Data Center Substation - Senior Designer​/Team Leader

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves:
What is our impact on the world?

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe electricity powers modern life. As part of our Power sector, you’ll help shape how electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered as global energy demands grow. From massive data centers to modernizing transmission systems, our industry-recognized engineers and scientists have been at the forefront of grid transformation for more than a century. You’ll work side‑by‑side with these experts and contribute to reliable, resilient and sustainable power systems, helping communities thrive and industries expand.

This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.

HDR is looking for a Data Center Senior Substation Designer/Team Lead in Atlanta, GA to join our growing and nationally ranked team of Power Delivery professionals. Having developed foundational expertise as a senior high voltage substation physical designer, the successful candidate will be part of a substation team and will be ready to undertake a more complex role to work independently on large and small scale substation engineering projects while also directing, mentoring, training, and supervising junior designers.

This is an excellent growth opportunity for a self‑directed individual who wants to learn and take on new challenges. On a day‑to‑day basis, you'll be expected to:

• Work independently to perform substation physical design tasks, CADD design, develop design drawings and documents, modeling and/or analysis, prepare material lists, perform field reviews, and other tasks for moderately complex to highly complex projects.
• Understand physical substation design including yard layouts, plans, sections and details, grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, interior and exterior raceways, auxiliary AC/DC power systems, and associated bills of material.
• Prepare engineering drawings, including one line diagrams, general arrangements sections, grounding/conduit plans, foundation plans, material lists (BOM), relay and control systems schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Perform calculations, reports and designs for electrical substations (low, medium and high voltage) and substation systems to support engineers.
• Understand client standards and complete moderate to highly complex projects, exercising judgment in design criteria, evaluation, and design, subject to review by engineers.
• Perform most design responsibilities without assistance on moderately complex projects, and possibly work independently, but with some engineering guidance on highly complex projects.
• Work with local area and practice leadership to hire, mentor, train, and/or supervise a team of designers.
• Communicate with Project Managers, Project Engineers, and client personnel.
• Manage a high‑performing substation data center physical engineering team. This will include assigning responsibilities, mentoring junior staff, and fostering a collaborative culture focused on technical excellence, innovation, and accountability.
• Oversee the technical execution of data center substation projects, ensuring quality, timeliness, and budget compliance.
• Plan and allocate resources for junior staff, ensuring alignment with HDR’s project execution processes.
• Supervise and continue to grow a local substation team of designers and provide oversight over workload, quality, utilization, team morale, training, and performing annual performance reviews of team members.
• Understand basic project management tools and techniques including client goals and objectives, contract types and…