Lead Substation Physical Engineer (Remote – Puerto Rico)

About the role

ICF is looking for an experienced Lead Substation Physical Engineer to drive the design and execution of high‑voltage substation projects (69 kV to 500 kV) from a remote home office in Puerto Rico. You will ensure high‑quality deliverables, meet deadlines, and mentor junior staff.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the creation of substation physical design drawings, including one‑line, three‑line, general arrangements, electrical details, grounding, conduit, control cubicle layout, cable tray, lighting, low‑voltage AC panels, lightning protection, and illumination plans.
• Develop engineering studies such as AC load, grounding, illumination, and lightning shielding.
• Prepare Bill of Materials based on design criteria and coordinate with protection & controls, civil/structural, and drafting teams.
• Support client meetings, technical discussions, and project planning; participate in site visits and constructability reviews.
• Interpret vendor information, apply client standards, and enforce QA/QC processes.
• Ensure compliance with IEEE, NESC, NEC, and utility standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and demonstrate leadership for future Supervising Engineer responsibilities.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (power systems focus preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in substation physical design and utility projects.
• Deep knowledge of physical layout, bus design, equipment selection, grounding, and constructability.
• Self‑motivated, proactive, and able to work independently from a remote location.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.

Required skills

• Substation physical design
• One‑line and three‑line diagram creation
• Grounding design and analysis
• Conduit planning and routing
• Control cubicle layout and cable tray design
• Lightning protection and illumination planning
• Bill of Materials development
• Engineering studies (AC load, grounding, lightning shielding)
• Knowledge of IEEE, NESC, and NEC standards
• QA/QC process implementation

What we offer

• Clear growth path toward Supervising Engineer role
• Remote work flexibility
• Opportunity to lead high‑impact utility projects