operations engineer

Position: Operations Engineer / Substation Engineer

Department: Transmission & Distribution, Grid Operations, Electrical Asset Management

Specialization: LV/MV/HV AIS/GIS Substation Operations & Maintenance

Experience Required: 5+ years in substation operations, maintenance, or commissioning

Certifications Preferred: High Voltage Authorized Person, NEBOSH/IOSH, Project Management

Location: [Grid Control Center / Substation Site]

Reporting To: Operations Manager or Grid Operations Superintendent

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Operations Engineer with specialized expertise in the operation, maintenance, and performance optimization of electrical substations ranging from Low Voltage (LV) to High Voltage (HV), including both Air-Insulated (AIS) and Gas-Insulated (GIS) switchgear installations. The ideal candidate will ensure grid reliability, safety compliance, and efficient power delivery through technical supervision, outage management, and strategic maintenance planning of substation assets.

Key Responsibilities

1. Substation Operations & Switching Management

• Authorize, plan, and execute switching operations on LV (up to 1kV), MV (1kV-36kV), and HV (66kV-400kV) systems in accordance with safety rules and operational procedures.
• Prepare and issue switching programs, permit-to-work (PTW), and sanction-for-test (SFT) documents for maintenance activities.
• Act as the Operational Safety Controller (OSC) or Authorized Person (AP) for live and dead substation works.
• Monitor SCADA/EMS systems for real-time substation status, alarms, and load patterns.

2. Maintenance Strategy & Technical Supervision

• Develop and implement preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance strategies for substation primary and secondary equipment.
• Oversee maintenance of:
• Primary Equipment: Power transformers, circuit breakers (SF6, vacuum), disconnectors, earthing switches, surge arresters, busbars, and cable systems.
• Secondary Systems: Protection relays (SIPROTEC, MICOM, etc.), control & automation panels, RTUs, telecommunication equipment (PLC, fiber optics), and station batteries/UPS.
• Specialized Systems: GIS gas monitoring (SF6 density, purity), transformer oil analysis (DGA), and partial discharge monitoring systems.
• Review and approve maintenance reports, test results (Doble, Megger), and equipment condition assessments.

3. Fault Analysis & Incident Management

• Lead technical investigations into substation faults, protection maloperations, and unexplained trips.
• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment failures using relay event records, disturbance fault records (DFR), and sequence of events (SOE).
• Develop and implement corrective action plans to prevent recurrence.
• Manage emergency response during grid disturbances, ensuring rapid restoration in coordination with the National Control Center.

4. Projects & Performance Optimization

• Manage and supervise substation expansion, upgrade, or retrofit projects from an operational readiness perspective.
• Review engineering designs, single-line diagrams (SLD), and protection schematics for new projects.
• Conduct feasibility studies for load transfers, network reconfigurations, and redundancy improvements.
• Optimize substation performance through load flow studies, transformer loading management, and loss reduction initiatives.

5. Compliance, Documentation & Reporting

• Ensure strict compliance with Grid Code, Safety Rules, and environmental regulations (particularly for SF6 gas handling).
• Maintain and update substation as-built drawings, asset registers, and operational databases.
• Prepare technical reports, outage statistics, and performance dashboards for management.
• Conduct and participate in safety audits, operational risk assessments, and HAZOP/HAZID studies.

Qualifications & Requirements

Mandatory:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems specialization preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in the operation, maintenance, or commissioning of AIS and GIS substations within a utility, IPP, or heavy industrial setting.
• Certified High Voltage Authorized Person/Safety Controller (or equivalent competency certification).
• In-depth technical knowledge of:
• Protection & Control Schemes: Overcurrent, differential, distance, busbar, and transformer protection.
• Substation Automation Systems (SAS) and IEC 61850 communication protocols.
• Testing & Commissioning of HV equipment.
• Proficiency in interpreting protection diagrams, SLDs, and layout drawings.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Electrical Power Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
• Certifications in NEBOSH/IOSH, Project Management (PMP/PRINCE2), or Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).
• Experience with:
• SCADA/EMS systems (e.g., Siemens Spectrum, ABB MicroSCADA).
• Power system analysis software (ETAP, PSSE, DigSILENT).
• SF6 gas handling and environmental compliance procedures.
• GCC experience, with knowledge of local utility standards (e.g., Kahramaa, SEC, DEWA).

Technical & Soft Skills:

• Strong Analytical Ability: For fault analysis and performance optimization.
• Decisive Leadership: Ability to direct switching and emergency operations under pressure.
• Meticulous Attention to Detail: Critical for safety documentation and switching programs.
• Excellent Communication: For coordinating with control centers, maintenance crews, and management.
• Proactive & Strategic Mindset: Focused on reliability and continuous improvement.

Working Conditions

• Primary Location: Grid control center with frequent field visits to substation sites.
• Schedule: Typically follows an office schedule but requires participation in a 24/7 on-call roster for emergency response. May involve night switching operations.
• Environment: Field work involves exposure to high-voltage environments, all weather conditions, and strict adherence to HV safety protocols and PPE.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with allowances for on-call duty and certifications.
• Comprehensive family medical insurance and life coverage.
• Annual performance bonus linked to grid reliability metrics.
• Continuous professional development and sponsorship for advanced grid operations training.
• Clear career progression path to Senior Operations Engineer, Substation Manager, or Grid Operations Manager roles.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent