Substation Lead

Company: KDM ENGINEERING LLC
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 8, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description: Substation Lead Contribute your expertise, skills, and experience as a Substation Lead by joining our KDM Engineering team. KDM is a growing, award-winning, minority- and woman-owned professional engineering firm focusing on electric, gas, site civil, and telecommunications engineering designs and support services. KDM has an amazing opportunity to get in at the ground floor of our growing Substation business line. We are looking for an energetic and driven self-starter to take our business to the next level. If you want to build a career, a team and a business, we are looking for the next leader in our substation team today. Candidates applying to this position should be highly self-motivated and ready to work in a fast paced, team environment. The ability to think outside the box and use critical thinking and problem-solving skills is essential. Salary Range: $150,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year Responsibilities: Supervision and coordination of engineering teams. Train and develop junior engineers, designers and drafters. Perform substation protection and control design including panel arrangements, one lines/single lines, three lines, AC schematics, DC schematics, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring. Perform substation physical design including yard layout plans, sections and details; grounding, lightning protection, control building arrangements, interior and exterior raceways, auxiliary AC/DC power systems, and associated bills of material. Performing or overseeing quality review of above facets of substation design Preparing equipment specifications. Providing support for our clients during construction. Perform field inspections and compliance documentation. Responsible for overall project, project planning, scheduling, resource management, budgeting, as well as establishing and meeting critical project objectives. Coordination with Transmission and Distribution clients, subcontractors, and other external stakeholders. Assist with internal project financials, staffing, risk management, change management, and human resource issues. Identify opportunities and manage team efforts for submittals, proposals, presentations, contract negotiations, and related activities. Work closely with the Project Team to ensure deliverables and services are being provided to client’s satisfaction and that projects are following internal QA/QC guidelines. Manage all aspects of project communication. Other duties as assigned. May include some engineering tasks. Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering or related degree from an ABET accredited program. Minimum 5 years of experience in T&D engineering/design, including at least 1 year leading or managing engineering/design teams; however, 7 years T&D experience with 2 or more years managing teams is preferred. Must have ability to deal effectively with a wide variety of project-related matters. Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills. Must have the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients. Must demonstrate creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving problems. The ability to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead, and manage change. Proficient in the use of basic computer software required for project management (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project). Professional Engineer (PE) or Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred. Skills: Skilled in Program Management, Electric Utility, and Project Engineering. Strong background in the development of an engineering department and mentoring teams to the successful execution of client projects, creating and ensuring adherence of quality control standards, and maintaining excellent client relationships by providing innovative solutions that address and understand their unique needs. Additional Requirements: Must be willing to comply with all pre-employment screening, including but not limited to, drug testing, reference verification, education and employment verification, and background screening Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. Possess a valid Driver’s License Why Choose KDM? Established in 2012 on a promise to alter the face of engineering, KDM Engineering has built a reputation of excellence in providing outstanding technical services, maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality assurance, and offering a truly inclusive work environment. Our clients and partners in the public and private sectors consistently recognize KDM for our responsiveness to their needs, budgets, and schedules. Our peers distinguished KDM with Edison Electric Institute's Diverse Supplier Award, Capital One and Women Presidents’ Organization’s (WPO) 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For annually for seven years. Our talented, experienced team delivers exceptional engineering designs, project management, and customer support services to each of our projects. Our enduring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is unmatched in our industry. Because our team comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, we bring uniquely different and diverse perspectives to solving complex engineering problems. Top Reasons to Work for Us:? Challenging and Meaningful Work Competitive Base Salary? Comprehensive Benefits Package ? Company Paid Holidays Great Work-Life Balance? Fun and Flexible Work Environment Organization with People-First Mentality? Dynamic Leadership Team A Culture that Values Your Input? Full List of Benefits & Perks: Positive team environment Competitive salaries Flexible schedules Growth opportunities Training and professional development Health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances Paid time-off. Paid holidays. Volunteer leave HSA Transit program Parental and maternity leave Supportive management Professional development assistance Employee discounts Employee Assistance Program Laidback office culture, including pool table, arcade games, and happy hour Meditation space, nap room, and nursing mothers’ room Equal Employment Opportunity:? KDM Engineering strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.? Join us in re-engineering the future, together! kdmengineering.com Requirements:

Keywords: KDM ENGINEERING LLC, Rockford , Substation Lead, Engineering , Chicago, Illinois