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This position has closed. Leidos removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Associate Substation Engineer

Leidos · Chicago, IL · $57,850–$104,575 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you followed a quality control process and it caught a mistake before it went out.

What they are checking: Whether they value the Quality Control Plan as a real safeguard rather than a box to check.

You work under a licensed PE. How do you decide when to ask a question and when to keep working it out on your own?

What they are checking: Whether they balance independence with knowing when to lean on supervision, as the posting expects growth toward independence.

Tell me about a process you improved at school or work that made a team more efficient.

What they are checking: Whether they notice inefficiencies and act on them, since the role helps improve project execution processes.

What would you do

You're preparing drawings and you notice a conflict between the physical layout and the P&C drawings. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they will raise cross-discipline conflicts early and work them out with the other team.

A client sends a late change that affects drawings you thought were finished. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they manage revisions cleanly and track changes so deliverables stay accurate.

Our clients are utilities across the country. How do you think working for several clients with different standards will change how you work?

What they are checking: Whether they are ready to adapt to each client's standards instead of applying one method everywhere.

About the work

Walk me through the main components of a distribution substation and what each one does.

What they are checking: Whether they have the basic substation knowledge needed to start contributing to physical and P&C design.

How would you explain the purpose of a protective relay and how it coordinates with a breaker?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the protection and control basics they will be assisting with on projects.

What do you know about SCADA and station automation in a substation, and how do they connect to the utility's control center?

What they are checking: Whether they grasp how substation data and control reach operators, which ties into several design areas in this role.

How would you do a basic bus ampacity or short circuit calculation, and what references would you use?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle the basic engineering calculations that support substation design.

Practice this interview out loud.

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Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Leidos.

We are seeking an Associate Substation Engineer who will work as a member of a dynamic team within our Commercial Energy Services Operation organization; specifically our Power Delivery division: an established group of electric utility engineering consultants that solve challenging substation engineering problems for our utility clients Nation-wide. The Associate Substation Engineer will work under the direct supervision of an experienced licensed professional engineer and is expected to develop skills in the field of substation engineering and the ability to work with greater independence. Responsibilities: In this role the qualified individual will be expected to: • Assist project teams with Physical Electrical, Protection and Control, SCADA Systems, Station Communications and Station Automation design on utility substation engineering projects. • Perform basic engineering calculations to support engineering design. • Follow the established Quality Control Plan while completing assignments. • Assist with the preparation of project deliverables including but not limited to engineered drawings, technical reports, project-related correspondence and miscellaneous project documentation. • Collaborate with other substation engineering disciplines as required. • Assist the team with the development of processes and procedures to improve project execution efficiency. • Maintain accurate records and files and a high level of organization. • Take opportunities to improve technical knowledge and understanding of the work. • Support Leidos’ goals and represent the company positively and professionally. Qualifications: • B.S. or M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university • 0 – 2 +years of prior relevant experience in utility substation engineering with a B.S. degree • 0 – 1+ years of prior relevant experience in utility substation engineering with a M.S. degree • Basic understanding of the utility grid (power generation, transmission and distribution) system • Solid understanding of the basic principles of electric power • Keen focus of quality and an appreciation for high quality deliverables • Strong attention to details • Understanding of basic engineering theories and principles • Understanding of basic practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing and presenting recommendations • Ability to meet deadlines under high pressure situations • Team player who can work effectively in team environment with an ability to deal with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds • Ability to multitask on assignments while maintaining schedule • Proactive communication with strong written and oral communication skills • Strong organizational skills • High level of computer and internet competency • Proficiency with using Windows-based software programs Desired Qualifications: • Major emphasis in Power Systems Design and Engineering • Received a passing grade on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam • Prior relevant experience in electric power engineering • Active membership in national engineering societies (IEEE, PES, etc.) If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares. Original Posting: August 20, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above. Pay Range: Pay Range $57,850.00 - $104,575.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.