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Illumine-i

Lead Engineer - Substation Design

Join Illumine-i in Chennai as Lead Engineer - Substation Design. Lead and build a high-performing team, drive design strategy, and ensure compliance with global standards. Benefit from a role focused on innovation and technical leadership in renewable energy.
Illumine-i
Illumine-i Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India On-site Full time UTC+05:30

Illumine-i

Company Overview

Illumine Industries (Illumine-i)

Austin, Texas, United States

2015

Approximately 220 employees (source: linkedin.com). Revenue of $12.5 million in FY 2023 (source: illumine.keka.com).

What They Do

Illumine-i specializes in solar photovoltaic (PV) engineering and design services, focusing on promoting environmental sustainability through innovative engineering solutions. The company provides comprehensive design and engineering support tailored to the needs of residential rooftop and commercial & industrial (C&I) solar developers, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms. Their service offerings include schematic line drawings, system sizing, production estimates, and complete solar layout designs, ensuring that clients receive customized solutions rather than generic offerings (source: linkedin.com). Illumine-i is also expanding its capabilities into Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and grid modernization technologies, positioning itself as a comprehensive engineering consulting firm in the renewable energy sector (source: illumine.keka.com).

Projects & Track Record

Illumine-i has a documented portfolio of approximately 200 MW of solar PV design engineering experience in the United States, having completed over 100 projects across various service lines. Notable projects include the Elios Solar Carport, which has a capacity of 350 kW DC. The company has also undertaken utility-scale solar PV projects with system sizes ranging from small residential installations to over 100 MW (source: linkedin.com). Their experience is bolstered by the expertise of CEO Nithish Sairam, who has previously managed large-scale projects across the country, bringing valuable insights to Illumine-i's operations (source: illumine.keka.com).

Recent Developments

In October 2025, Illumine-i was featured in Business View Magazine, highlighting its expansion into microgrids, energy storage, and transmission & distribution projects. Co-Founder Sudarsan Krishnan emphasized the company's commitment to building engineering solutions that address complex energy challenges (source: illumine.keka.com). Additionally, in September 2022, Illumine-i partnered with Raiven, enhancing its capabilities in the electrification market by providing electrical drawings for permitting, which has significantly increased project throughput (source: linkedin.com).

Working There

Illumine-i employs a diverse workforce, including mechanical engineers, software developers, and specialized solar engineers, structured around functional areas such as solar design engineering and utility-scale project engineering. The company maintains active operations in Austin, Texas, Brisbane, Australia, and Chennai, India, with the Austin headquarters serving as the primary employment hub (source: illumine.keka.com). The company promotes a progressive work culture that emphasizes employee engagement, transparency, and cross-functional career development, allowing employees to transition between roles and departments (source: linkedin.com).

Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue

Job Description

We are looking for a Subject Matter Expert - Substation Design to lead and build the Substation Design team from scratch while ensuring technical excellence and innovation. This role requires deep expertise in substation engineering and a strong ability to mentor, develop processes, and drive strategic growth in the domain. As a technical leader, you will be responsible for establishing design frameworks, ensuring compliance with global standards, and enabling a scalable and high-performing engineering team.

What you can expect as Subject Matter Expert at Illumine-i

  • Lead & Develop: You'll establish, mentor, and grow a high-performing Substation Design team.
  • Own Design Strategy: You'll define and execute end-to-end substation design processes, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
  • Technical Oversight: You'll guide the team in the design of substations, including layouts, protection systems, and interconnection studies.
  • Standards & Compliance: You'll ensure adherence to IEEE, IEC, NEC, IS, and other relevant standards for utility-scale substation design.
  • Innovation & Optimization: You'll identify and implement best practices to enhance design efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety.
  • Feasibility & Technical Reviews: You'll lead feasibility studies, technical evaluations, and risk assessments.
  • Proposal & RFP Support: You'll assist in proposal writing, bid preparation, and responding to RFPs.
  • Technology Implementation: You'll guide the team in using design tools such as AutoCAD, ETAP, PSCAD, PVsyst, and other industry-specific software.

Essential Qualifications include

  • Bachelor's/Master's degree in Electrical Engineering.
  • 5-10+ years of experience in substation design and utility-scale power systems.
  • Strong expertise in substation layouts, SLDs, relay protection schemes, and electrical system studies (load flow, short circuit, arc flash, etc.).
  • In-depth knowledge of GIS, AIS, HV & EHV equipment selection.
  • Hands-on experience with substation automation, SCADA integration, and grid interconnection requirements.
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD, ETAP, PSCAD, or other relevant design software.
  • Familiarity with North American and international grid codes & standards.
  • Strong leadership and mentoring abilities to build a team from the ground up.
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.

Great to have

  • Experience working on North American utility projects.
  • Exposure to BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) integration in substations.

Apply now

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About the role

April 3, 2026

Full time

Company

April 4, 2026

On-site

Energy Storage , Smart Grid

Illumine-i

illuminei.com

  •  Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

5-10+ years

UTC+05:30

Tags

EPC Management · Substation Engineering · Utility-Scale Solar · Feasibility Studies · Technical Support