Principal Primary Engineer – Substation Design

About the role

Lead the design and delivery of high‑voltage primary and substation projects for the NSW market, providing technical mentorship to a team of engineers and ensuring compliance with Australian transmission standards.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and review primary system designs, including layouts, equipment selection, earthing systems and busbar configurations.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams (protection, control, civil, secondary) and act as the subject‑matter expert for substation primary engineering.
• Ensure technical verification, compliance with AECOM standards, and approval of engineering deliverables such as drawings and specifications.
• Support tendering, project planning, cost estimation and conduct design reviews, risk assessments and value‑engineering activities.

Required profile

• 7+ years experience in substation primary design, preferably within the Australian transmission sector.
• Demonstrated experience with TransGrid and/or Powerlink standards for 330‑500 kV projects.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑engagement skills, with ability to mentor junior engineers.
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline.

Required skills

• High‑voltage equipment knowledge: transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, isolators, reactive plant.
• Substation layout design, insulation coordination and earthing systems.
• Familiarity with Australian standards (AS/NZS) and industry best practices.
• Experience applying TransGrid/Powerlink design specifications.