Senior Design Engineer – Substation Design for Renewable Plants

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Design Engineer specializing in substation design for renewable energy plants, based in Nairobi. The role will support the delivery of high‑quality engineering and design solutions across renewable projects.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate internal and external project activities from concept to completion.
• Produce detailed designs of switchyards, MV, HV and (optionally) EHV systems.
• Prepare and review switchyard layouts, erection key diagrams, clearance checks and AIS drawings up to 220 kV.
• Design GIS substations, MV panels, switchboard formations and SAS systems.
• Develop technical specifications and procurement documents.
• Design substation earthing, illumination, lightning protection and control‑room layouts.
• Size transmission line conductors, perform short‑circuit force calculations, and size HV/LV power and control cables.
• Generate equipment sizing, design memoranda, check‑lists and configuration documents for MV & HV AIS equipment.
• Size battery chargers, CT/VT devices, auxiliary transformers and related power supply systems.
• Interpret scheme drawings for monitoring kiosks, control cubicles, relay panels and BOQs.
• Draft pre‑dispatch inspection and pre‑commissioning test guidelines and review quality action plans.
• Select metering equipment, bay control units, IEDs and prepare interlocking logic diagrams.
• Follow the Integrated Management System and ISO operational standards.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or B.Tech in Electrical & Electronics Engineering.
• 4–8 years of progressive, hands‑on experience in substation and switchyard design.
• Proven ability to lead technical tasks and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with multinational teams.

Required skills

• Switchyard design and layout preparation.
• MV, HV and EHV system design (AIS up to 220 kV, GIS optional).
• MV panel, switchboard and SAS system expertise.
• Technical specification and procurement documentation.
• Substation earthing, illumination and lightning protection design.
• Transmission line conductor sizing and short‑circuit calculations.
• HV/LV power cable and control cable sizing, voltage‑drop calculations.
• Equipment sizing, CT/VT knee‑point voltage calculations.
• Battery charger and auxiliary transformer sizing.
• Interpretation of scheme drawings, BOQs and inter‑cubicle cabling.
• Pre‑commissioning test planning and quality action plan review.
• Selection of metering equipment, bay control units and IEDs.
• Software/hardware interlocking diagram creation.
• Knowledge of ISO operational standards and IMS.
• Familiarity with inverter‑duty and solar‑duty transformers (advantage).