Lead Substation Project Engineer

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.
For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonize.
Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.
Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What You’ll do 

The Lead Substation Project Engineer is responsible for providing technical support in coordinating development, pre-construction, and high-voltage EPC contracts, communicating with and satisfying internal and external stakeholders, and enforcing the project schedule and scope, both internally and externally, to achieve successful commissioning and turnover.

Duties and Responsibilities

•    Support the Senior HV Director and lead the team for Development, Pre-Construction, Construction, Commissioning, and Post Substantial Completion activities
•    Act as an SME on high-voltage and substation equipment design to support the technical project managers from early-stage development through commissioning and handover to operations
•    Development stage – 
-    Ensure interconnection tech requirements are understood
-    Develop Option to Build (OTB) – evaluate opportunity and support bid
-    Keep MPT specs updated and prepare datasheet when needed
-    Provide high-voltage circuit breaker specs and advise procurement
•    Pre-Construction
-    Provide design basis with each RFP
-    Outline basic assumptions, design standards, and specific requirements
-    Engage with utility and internal team for location and configuration
-    Support the gen-tie design routing and technical input
-    Evaluate RFP responses from bidders
•    Construction
-    Support full wrap projects though a high-voltage quality lens
-    Support direct high-voltage contracts with technical project management
-    Guide and coordinate the safe energization of the substation 
-    Supporting through site prep, equipment delivery, substation construction, and testing
•    Support commissioning of high-voltage equipment and controls (e.g., power plant controller), as necessary Post Substantial Completion Support
-    Follow up RFIs for technical needs
-    Agree on punchlist items
-    Provide technical support for warrantee work
•    Management and coordination of external consultants to complete the internal assessments 
•    Developing relationships with vendors, contractors, internal, and external stakeholders
•    Managing timelines and deliverables
•    Creating and maintaining a fleet-wide approach to high-voltage design and execution
•    Supporting QA/QC deliverables

Who we’re looking for     

Knowledge

•    Candidate will be familiar with preparing, scoping, constructing, and commissioning high-voltage substations and switchyards

Qualifications 

•    B.S. in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Experience 

•    Experience managing 10+ substation projects simultaneously
•    Minimum of 7 years of experience in substation engineering and project management
•    Experience with understanding interconnection agreements and utility design requirements
•    Experience managing high-voltage EPC contractor projects

Why you’ll make a great member of the team    

Personal qualities 

•    Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to discuss complex situations with others in person or by telephone and to coordinate an agreed action plan.
•    Demonstrated efficiency in managing multi-disciplinary tasks.
•    Business acumen
•    Strong analytical skills
•    Strategic thinking abilities
•    Organizational behavior
•    Strong time management skills and strong attention to detail with a history of managing multiple project sites simultaneously
•    Team player and self-starter
•    Interpersonal skills a must

We offer

•    Competitive compensation plus a 20% annual bonus.
•    Health, dental, prescription, and vision care for US team members starts on your first day of employment with zero premiums for employee-only coverage.
•    Retention bonuses
•    Four weeks of vacation and three weeks of sick leave annually plus 11 paid holidays
•    401(k) plan, with a 3% nonelective employer contribution. 
•    Hybrid working environment (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday in office, Monday and Friday remote)
•    Monthly personal phone bill reimbursement of up to $100 and a monthly commuter benefit of up to $150.
•    Lifestyle Savings Account and more!

Why you’ll want to work with us  

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity. 
Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.
Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.
Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.  
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status.   Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation related to LSbp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.).  If you would like to request an accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us to request accommodations.