SUMMARY:
Pr.Eng Substation Designer (Primary Plant)

POSITION INFO:

A consulting engineering firm specialising in electrical infrastructure and substation design is seeking a Lead Electrical Substation Engineer (Primary Plant) to strengthen its engineering team.

This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for leading the design and delivery of HV power distribution and transmission substation projects, primarily within the Eskom Distribution environment, with projects typically ranging up to 132kV and occasionally extending to transmission-level substations up to 765kV.

The successful candidate will act as the technical lead on projects, coordinating engineering deliverables, leading design activities, and ensuring high-quality technical outputs that comply with applicable standards and client specifications.

The role requires an experienced engineer who can operate independently, take ownership of projects, lead junior engineers and designers, and engage directly with clients and stakeholders in a consulting engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Design & Project Delivery

• Planning and design of HV power distribution and transmission substations and overhead lines (OHLs) ranging from 33kV up to 765kV.

• Lead the design and engineering development of electrical substation projects, including:

  • Primary plant layouts and drawings

  • Selection and specification of substation equipment

  • Equipment and construction specifications

  • Associated electrical calculations and studies

• Prepare concept and detailed designs and deliver complete design packages that comply with applicable local, international and client standards.

• Develop and approve project design documentation, Bills of Quantities (BOQs), technical specifications, and engineering reports.

• Prepare and present concept and detailed designs to client TEC/DRT forums for review and acceptance.

• Coordinate and integrate engineering deliverables across multiple disciplines.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers, designers and draughtsmen.

• Lead engineering teams to deliver projects successfully within design schedules and project timelines.

• Provide regular technical status updates to Engineering Managers and Project Managers.

• Review and approve engineering deliverables and ensure quality control across design outputs.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Engage with project stakeholders including clients, contractors and internal engineering teams.

• Present technical solutions and designs to clients and technical forums.

• Coordinate and review technical contract documentation.

• Conduct contractor design reviews and ensure compliance with project specifications.

Construction & Commissioning Support

• Provide engineering support during the construction phase of projects.

• Respond to technical queries from contractors and project stakeholders.

• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) planning and execution.

• Support pre-commissioning and commissioning activities.

• Attend and contribute to project and site technical meetings.

• Prepare final engineering handover documentation including as-built drawings.

Project Development & Business Support

• Assist with the preparation of Expressions of Interest (EOIs), tenders and Requests for Quotations.

• Participate in business development and company marketing initiatives.

• Contribute to the development and improvement of engineering design tools, processes and standards.

Health, Safety & Quality

• Demonstrate a personal commitment to Health, Safety and Environmental policies.

• Apply relevant Safety Management Systems in all engineering activities.

• Participate in internal knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• BSc Eng / BEng in Electrical Engineering

Professional Registration

• Registered with ECSA as a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng)

Experience

• Approximately 7 – 10+ years of experience in the design and execution of distribution substations and overhead lines up to 132kV

• Eskom design experience is essential

• Experience designing transmission substations would be highly advantageous

• Strong experience in detailed substation design, including development of complete engineering design packages

Technical Knowledge

• Solid understanding of primary plant equipment technology, specification, sizing and selection

• Experience designing substation earthing systems using:

  • CDEGS

  • Autogrid Pro

• Strong knowledge of Eskom design standards and requirements

• Experience within a consulting, EPC, or Eskom environment

• Design experience on overhead lines would be advantageous

• Exposure to renewable energy technologies, including:

  • Solar PV

  • Wind

  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

Project & Engineering Management

• Strong experience managing engineering design deliverables across multiple projects

• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams

• Ability to manage stakeholders and technical project interfaces

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent technical report writing and presentation skills

• Strong verbal communication and client engagement skills

• Ability to operate effectively in a consulting engineering environment with strict project deadlines

• Strong time management and organisational skills

• Ability to lead and mentor junior engineers and technical staff

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including:

  • Excel

  • Word

  • PowerPoint

  • MS Project

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated and able to work independently

• Assertive and confident in technical decision-making

• Strong team player

• Able to take ownership of technical deliverables and drive project progress

Additional Requirements

• Willing and able to travel within South Africa and internationally when required.

Benefits / Incentives

• Opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects across:

  • Renewable energy

  • Distribution infrastructure

  • Transmission infrastructure

• Exciting career growth prospects within a growing engineering environment

• Youthful, dynamic and knowledge-sharing company culture

• Professional development and training support

• Annual performance bonus based on KPIs

• Lean reporting structure enabling direct technical influence