Principal Engineer - Substation

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.

• 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.

• 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…