Substation Project Lead

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substation Project Lead for our Data Center Initiation Team. This role can report to any WSP US Office. In this role, you will collaborate with teams across WSP supporting data center initiatives and contribute to a growing organization focused on meeting client objectives and solving challenges.  

This Opportunity

This role leads the development of preliminary substation layouts for data center clients, supporting early-stage planning and feasibility assessments. The candidate will collaborate across WSP business lines—including Property & Buildings, Generation, and Earth & Environment—to evaluate site suitability, utility capacity, and infrastructure requirements, helping clients determine whether their projects can meet performance, scalability, and reliability objectives.

The position plays a key role in guiding technical decision-making during project initiation, including equipment selection, system configuration, and overall electrical infrastructure strategy. The candidate will provide informed recommendations to help clients identify optimal, cost-effective solutions aligned with project goals.

In addition, this individual will lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary team of professionals, ensuring seamless transition from project initiation into subsequent design and execution phases, while maintaining alignment with client expectations and delivery timelines.

Your Impact

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (internal and external) to support project delivery, site evaluation, and infrastructure integration. 
• Support proposal development, including scope definition, technical input, and execution planning for new opportunities. 
• Lead and coordinate technical execution across all project phases, including initiation, concept development, design, procurement, construction, and commissioning. 
• Interface with clients, utilities, contractors, and regulatory agencies to support project coordination and successful delivery. 
• Conduct site visits and field support activities to validate design assumptions, address constructability issues, and resolve technical challenges. 
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, deliverables, and quality for assigned substation projects. 
• Perform and oversee detailed design of medium to extra high voltage substations, including one-line and three-line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, SCADA/communications systems, station layouts, grounding, and lightning protection. 
• Prepare and review design deliverables such as general arrangements, sections, elevations, control enclosure details, cable/conduit plans, foundation coordination, yard lighting, and bills of materials. 
• Review and provide technical oversight for electrical studies and calculations, including load flow, short circuit, grounding, protection coordination, AC/DC systems, voltage drop, and insulation coordination. 
• Develop, review, and coordinate equipment specifications, procurement packages, and vendor selection activities. 
• Ensure QA/QC of technical deliverables, verifying accuracy, constructability, and compliance with applicable codes, standards, and client requirements. 
• Coordinate and approve substation design packages, maintaining alignment with scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations. 
• Lead and mentor engineers and designers, providing technical guidance, oversight, and professional development support. 
• Prepare technical reports, calculations, visualizations, and presentations to communicate design intent, findings, and recommendations. 
• Apply and maintain knowledge of current industry standards, codes, and emerging substation design practices. 
• Uphold responsible and ethical decision-making in alignment with company policies and standards. 
• Perform additional duties as required to support business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 7 to 10 years of relevant experience delivering substation engineering design deliverables for capital power transmission and distribution projects, with progressive responsibility including technical task or design package leadership.
• Experience leading substation design deliverables in either physical design or protection and control (P&C) design is required; exposure to the other discipline is a plus.
• Proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, and processes as applied to utility substation design and construction support.
• Extensive knowledge of transmission and distribution substation infrastructure, including equipment selection and physical design c