commissioning) under the direction of a higher‑level engineer or supervisor.
• Supports bid/evaluation processes by performing basic analyses and calculations on existing documentation and materials that support the preparation of bid documents.
• Exchange information in all formats on matters of varying importance and complexity, both inter‑organizationally and with outside customers/vendors.
• Coordinates the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and other less experienced personnel and provides guidance and mentoring.
• Engages in budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, and work‑order management in support of engineering projects.

Salary Range: $70,000 – $88,667 per year.

• Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET‑accredited curriculum. Preferred Electrical Engineering degree.
• 0+ years of relevant engineering experience; must demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this level.
• Preferred EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering).

• Experience in substation physical or controlled design.

Annual Incentive Program;
Medical/Pharmacy Plan;
Dental;
Vision;
Life Insurance;
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account;
H…