Project Engineer

Job Title: Project Engineer

Job Description

The Substation Project Engineer leads a team of engineers and technical specialists to deliver renewable generation substation projects from early-stage development through construction and commissioning. This role applies broad and diversified knowledge of engineering principles, standards, and project management practices to plan, coordinate, and execute high-voltage substation projects within budget, schedule, and quality targets. The position combines a highly technical focus with strong project management responsibilities, ensuring that engineering design, stakeholder coordination, and regulatory compliance align to support the growth of a large, innovative utility-scale power delivery organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead all assigned renewable generation substation projects from initial concept and early-stage development through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Partner with Early-Stage Project Managers and Development teams during the conceptual phase to define engineering requirements, scope, and assumptions for new substation projects, including FERC Order 1000 competitive transmission proposals and greenfield developments.
• Plan, coordinate, and complete large-scale or multiple medium to small, complex, or long-term projects in accordance with established budgetary and scheduling guidelines.
• Develop detailed project work plans, schedules, engineering and construction estimates, resource plans, and status reports to guide project execution.
• Secure required engineering and technical resources and use formal processes and tools to manage project budgets, risks, changes, and deliverables.
• Conduct regular project meetings, track progress, analyze performance, and ensure timely resolution of issues and risks.
• Identify project issues and challenges, measure and validate results, and implement effective solutions to keep projects on track.
• Provide clear, accurate information to internal and external clients on moderate to complex technical and project-related issues.
• Create, present, and communicate project updates, status reports, and technical presentations to various levels of internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide training, due diligence, and technical oversight of external engineers of record (EOR) for assigned substation projects to ensure compliance with generation interconnection agreements, scopes of work, project specifications, site-specific requirements, and applicable industry codes and standards such as IEEE, NESC, and ASCE.
• Develop scopes of work, obtain bids, evaluate proposals, and award engineering consulting services through the integrated supply chain process using approved suppliers.
• Coordinate with project stakeholders to identify and secure substation sites, and support the engineering updates, data collection, and permitting required to design and construct substations.
• Competitively source, select, and contract geotechnical, survey, engineering, and construction services, and support the estimating team with scope assumptions and clarifications.
• Coordinate engineering deliverables in support of FERC Order 1000 competitive requests for proposals and the design and construction of awarded projects, including scopes of work, Issued for Bid (IFB), Issued for Procurement (IFP), Issued for Construction (IFC) packages, design criteria, and as-built drawings.
• Collaborate with other internal groups to ensure assigned engineering and construction renewable generation substation projects are successful, representing the organization's interests in internal and external meetings.
• Prepare and deliver presentations and briefings on project progress, key issues, and risk mitigation strategies to various levels of management.
• Support Transmission Services in reviewing interconnection documentation, including system impact studies, facility studies, reactive and harmonic studies, and interconnection agreements, ensuring consistency between transmission owner requirements and engineering design.
• Communicate frequently with transmission owners, operators, and off-takers to ensure project deliverables meet specific requirements and are accurate and timely.
• Manage long-lead major material orders for substation projects to minimize schedule delays and budget risks.
• Assist the integrated supply chain team with the creation, review, and approval of substation project scopes of work, and prepare shopping carts for engineering services and materials in a timely manner.
• Support estimating teams by providing feedback from completed projects, technical input, and scope modifications to improve estimating templates and processes.
• Work collaboratively with engineering resources in multiple disciplines to establish project priorities, define work plans, and clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Ensure projects are implemented efficiently, cost-effectively, and safely in accordance with departmental processes, procedures, industry standards, and internal policies.
• Support commissioning activities for assigned projects to ensure they meet corporate performance, reliability, and safety objectives.
• Assist Legal and regulatory teams with project-related regulatory filings, depositions, and hearings as required.
• Collaborate with component original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to refine and adapt their designs for better integration with internal engineering philosophies and standards.
• Conduct external research and stay current on new developments, emerging technologies, and innovative practices relevant to substation engineering and project delivery.
• Provide coaching, leadership, and direction to project teams, fostering a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Lead or contribute to a project environment that blends strong technical oversight with project management responsibilities, ensuring that team members remain engaged, motivated, and aligned with project goals.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned to support the broader power delivery and engineering organization.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience leading engineering and technical teams to deliver complex infrastructure or power delivery projects from concept through commissioning.
