Director, Substation Engineering & Design

National Grid is hiring a Director for our Substation Engineering & Design department in our Northborough, MA office. This role requires 3+ days in office.

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live.

The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy system of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

The Director of Substation Engineering & Design (SED) is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, and delivery of substation engineering and design services to support the New England Electric business. This role ensures the development of innovative, reliable, and cost-effective substation solutions that support system reliability, asset performance, and long-term grid modernization.

This role is central to delivering National Grid's New England Electric capital plan - reducing risk, enabling timely construction, modernizing the grid, and supporting long-term asset strategies, while ensuring alignment with regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements.

As a key member of New England Electric's Engineering & Network Strategy team, this role shapes and evolves the delivery of substation engineering and design to meet growing and changing needs of the New England Electric system, including:

Strategic Leadership

• Lead and develop a multi-discipline engineering organization responsible for substation electrical design, O&M services, and civil/structural design.
• Establish and execute substation engineering strategy aligned with investment plans and system needs.
• Establish clear priorities, workload planning, and performance expectations.
• Coach and develop technical capability, supporting progression of leaders and technical talent; manage succession planning and workforce capability.

Engineering Delivery

• Oversee engineering and design for substation new builds, rebuilds, endoflife replacements, and technology upgrades.
• Ensure engineering packages are complete, constructible, and aligned with project milestones and Playbook requirements.
• Ensure adherence to engineering standards, Safety by Design principles, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in design practices, digital engineering tools, and standardization.
• Manage SED budgets, workforce planning, and use of outsourced engineering and design partners.
• Balance internal capability development with effective use of external resources.

Standards, Quality & Governance

• Provide governance over technical decisions, design approvals, and complex engineering challenges.
• Ensure compliance with internal requirements and external codes and standards (e.g., NESC, NEC, IEEE).
• Drive continuous improvement in QA/QC, design consistency, and lessons learned.
• Champion innovation, including grid modernization technologies, digital substations, and advanced asset monitoring.

CrossFunctional Collaboration

• Interface with Project Management, Construction, Procurement, and external engineering partners to ensure seamless project execution.
• Oversee engineering consultant performance and external design resources under master service agreements.
• Represent engineering in regulatory proceedings, stakeholder engagement, and executive-level reporting.
• Collaborate with system operators and planning organizations to support interconnection and reliability requirements.

People & Culture

• Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization, including hiring, development, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor engineering leaders and promote knowledge sharing across disciplines.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching to team members, supporting their professional growth.

Financial Management:

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets for the Substation Engineering & Design department.
• Monitor expenditures, identify cost-saving opportunities, and efficiencies.
• Support financial analysis, investment appraisals, and business case development for major projects and initiatives.

• A Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline required
• 10+ years of experience in the technical, operations, or engineering aspects of the electric utility industry with a strong background in electrical systems required
• 3+ years of managerial/supervisory experience required
• PE License is preferred
• Advanced degree preferred
• Sound knowledge and experience in high and low voltage electrical systems
• Understanding of substation equipment, engineering/design, and advanced technologies
• Committed people leader with track record of nurturing talent and increasing engagement
• Proven track record in the development and implementation continuous improvement
• Senior stakeholder management, influence, and engagement
• Leading business change effectively within a complex organization / program or project.
• Understanding and anticipating current and future customer needs.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets and multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and risk management in distribution and asset operations.

Role Dimensions:

7 Direct Reports

48 Indirect Reports

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