Senior/Principal Primary Engineer

Senior or Principal Primary Engineer | Substation Design | Melbourne North

Location: Melbourne, AUS OR Eastern States

Industry: Power Engineering, HV Substations & Utilities

Work Type: Full-Time, Permanent

The Opportunity

Are you a technical authority in High Voltage substation design? A leading Tier 1 Infrastructure & Utilities provider is seeking a Senior or Principal Primary Engineer to join our growing Power Systems team.

You will be a key technical driver for some of Australia’s most critical energy projects. Whether you are a Senior Engineer ready for the next step or an established Principal looking for project ownership, this role offers the platform to lead complex design solutions from concept to commissioning.

The Role: Impact & Responsibilities

As a technical lead, you will oversee the Primary Design lifecycle for major utility and renewable energy connections.

• Technical Leadership: Lead the Primary Design for Greenfield and Brownfield substations (up to 500kV).

• Design Deliverables: Oversee and approve key engineering outputs, including:

  • Substation layouts, elevations, and sections.

  • Equipment selection and specification (Transformers, Circuit Breakers, GIS/AIS).

  • Earthing and lightning protection system design.

  • Rigid and flexible busbar calculations.

• Collaboration: Work closely with Secondary (P&C) and Civil/Structural teams to ensure a fully integrated substation design.

• Quality Assurance: Conduct rigorous technical reviews and ensure all designs comply with Australian Standards (AS) and specific Network Service Provider (NSP) requirements.

• Mentorship: Act as a technical mentor to junior and intermediate engineers, fostering a culture of engineering excellence.

• Client Interface: Provide expert technical advice to utility clients and stakeholders during design presentations and project milestones.

About You

We are looking for a specialist who combines deep technical knowledge with a practical understanding of substation construction and safety.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

• Experience: Significant experience (7+ years for Senior, 12+ years for Principal) in Primary Substation Design.

• Technical Proficiency: Mastery of design software such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, and specialized tools like CDEGS (for earthing) or SafeGrid.

• Standards Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of AS/NZS 3000 and Utility-specific standards

• Accreditation: CPEng (Chartered Professional Engineer) or RPEV/RPEQ status is highly desirable.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to solve complex engineering challenges while maintaining a focus on "Design for Safety"

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.