Substation Staff Engineer

Summary

KCI Technologies, Inc. is an employee-owned engineering, consulting, and construction firm serving clients throughout the United States. KCI is seeking a Substation Staff Engineer to support transmission and distribution substation projects across physical design, protection and control, substation studies, and settings/SCADA. The role prepares engineering deliverables, coordinates multidisciplinary interfaces, supports project delivery, and develops technical capability under the direction of experienced engineers and Professional Engineers.

Responsibilities

• Complete assigned engineering tasks under the direction of a Project Engineer, Senior Engineering Designer, or responsible Professional Engineer while supporting successful project delivery
• Apply established engineering execution plans, design criteria, technical approaches, deliverable requirements, review processes, and multidisciplinary workflows
• Prepare assigned calculations, models, settings, databases, specifications, reports, drawings, equipment requirements, procurement documents, testing documentation, and bills of material applicable to the developing technical specialty
• Support assigned interfaces among Substation Physical, Protection & Control, Substation Studies, Settings/SCADA, Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Transmission Line, and other disciplines
• Coordinate day-to-day assigned work with Engineers, Designers, CAD Technicians, specialty disciplines, vendors, and other project resources
• Assist with technical coordination involving clients, utilities, vendors, contractors, and internal project leadership
• Participate in technical, design, constructability, client, vendor, and interdisciplinary review meetings and document assigned actions
• Assist with scope development, estimating, resource planning, technical approaches, proposals, and presentations as assigned
• Collaborate effectively with Engineers, Designers, and CAD Technicians; receive coaching and review feedback; and share developing knowledge with teammates
• Prepare assigned deliverables to meet KCI quality standards, client specifications, applicable codes, regulatory requirements, and professional engineering obligations
• Take ownership of assigned engineering tasks from planning through completion and comment resolution
• Maintain accountability for the accuracy, completeness, coordination, quality, and compliance of assigned work
• Identify questions, design conflicts, missing information, schedule impacts, quality concerns, and constructability issues early and communicate them to experienced technical staff
• Document engineering assumptions, calculations, and decisions; apply established methods; seek guidance when needed; and escalate material technical or project risks appropriately
• Address review comments completely and prepare assigned work for the required technical review and approval before issuance
• Perform engineering work under the responsible charge of an appropriately licensed Professional Engineer
• Exercise delegated decision-making authority for defined assignments within established criteria, project requirements, and technical direction. Elevate decisions outside the assigned scope or authority to the responsible Professional Engineer
• Accurately represent education, certification, and licensure status in all internal and external communications. Do not use the PE designation or represent yourself as a Professional Engineer unless actively licensed and permitted by the applicable jurisdiction
• Do not independently offer professional engineering services, make final engineering decisions, assume responsible charge, serve as Engineer of Record, or sign or seal engineering documents
• Actively participate in technical training, project coaching, and meaningful review discussions with experienced Engineers, Designers, and CAD Technicians
• Complete required onboarding and training and participate in technical development, knowledge transfer, and professional licensure activities
• Demonstrate accountability, collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to developing sound engineering judgment
• Use established engineering standards, design guides, calculation tools, workflows, and quality practices and contribute improvement ideas and lessons learned
• Comply with KCI policies, ISO requirements, Quality Management Systems, client standards, professional practice requirements, and industry best practices
• Support the Project Manager and Project Engineer by completing assigned work within established scope, budget, schedule, and delivery requirements
• Plan and track assigned tasks and communicate progress, workload needs, and potential variances early
• Recognize and communicate potential scope changes, schedule impacts, technical risks, and additional effort affecting assigned tasks
• Support change management by documenting assumptions, technical impacts, required effort, and revised task requirements
• Support efficient execution through preparation, standardization, constructability awareness, and effective use of engineering and design resources

Skills

• Demonstrate foundational technical knowledge and developing capability in Substation Physical and/or Protection & Control and/or Substation Studies and/or Settings/SCADA
• Develop working knowledge of and apply IEEE, ANSI, NESC, NEC, NFPA, utility standards, client specifications, and industry practices under appropriate technical guidance
• Use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and engineering, design, modeling, settings, automation, and document-control tools applicable to the assigned technical specialty. Experience may include AutoCAD, MicroStation, Bluebeam, ProjectWise, ETAP, SKM, CDEGS, ASPEN OneLiner, CAPE, PSS®E, PSCAD, PowerWorld, relay configuration software, SCADA platforms, and IEC 61850 engineering tools
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-Accredited Program with a minimum of one year of relevant work experience
• Proficiency in MicroStation, AutoCAD, or Revit
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Good communication and technical writing skills
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think critically
• Valid Driver's License
• Ability to maintain required certifications
• Previous internships or work experience in the Engineering field
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Demonstrate foundational technical knowledge and developing capability in Substation Physical and/or Protection & Control and/or Substation Studies and/or Settings/SCADA
• Develop working knowledge of and apply IEEE, ANSI, NESC, NEC, NFPA, utility standards, client specifications, and industry practices under appropriate technical guidance
• Use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and engineering, design, modeling, settings, automation, and document-control tools applicable to the assigned technical specialty. Experience may include AutoCAD, MicroStation, Bluebeam, ProjectWise, ETAP, SKM, CDEGS, ASPEN OneLiner, CAPE, PSS®E, PSCAD, PowerWorld, relay configuration software, SCADA platforms, and IEC 61850 engineering tools
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET-Accredited Program with a minimum of one year of relevant work experience
• Proficiency in MicroStation, AutoCAD, or Revit
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Good communication and technical writing skills
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think critically
• Valid Driver's License
• Ability to maintain required certifications

Nice to Haves

• Previous internships or work experience in the Engineering field
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification

Benefits

• 100% employee-owned company
• Family friendly benefits
• Training, mentoring and resources to advance in your career
• Technical training, project coaching, and meaningful review discussions with experienced Engineers, Designers, and CAD Technicians
• Technical development, knowledge transfer, and professional licensure activities