• Strong understanding of substation design and engineering, with the ability to apply diversified knowledge of engineering principles, practices, and standards to high-voltage renewable generation substation projects.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, select, and apply standard engineering techniques, procedures, and criteria to conventional substation assignments and related fields.
• Project engineering and project management experience with a strong bias for action and accountability.
• Experience planning, scheduling, and executing large or multiple concurrent projects within defined budget and time constraints.
• Proficiency in developing detailed work plans, schedules, estimates, resource plans, and status reports for technical projects.
• Experience managing project resources, budgets, risks, and changes using formal project management tools and processes.
• Strong analytical skills to track project performance, analyze issues, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Ability to prepare and deliver clear presentations and written reports for internal and external stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Experience coordinating and overseeing external engineers of record (EOR) and engineering consultants to ensure compliance with technical requirements and standards.
• Working knowledge of industry codes and standards relevant to substation engineering, including IEEE, NESC, and ASCE.
• Ability to interpret and work with generation interconnection agreements, scopes of work, project specifications, and site-specific design requirements.
• Experience supporting or reviewing system impact studies, facility studies, reactive and harmonic studies, and interconnection agreements in coordination with transmission owners and operators.
• Demonstrated ability to manage long-lead material orders and procurement activities to support project schedules and budgets.
• Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams, development teams, supply chain, legal, estimating, and transmission services.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and provide leadership to project teams in a technically complex and project-driven environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage frequently and effectively with internal teams, external partners, and transmission owners or operators.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between worksites and field locations as an essential function of the role.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil/Structural Engineering (preferred but strongly aligned with the role).
• Approximately 6+ years of experience in substation design and engineering of high-voltage substation projects is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated aptitude for technical problem-solving and decision-making in a project environment that blends engineering and project management responsibilities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Certified Professional Engineer (PE) credential is preferred and considered a strong asset.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in a related discipline is a plus.
• Six Sigma certifications, including Yellow Belt, Green Belt, or Black Belt, are preferred and indicate a strong focus on process improvement and quality.
• Experience with FERC Order 1000 competitive transmission projects, including preparation of engineering deliverables for competitive proposals, is advantageous.
• Experience in transmission engineering or related power delivery disciplines can be considered in lieu of direct substation experience, especially where strong technical and project management skills are demonstrated.
• Experience sourcing, selecting, and managing geotechnical, survey, engineering, and construction service providers.
• Familiarity with integrated supply chain processes for securing engineering consulting resources and managing vendor relationships.
• Experience supporting legal and regulatory processes, including filings, depositions, and hearings related to infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly technical, project management-heavy environment, balancing technical depth with stakeholder coordination and schedule management.
• Ability to adapt to new technologies, tools, and industry innovations, with a strong desire for continuous learning and professional growth.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships, collaborate across teams, and work effectively with individuals from diverse technical backgrounds.
• Comfort working in roles that emphasize project oversight, coordination, and decision-making rather than detailed design-only responsibilities.

Work Environment

The role operates within a large, corporate power delivery organization that supports renewable generation and high-voltage substation projects. The environment combines office-based work with regular field and site visits to renewable generation substations and other project locations. Travel between worksites and field locations is an essential part of the position, and a valid driver's license is required. Engineers in this role collaborate closely with colleagues located across multiple corporate offices and regional locations, working with multidisciplinary engineering, project management, supply chain, legal, estimating, and transmission services teams. The position emphasizes a professional, safety-focused culture that values technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Work involves frequent interaction with external stakeholders, including engineering consultants, equipment manufacturers, construction partners, and transmission owners or operators. The dress code typically reflects a professional corporate setting, with appropriate field attire required when visiting substations and construction sites to comply with safety and operational standards

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Juno Beach, FL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $65.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 1, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.