Principal Substation Design Engineer - Primary Plant

WSP is one of the most diverse consulting firms in Africa. To further our strategic business execution plan, we are seeking leaders that share our guiding principles – we value our people and our reputation; we are locally dedicated with international scale; we are future focused and challenge the status quo; we foster collaboration in everything we do and we have an empowering culture and hold ourselves accountable. We are committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity in employment.

Key Role

Primarily functioning as a Principal Substation Design Engineer for transmission and distribution projects. The candidate should have experience with leading teams of engineers involved in the conceptual, preliminary and detailed design of substations with voltages ranging from 400V LV (AC/DC) to 400kV AC.  Experience with 765 kV AC or DC would be beneficial. The candidate can be based in the Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town office.

Key Responsibilities

• Depending on the project brief, the candidate shall be able to review, approve or prepare conceptual or functional designs, specifications, bills of quantity and tender documents for substation projects (11kV to 500kV) to internationally accepted standards for clients in Southern Africa and internationally. 
• Preparation of detailed engineering drawings for any configuration of substation and producing working drawings for construction – drawings shall include SLDs, general arrangements, bay layouts, earthing layouts, busbar arrangements (tubular and strung), lighting layouts, lighting protection drawings, etc. 
• Perform engineering calculations and analysis, including load flow, short circuit, and protection co-ordination studies - examples include modelling of earth mats using proprietary software such as CDEGS.
• Selection of appropriate substation equipment, such as transformers, instrument transformers and circuit breakers.
• Preparation of design reports, calculations, and drawings to stakeholder requirements, which are pre-requisite requirements for the basis of the design.
• Preparation of detailed substation and associated equipment specifications including equipment technical data sheets and bills of materials.
• Where the detailed engineering and designs are undertaken by Contractors, review the submitted designs against specifications.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards such as IEC, IEEE and SANS.
• Attend meetings with project stakeholders and prepare minutes. 
• Prepare comprehensive technical documentation and project reports.
• Provide project engineering support during the construction and commissioning phase of transmission and distribution projects, including responding to technical queries, factory inspection and witnessing the testing of substation equipment, review of routine and type test results and reports and monitoring progress of construction on site.
• Preparation and review of project scope, methodology, schedules, and budgets for proposals for consultancy services.
• Maintaining relationships with internal divisions, external contractors and clients.
• Keep up to date with all technical quality management procedures, developments and specifications related to the discipline work scope.

Health and Safety

• Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behavior consistent with the company’s health, safety, environmental and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you.
• Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm.
• Embracing, displaying, and promoting the company values and always ensuring a safe working environment.
• Awareness of key Health and Safety impacts on substation construction contracts.

Qualifications and Experience Required

Essential:

• A Degree in Electrical Engineering from an internationally recognized institution.
• 15+ years’ engineering experience in the field of substation detailed design – primary plant.
• Professional registration with an internationally recognized institution.

Desirable:

• Proficiency with modelling software such as CDEGs or similar would be an advantage.
• Proficiency with CAD design software or similar (MicroStation).
• Previous experience with system studies and secondary plant design will be an advantage.

Key Competencies and Generic Skills

• Fluent spoken and written English language.
• Ability to work as part of a dispersed and remote team and be able to communicate through collaboration software such as Microsoft teams.
• Good technical report writing skills.
• Ability to manage time, quality and effort to deliver a quality product within time and cost constraints.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

What's in it for you?

What if we can have work-life balance? What if we can be rewarded in ways that support our individual needs? What if we can be accepted for who we are? Here at WSP – we can!

WSP recognizes that work is only one part of our lives and making time for the other things in our life is important – be that our families, our friends or ourselves. So, if working from home, working part-time or having flexible start and finish time will help with this let us know as part of your application.