Senior Electrical Engineer – Primary Design

Senior Electrical Engineer – PrimaryDesign

Our Engineering Team is growing and we are looking for a talented Senior Electrical Engineer – Primary Design to join us. This role is responsible for leading the design and delivery of high-voltage (HV) primary systems (66 kV and above) for substations and grid-connected projects. This role reports to the Primary Technical Lead and provides technical leadership across all project phases from concept to detailed design and commissioning, ensuring compliance, safety, and performance of HV assets in line with client, utility, and industry standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage primary design activities for HV substations, including layout design, earthing and lightning protection, equipment arrangement, and general-assembly drawings.
• Develop and review single-line diagrams, schematics, and layout drawings in compliance with utility and IEC/AS standards.
• Conduct feasibility studies, technical assessments, and design reviews for 66 kV–330 kV substations and associated grid connections.
• Coordinate with secondary, civil, structural, and protection teams to ensure integrated, constructible, and safe designs.
• Prepare and review technical specifications, datasheets, design reports, and equipment schedules for major HV equipment (transformers, circuit breakers, isolators, CTs, VTs, busbars, and surge arresters).
• Oversee HV design deliverables, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with AS/NZS, IEC, and network-specific standards (e.g., AusNet, TransGrid, Powercor).
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and designers, supporting their professional growth and capability development.
• Liaise directly with clients, utilities, and approval authorities, providing clear technical communication and managing design interfaces.
• Support factory acceptance tests (FATs), site acceptance tests (SATs), and commissioning activities for primary plant equipment.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and innovation in substation design and delivery.

To be a success in this role you will need:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Master’s degree advantageous).
• Minimum 12 years of professional experience in HV substation primary design (66 kV and above).
• Strong technical background in AIS and GIS substation design, earthing, and insulation coordination.
• Demonstrated experience with Australian utility standards and AS/IEC design requirements.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Bentley Substation, or equivalent design tools.
• Understanding of power system studies (load flow, short circuit, insulation coordination, EMF, and earthing analysis).
• Proven ability to lead design teams and deliver complex multi-disciplinary projects on time and within scope.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical reporting and stakeholder interaction.
• Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) or eligibility highly regarded.

If you’re after a role where your skills make a genuine impact, ACLE Services offers exactly that. We’re a company delivering some of the country’s most ambitious solar and battery storage projects.

We’re a team working on some of the most exciting renewable energy projects in the country, think large-scale solar farms and battery storage systems that are helping power a cleaner future. If you’re someone who thrives on collaboration, solving problems before they become problems, and making real contributions from day one, you’ll fit right in.