An Electrical Substation Engineer is responsible for substation design including schematic development, physical layouts, equipment, and construction cost estimates.
Odessa, TX, Hayward-Pleasanton, CA (hybrid, with site travel) Reports to:
CEO / VP
Infrastructure Type:
Full-time Position Summary STN is seeking a Principal EPC Engineer to serve as the single technical authority for all engineering, procurement, and construction of power and energy systems across our AI/GPU data center campuses. This is a hands-on architect role: you own the electrical one-line from utility interconnection through the rack, and you architect on-site generation and storage. You will lead high-voltage and medium-voltage distribution design and the behind-the-meter gas microgrid that keeps our compute load resilient. You are the person who signs off that the power system is buildable, code-compliant, and bankable. Core Responsibilities High-Voltage (HV) Systems Own utility interconnection design and coordination (ERCOT/TSP), including the point-of-interconnection, main step-up transformer, and HV switchyard architecture. Architect substation and HV switchgear layouts, protection & relaying schemes, grounding, and arc-flash studies. Direct interconnection studies, SCADA/telemetry requirements, and compliance with NERC/ERCOT and applicable interconnection agreements. Medium-Voltage (MV) Systems Design the MV collection network — feeders, switchgear, ring-bus or radial topology, and MV-to-LV transformation to the data hall. Coordinate protective device settings, selectivity, and fault-current studies across the MV distribution. Integrate MV distribution with
BESS PCS
tie-ins and generation step-up so storage, generation, and utility power operate as one coordinated system. Gas Microgrid & On-Site Generation Architect the behind-the-meter gas microgrid: aeroderivative gas turbines (e.g., TM2500 / LM6000-class), fuel supply and conditioning, and synchronization/paralleling with utility and BESS. Design microgrid controls and islanding/black-start logic, load-shedding, and seamless transfer between grid-connected and islanded operation. Own emissions and combustor strategy (SAC + SCR vs. DLE), water/NOx balance, and TCEQ air-permitting coordination. Integrate
LFP BESS
as the bridging/resilience layer (not traditional UPS) and coordinate the row-level transient layer with bulk storage. EPC Program Ownership Serve as design authority across all EPC packages — set standards, review and stamp deliverables, and hold EPC contractors and OEMs to spec. Own the electrical scope of RFPs, vendor/EPC selection, and technical evaluation of quotes (pricing, warranty, DoD/performance terms, reference history). Drive value engineering, LCOE modeling inputs, long-lead procurement planning (turbines, transformers, switchgear, BESS), and critical-path management. Interface with permitting, AHJs, insurers, and lenders' independent engineers to keep designs bankable and code-compliant. Required Qualifications BS in Electrical Engineering (or related); PE license strongly preferred (TX PE or ability to obtain). 10+ years in EPC of power systems for data centers, utilities, industrial, or large-scale generation. Demonstrated ownership of HV interconnection AND MV distribution design on projects at the tens-to-hundreds-of-MW scale. Direct experience architecting on-site generation and/or microgrids — gas turbine paralleling, synchronization, and islanding. Fluency with NEC, IEEE, NERC, and ERCOT interconnection requirements; power-system studies (load flow, short circuit, arc flash, protection coordination). Experience integrating BESS at grid scale and coordinating storage with generation and utility supply. Preferred Qualifications Hyperscale / AI data center power design experience (liquid-cooled, high-density racks). ERCOT market and TCEQ air-permitting familiarity. Hands-on with tools such as ETAP, SKM, or PSS/E; SCADA/EMS and microgrid controls. Track record standing up a discipline or serving as sole senior authority on a fast-moving development program. What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months) Own and defend the full electrical one-line for the Odessa campus from POI to rack. Deliver a permit-ready, bankable design for HV interconnection, MV distribution, and the gas microgrid. Establish STN's EPC engineering standards and vendor-evaluation framework so future sites scale off a repeatable playbook.
Compensation:
Odessa, TX:
$150,000•180,000/yr.,
DOE Pleasanton, CA:
$160,000•200,000/yr.,
DOE Benefits:
Health Coverage•Medical, Dental & Vision FSA Health and Dependent Care available 401(k) Plan Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) Observed Holidays Paid Cell Phone Allowance Collaborative, growth-driven culture Candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. We are unable to provide sponsorship at this time. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference verification. All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. zbzG4UsMPc
