Lead Project Engineer

Hybrid: 2 days remote; 2 days in-office; 1 day in-field

Locations: Washington DC, Mays Landing, NJ or Newark, DE

12-month Contract-to-Hire

Overview

This role focuses on early-phase engineering for new customer load requests, primarily driven by large data center demand, with additional industrial and commercial growth. The LRE serves as the technical lead during Phase 0–Phase 1, performing planning-level studies, developing conceptual designs, and transitioning approved projects to Engineering & Operations Contractors (EOCs) for execution.

• Portfolio of 5–10 substation projects at a time, with ~3 actively in execution
• Typical project size: ~50 MW
• Mix of ~1/3 greenfield substations and ~2/3 brownfield rebuilds or extensions
• Phase 0–Phase 1 initiation can span up to one year; initial studies typically require 3–4 months

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the front-end engineering lead for new customer load requests
• Act as the primary technical interface between customers, Transmission Planning, and execution teams
• Substation location and siting
• Voltage levels and system configuration
• Integration with existing transmission infrastructure
• Substation layout and structures
• Transformer sizing and configuration
• Supply, feeder, and transmission tie-in concepts
• Perform planning and feasibility studies, including PGM, facilities, and load studies
• Develop single-line diagrams, general arrangements, and preliminary bills of material
• Support outage planning at the conceptual level
• Package study results and present technical recommendations to customers
• Refine project scope for Phase 2 approval and prepare EOC bid requests
• Transition approved projects to EOCs for detailed design and construction
• Remain involved in an upstream, advisory capacity during execution

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in substation, or transmission & distribution, design, or front-end engineering
• Strong understanding of utility planning studies, load growth, and system configuration
• Ability to interface with customers and internal utility stakeholders on technical topics
• Experience supporting greenfield and brownfield substation projects preferred

What’s in it for you?

• A welcoming, team environment where you will be provided an opportunity to work with a Fortune 150 company. Eight Eleven group offers Health, Dental and Vision benefits, weekly pay, holiday paid time off and sick-leave.
• Eight Eleven Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, citizenship, disability, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.