OverviewWe are seeking a mid-to-senior level Substation Designer to support the design and development of medium- and high-voltage electrical substations for industrial facilities clients. This role is responsible for creating detailed physical substation design packages, developing engineering drawings and models, coordinating with engineering disciplines, and ensuring designs meet applicable client, utility, and industry standards. The successful candidate will work closely with Electrical Engineers, (P&C) Protection & Control Engineers and broader project teams to deliver safe, reliable, and constructible substation designs. Senior-level candidates may provide technical leadership, mentor junior designers, and lead design efforts on complex projects.
Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- Develop detailed physical substation design packages for transmission and distribution substations ranging from 12kV through 500kV.
- Produce and maintain drawings using AutoCAD, ETAP or other applicable design software. Revit knowledge is a plus.
- Support design reviews, interdisciplinary coordination meetings, constructability reviews, and client meetings.
- Ensure drawing packages comply with client standards, NESC requirements, utility practices, and company quality procedures.
- Review vendor drawings and equipment information for incorporation into project designs.
- Perform field walkdowns and site visits as required to verify existing conditions and support project execution.
- Provide construction support by responding to RFIs, reviewing field modifications, and assisting with issue resolution.
- Mentor junior designers and modelers while promoting design consistency and quality.
- May check portions, or entire, completed drawings.
- May serve in chosen discipline as a staff advisor or consultant in the role of technical specialist requiring highly specialized knowledge and skills and the use of advanced techniques.
- Travel required.
- Valid driver's license required. May be waived for international assignments.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Drafting & Design Technology, or related technical discipline; equivalent experience considered.
- 10+ years of substation design experience for mid-level candidates; 15+ years preferred for senior-level candidates.
- Demonstrated experience developing physical substation layouts for utility or industrial power projects.
- Working knowledge of substation equipment including transformers, circuit breakers, and switchgear.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, and power study software.
- Strong understanding of utility drafting standards and design practices.
- Ability to interpret engineering calculations, specifications, and design criteria.
- Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Salary Range: $130,000 - $140,000/year depending on location, education, depth of relevant experience, and any specialized licensure/certifications. Opportunity for ample rewards, leadership incentive components, and generous bonus opportunities.
- Benefits: Includes comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, 401K retirement savings plan (with company matching), opportunities for professional development and training (including support for relevant licensure & certifications), and generous PTO & paid holidays.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with intelligent substation modeling tools such as Inventor or similar platforms.
- Experience supporting utility transmission substation projects from conceptual design through construction.
- Familiarity with Protection & Control (P&C) systems, including relay panel layouts, control building arrangements, SCADA interfaces, cable routing, and protection schematics.
- Experience coordinating physical substation design with Protection & Control engineering teams.
- Transmission line design or transmission engineering experience, including understanding of line-to-substation interfaces and project coordination requirements.
- Knowledge of NESC, IEEE, NEC, and utility design standards.
- Previous experience leading designers or serving as a design lead on complex substation projects.
