Substation Protection and Control Engineer

Overview

Kimley-Horn's Chicago, Illinois (IL) office is seeking a Substation Protection and Control (P&C) Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. This is not a remote position.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will support the design, and execution of high-voltage and medium-voltage substation protection and control projects for utility, renewable energy, and industrial clients. Responsibilities include developing protection packages, relay one-line and three-line diagrams, AC and DC schematics, wiring diagrams,  communications diagrams, and construction drawing packages while coordinating closely with cross discipline teams. The ideal candidate is a self-driven engineer with strong technical skills, experience in utility protection and control standards, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Perform conceptual and detailed HV and MV substation protection and control design for utility and renewable energy projects.
• Develop protection packages for transmission and distribution substations.
• Prepare AC and DC schematics, wiring diagrams, relay panel layouts, and interconnection drawings.
• Develop relay one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, and logic diagrams.
• Design station service AC and DC systems associated with protection and control equipment.
• Perform quality control reviews on protection and control design projects.
• Assume the role of technical lead on projects with limited guidance.
• Create and review bills of materials for relay panels, control cabinets, communications equipment, and P&C systems.
• Develop and review proposals and scopes of work for smaller substation P&C projects.
• Plan and lead client meetings, or meeting sections, related to protection and control design.
• Support commissioning activities, relay testing, troubleshooting, and energization planning.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and designers.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and clients to meet project objectives.
• Develop leadership skills in preparation for future roles on the Power Delivery team.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant engineering experience in substation design.
• Preferred (but not required): Professional Engineering (P.E.) license, or ability to obtain within 12 months.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design tools such as AutoCAD, AutoCADE, MicroStation and Bluebeam.

Salary Range: $100,000-$160,000

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it— that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.