Principal Primary Engineer, Substation Design I Energy - Docklands, VIC, Australia

"Energy is an exciting place to be working as we continue to see changes in the way we generate, transmit and use electricity across all our markets as we work to decarbonise the industry." – Mark Lampard, Sector Director - Transmission & Distribution

Join AECOM as a Principal Primary Engineer, where you will lead the design and delivery of high-voltage primary and substation projects while providing technical leadership, mentoring, and support across an established team of engineers and technical specialists. This role provides the opportunity to further develop your career within a collaborative Energy team delivering projects across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), leveraging your expertise in primary systems and substation design.

You will lead projects from concept through to completion, overseeing technical delivery, design outcomes, and project execution while supporting the development of team members. Drawing on your experience delivering high-voltage projects and applying relevant state-based standards and regulations, you will provide technical direction on projects ranging from 330kV to 500kV infrastructure.

A key focus of the role will be ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, compliant, and efficient substation solutions. You will apply your deep understanding of primary design principles while considering the broader project context, including grid connection requirements and multidisciplinary interfaces.

Working across a diverse portfolio, you will contribute to major transmission and energy infrastructure projects, including grid-scale developments, renewable energy connections, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. This is an opportunity to guide complex project delivery, influence technical standards and best practices, and make a meaningful impact on the energy transition across ANZ.

How you’ll make a difference:

• Lead the development and review of primary system designs including layouts, equipment selection, earthing systems, and related design requirements.
• Act as a subject matter expert for substation primary engineering and design within project teams to support project design and delivery excellence.
• Ensure technical verification tasks are completed, working within AECOM’s technical standards and processes, as well as meeting the relevant regulations and client requirements.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including protection, control, civil, and secondary systems engineers including with offshore and remotely based design teams.
• Support project delivery excellence, with the ability to lead across multiple projects of different scope, scale, client types, timeframes and commercial requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers to develop their technical and project abilities.
• Interface with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure alignment with project requirements, working as a trusted advisor.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables such as drawings, specifications, and design reports.
• Support tendering, project planning, and cost estimation activities.
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and environmental standards throughout project lifecycle.
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and value engineering initiatives.

Ideally this role is planned to be based in AECOM’s Melbourne office, however alternative offices across Australia can be considered for the right applicant.

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced Primary Engineer with a track record across leading the design and delivery of primary and substation projects. You will be known for your ability to work independently, leading the delivery of projects, working collaboratively in teams, with a project and client-first focus. Experience and exposure to working across different project types, site requirements, and geographies at utility scale will be an advantage.

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, however if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role, and we invite applications from a broad range of backgrounds. Please apply, all applications will be considered.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Demonstrated experience working with State Grid regulated clients (ideally VicGrid, or alternatively TransGrid or Powerlink) substation design standards and specifications.
• Experience in substation primary design, preferably within the Australian transmission sector (from 7+ years’ experience ideally more than 10 years).
• Strong knowledge of high-voltage equipment including transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, isolators, and reactive plant.
• Experience with concept and detailed design including substation layout, insulation coordination, and earthing systems.
• Proven ability leading across multiple projects, displaying excellent time management and project delivery experience aligning scope with client timeframes and project budgets.
• Familiarity with relevant Australian standards (e.g., AS/NZS) and industry best practices.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to work across multiple engineering disciplines, building positive and collaborative working relationships.
• Registered with the National Engineering Register (NER), ideally as a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) in Victoria, Australia.
• A Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) is highly desirable, supported by a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline.

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the role may close earlier than expected, so if this opportunity sounds like you, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: Our vision for Reconciliation.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.