Substation Physical Designer Consultant

Substation Physical Designer Consultant

Location:

Birmingham, AL

Client:
Southern Company Services

Contract:

3 Years

The Substation Physical Designer Consultant is responsible for providing substation grounding, lightning protection, and related technical studies supporting Southern Company operating companies. This role focuses on design, analysis, review, and validation of grounding and lightning protection systems for transmission and distribution substations.

The successful candidate will also present study results to senior leadership, management, and internal/external stakeholders, and provide technical guidance, quality assurance, and standardization support across substation design teams.

• Design and develop substation grounding systems, direct stroke shielding, overhead ground wire sizing, and lightning protection studies
• Create comprehensive, optimized substation grounding designs and technical reports
• Perform ground grid integrity testing and investigate lightning-related events
• Conduct Quality Assurance (QA) reviews, provide technical training, and offer developmental feedback to designers and engineers
• Support and manage Substation General Physical standard drawings and details
• Develop and enhance standards, processes, and best practices for substation grounding and physical design
• Support Southern Company’s design criteria and standardization initiatives
• Provide technical guidance on grounding materials and design approaches to less‑experienced staff
• Coordinate and collaborate with other substation design disciplines
• Provide technical support to:
  • Substation Construction
  • Field Services
  • Project Management
  • Substation Maintenance
  • Transmission Planning
  • Protection & Control Applications
• Interface with manufacturers, vendors, and internal committees to resolve equipment and material issues
• Present technical findings and study results to leadership, management, and customers
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously using strong time management and organizational skills
• Promote and lead with a "Safety First" mindset, making safety the top priority at all times

Candidates must meet one of the following:

• 4‑year Engineering Technology degree
• 2‑year technical degree with 10+ years of related experience
• 20+ years of significant related experience in substation grounding and physical design

• Strong experience with substation grounding and lightning protection design
• Knowledge of transmission and distribution substation systems
• Experience supporting utility standards and design criteria
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work independently and provide leadership in a consulting environment

• Engineering and consulting‑focused role
• High collaboration with utility stakeholders and cross‑functional teams
• Emphasis on safety, quality, and technical excellence