Table 1Transition record

power distribution engineertosubstation engineer

A power distribution engineer already meets 74% of what the substation engineer role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From power distribution engineer

74%

Overlap1

To substation engineer

34 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

32.4 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 32.4

This move: 32.4 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the substation engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the power distribution engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 34 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A substation engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a power distribution engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held manage electricity transmission system working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held make electrical calculations information skills
already held develop electricity distribution schedule management skills
already held supervise electricity distribution operations management skills
already held design electric power systems communication, collaboration and creativity
already held inspect facility sites information skills

All 34 carried skills, including the 18 the substation engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 11 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 4 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held electric current required
required, not held electricity principles required
required, not held mechanics required

optional, not held electric generators optional

02 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held operate electronic measuring instruments required

optional, not held install circuit breakers optional

03 management skills 1 required

required, not held manage engineering project required

04 working with computers 1 required

required, not held create CAD drawings required

05 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held wear appropriate protective gear optional

06 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary

optional, not held CAD software optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a substation engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 34 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adjust engineering designs skill
already held approve engineering design skill
already held design electric power systems skill
already held electrical discharge knowledge
already held electrical engineering knowledge
already held electrical power safety regulations knowledge
already held electricity consumption knowledge
already held engineering principles knowledge
already held engineering processes knowledge
already held ensure compliance with environmental legislation skill
already held ensure compliance with safety legislation skill
already held ensure safety in electrical power operations skill
already held inspect facility sites skill
already held make electrical calculations skill
already held perform project management skill
already held perform scientific research skill
already held technical drawings knowledge
already held use technical drawing software skill
already held adjust voltage skill
already held assess financial viability skill
already held develop electricity distribution schedule skill
already held develop strategies for electricity contingencies skill
already held electricity market knowledge
already held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule skill
already held inspect overhead power lines skill
already held inspect underground power cables skill
already held maintain electrical equipment skill
already held manage electricity transmission system skill
already held manage workflow processes skill
already held monitor electric generators skill
already held respond to electrical power contingencies skill
already held supervise electricity distribution operations skill
already held test procedures in electricity transmission skill
already held transmission towers knowledge

4 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held CAD software optional
optional, not held electric generators optional
optional, not held install circuit breakers optional
optional, not held wear appropriate protective gear optional

57 held skills the substation engineer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role adapt energy distribution schedules skill
not needed by the target role analyse big data skill
not needed by the target role analyse test data skill
not needed by the target role assemble sensors skill
not needed by the target role battery chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role battery components knowledge
not needed by the target role battery fluids knowledge
not needed by the target role business intelligence knowledge
not needed by the target role change power distribution systems skill
not needed by the target role chemical products knowledge
not needed by the target role cloud technologies knowledge
not needed by the target role collaborate with designers skill
not needed by the target role coordinate communication within a team skill
not needed by the target role data analytics knowledge
not needed by the target role data mining knowledge
not needed by the target role data mining methods knowledge
not needed by the target role data storage knowledge
not needed by the target role design smart grids skill
not needed by the target role energy knowledge
not needed by the target role energy market knowledge
not needed by the target role energy micro-generation technologies knowledge
not needed by the target role execute software tests skill
not needed by the target role fuel gas knowledge
not needed by the target role hydraulics knowledge
not needed by the target role hydroelectricity knowledge
not needed by the target role identify customer's needs skill
not needed by the target role information extraction knowledge
not needed by the target role information structure knowledge
not needed by the target role innovation processes knowledge
not needed by the target role install hydraulic systems skill
not needed by the target role maintain hydraulic systems skill
not needed by the target role maintain sensor equipment skill
not needed by the target role marine engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role offshore renewable energy technologies knowledge
not needed by the target role operate battery test equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate hydraulic machinery controls skill
not needed by the target role operate hydraulic pumps skill
not needed by the target role operate hydrogen extraction equipment skill
not needed by the target role perform data analysis skill
not needed by the target role perform data mining skill

17 further entries not listed here

6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held electric current required
required, not held electricity principles required
required, not held mechanics required
optional, not held CAD software optional
optional, not held electric generators optional

Index

Other moves recorded from power distribution engineer

Full index of moves from power distribution engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.