Substation Engineer

Substation Engineer

Work Location: Butte, MT

Pay range: $73,000 to $139,300 per year

Substation Engineer I - Starting Range: $73,000 - $97,200

Substation Engineer II - Starting Range: $74,900 - $111,500

Substation Engineer III - Starting Range: $83,500 - $125,400

Substation Engineer IV - Starting Range: $92,100 - $139,300

Employment Status: Regular Full-time

External candidates apply at northwesternenergy.com

Internal candidates apply through iConnect.

About this position:

The Substation Operations Engineer is responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of substations in Montana and South Dakota. Key duties include substation layout and one line/three-line development, grading design, concrete foundation design, steel and wood structure design, and ground mat analysis and design. The Substation Operations Engineer is also responsible for project management tasks, including estimating, scheduling, budgeting, and forecasting, to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and in alignment with operational goals. This role involves close collaboration with contract crews and NorthWestern Energy's internal crews throughout construction, commissioning and energization of substations. The Engineer will also work alongside relay engineers, transmission line engineers, distribution engineers, and lands and permitting specialists to ensure designs meet industry standards.

We offer great benefits:

NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,500 amazing people and serve 775,300 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:

• 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Programs (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents to include financial heath)
• Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
• Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
• Paid parental leave
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid training opportunities
• Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

About this job:

• Design and implement innovative, cost-effective solutions to optimize substation projects
• Manage a project from inception to completion, including estimating, designing, budgeting, forecasting, procuring materials, scheduling and overseeing execution
• Coordinate and oversee contractor teams and subcontractors for substation projects
• Maintain substation drawings and records, such as construction plans, equipment specs, correspondence, purchase orders, and approval drawings
• Spec, request quotes, create purchase requisitions/orders, and procure relevant materials for projects
• Develop detailed, phased construction plans, including clearances/outages, material deliveries, tasks, and responsibilities
• Prepare construction packages, including drawings, standards, plans, material lists, charge data, clearance details, and other relevant information
• Coordinate projects with applicable internal/external stakeholders
• Develop annual work plans and schedule projects
• Provide technical support for operations
• Design and evaluate projects to ensure compliance with industry and company standards
• Proficiency or ability to learn relevant software tools; Microsoft Suite, SAP,