Principal Electrical Engineer - Primary Systems

Location: Sydney, NSW, au

Company Description

As someone who has left AECOM and recently returned, I am happy to say that AECOM is a great place to work with fantastic projects to be involved with. Energy is an exciting place to be working as we continue to see changes in the way that we generate, transmit and use electricity across all our markets as we work to decarbonise the industry - Mark Lampard, Sector Director - Transmission & Distribution

Come and grow with us.

AECOM’s Energy practice across Australia and New Zealand comprises approximately 250 experts, offering a broad range of services, including consulting, engineering design, energy procurement, and EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) for power, energy efficiency, and renewable energy clients. Our comprehensive understanding of the entire energy landscape - from generation and distribution to storage and demand-side management enables us to develop holistic strategies that enhance and modernise next-generation energy infrastructure.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

Due to strategic growth and a strong project pipeline, we are looking for a Principal level Primary Systems Engineer to join our Energy Team.  As a Principal Engineer you will lead the design and delivery of substation design, drive technical excellence across multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to some of the largest projects / programs of work across Australia's high-voltage energy network. 

We’re flexible on location, with the role open to candidates based in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, or Brisbane.

How you’ll make a difference:

• Provide technical leadership across HV/EHV substation design, including layouts, equipment ratings, earthing, insulation coordination, HV cables, and conduit designs, ensuring compliance with Australian Standards and client requirements.

• Work collaboratively across the Transmission & Distribution team, providing technical support and guidance to ensure quality project outcomes are delivered on time and on budget.

• Lead project delivery from concept through detailed design, including specifications, calculations, fault level analysis, short circuit forces, and interfacing with other disciplines to resolve design issues.

• Engage with key clients, contributing to one of the most ambitious transmission programs in decades, providing expert technical input and ensuring exceptional project delivery.

• Drive innovation and knowledge sharing, applying advanced engineering software and techniques, mentoring team members, and promoting best-practice design standards.

Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, with extensive experience in HV/EHV substation design (up to 500kV) in Australia / New Zealand. 

• Ideally, at least 10+ years’ experience in senior primary engineering roles, with demonstrated success on transmission, distribution, and renewable energy connection projects.

• Strong technical expertise across substation HV systems, earthing design, insulation coordination, protection reports, HV cables, fault analysis, and interface with multidisciplinary designs.

• Proven project leadership skills, including delivering complex projects on time and budget while managing teams and client relationships.

• Familiarity with engineering software and analysis tools, including fault level studies, short circuit forces, cable current ratings, lighting, EMF, and earthing simulations.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us:

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options.
• Up to 22 weeks parental leave, 2 weeks paid partner leave and up to 12 weeks paid alternative primary carer leave.
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better.
• Share purchase plans.

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.  

Learn more about life at AECOM: LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram, X, YouTube - explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more! 

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 2024. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.