Principal Electrical Engineer; Substations

Principal Electrical Engineer – Substations

The ideal candidate is a licensed Electrical Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of California with significant experience in substations and protection systems, ability to lead electric utility capital improvement programs and an ability to mentoring engineering staff. Candidates should possess strong expertise in power systems, utility infrastructure design, construction management, budgeting, and long-range system planning. Successful candidates communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, collaborate across departments and agencies, and apply sound engineering judgment to support reliable, safe, and resilient utility operations.

This position functions as the City's technical expert for substation engineering, protection schemes, and control systems. Incumbents independently perform the most complex engineering work, provide technical guidance to other engineering staff, and lead major capital improvement projects. Work requires a high level of judgment, technical competence, and responsibility for decisions affecting the safety and reliable operation of the City's electric system.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead the design, engineering, and analysis of new and existing substation facilities, major system upgrades, and equipment replacement projects within the City's Electric CIP program.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on substation equipment including transformers, breakers, switch gear, protective relays, SCADA systems, grounding, and control systems.
• Conduct complex power system studies, including short circuit, arc flash, relay coordination, and grounding studies.
• Provide technical oversight during construction, commissioning, testing, and energization of substation facilities.
• Develop long term substation asset strategies, reliability improvement programs, and lifecycle management plans.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and regulations including NESC, IEEE, NFPA, OSHA, and City policies.
• Prepare and present staff reports, technical memoranda, Council communications, and recommendations.
• Provide mentorship, technical leadership, and training to engineering and technical staff.

Upcoming projects and opportunities include:

Minimum qualifications include:

• BSEE and six years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Desirable qualifications:

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, Power Systems, or related field is desirable.
• Progressively responsible professional electric utility engineering experience, including substantial experience with substation design, protection, and capital project delivery.
• Progressively responsible engineering experience in electric utility T&D planning, system modeling, or system engineering.
• Experience in a municipal utility or public sector environment is desirable.

Certification and licensing requirements:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California (Electric preferred)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (preferred but not required)

Annual salaries range from $198,682 to $264,909 DOE/DOQ. Effective July 11, 2026, per the UMPAPA MOA, there will be a 3% cost-of-living adjustment. The new salary range will be $204,651 to $272,876.

All positions will receive a benefits package that includes:

• Retirement:
  CalPERS 2% @ 60 formula for Classic employees; 2% @ 62 formula for New Members
• Medical Plan:
  Plan options available.
• Dental and Vision Plans:
  Fully paid.
• Life and AD&D Insurance:
  Fully paid up to annual salary.
• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  Daycare and Health Care.
• Deferred Compensation Plan: 457 Plan available.
• Leave:
  Includes Vacation, Holidays, Management, Sick, and Paid Parental.
• Annual Day of Recognition:
  Floating holiday which can be used for individual days of cultural significance.
• Flexible
  
  Work Schedule:
  
  9/80 work schedule available.
• Additional Benefits:
  Commuter Benefits, Gold Standard EAP Program
• Childcare & Educational Benefits:
  Up to $10,000 for childcare at eligible facilities in Palo Alto. Employees may also apply for their children to attend Palo Alto Unified Schools.