Senior Substation Physical Designer
Senior Substation Physical Designer / Engineer
Illinois, Ohio, Michigan |Midwest | Hybrid $75,000 - $120,000 + ESOP Ownership
Design the Infrastructure That Powers the Grid
If you've built a career designing high-voltage substations and want more ownership, more technical influence, and a clear path for growth, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.
We're working with an employee-owned engineering firm looking to add a Senior Substation Physical Designer / Engineer to its growing Power & Energy team. This role offers the chance to lead the physical design of complex substation projects while mentoring junior staff, driving technical quality, and helping shape critical power infrastructure projects from concept through construction.
Whether your expertise is in greenfield substations, modernization programs, utility upgrades, or EPC projects, you'll have the opportunity to make a visible impact while sharing in the long-term success of the company.
Why Engineers Join
You'll be entrusted with leading physical design efforts, working directly with clients, and serving as a technical resource for project teams. Even better, as an employee-owner through the company's ESOP program, you'll benefit directly from the value you help create.
If you enjoy solving complex technical challenges, collaborating across disciplines, and delivering designs that actually get built, you'll fit right in.
What You'll Be Doing
Lead Physical Substation Design
You'll take ownership of the physical design and execution of high-voltage substation projects, including:
- General Arrangement (GA) drawings
- Equipment layouts and placement
- Grounding system design
- Below-grade design
- Bus arrangements
- Conduit and cable routing
- Elevations and section views
- Constructible drawing package development
Drive Technical Excellence
You'll apply industry standards, engineering judgment, and client requirements to ensure projects are accurate, safe, and buildable.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading physical design efforts from planning through construction-ready deliverables
- Performing design reviews and quality checks
- Resolving technical challenges while maintaining project schedules and budgets
- Ensuring compliance with utility standards, industry codes, and client specifications
- Supporting design improvements and best practices across projects
Collaborate Across Disciplines
You'll work closely with:
- Protection & Controls Engineers
- Civil and Structural teams
- Designers and Drafters
- Project Managers
- Utility clients
- Equipment vendors
This role provides exposure across the full project lifecycle and allows you to play a key role in integrated project delivery.
Mentor the Next Generation
As a senior member of the team, you'll help develop junior engineers and designers through technical guidance, design reviews, and mentorship.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys sharing knowledge and helping build strong engineering teams.
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- 4+ years of substation engineering, power delivery, or electrical design experience
- Strong background in physical substation design
- Experience with:
- Substation layouts
- Grounding systems
- Conduit and cable routing
- Equipment placement
- Constructible drawing production
- Proficiency with AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar design tools
- Knowledge of IEEE, ANSI, NEC, and NESC standards
- Experience leading engineering tasks, project scopes, or design packages
- Strong communication and client-facing skills
- Ability to travel to project and substation sites as needed
Preferred Experience
- Utility, EPC, industrial, or renewable energy substation projects
- Design package review and checking experience
- Construction support or field engineering experience
- Experience with SDS, Inventor, WinIGS, CDEGS, or similar engineering software
- Familiarity with utility-specific standards and documentation requirements
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
- Employee ownership through ESOP
- Hybrid work flexibility
- Direct involvement in impactful utility and power infrastructure projects
- Technical leadership opportunities without having to move fully into management
- Exposure to projects from concept through startup
- Collaborative EPCm environment with multidisciplinary teams
- Strong career growth opportunities into lead, principal, project management, or discipline leadership roles
- Competitive compensation and bonus opportunities
- 401(k) with company match
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Professional development, licensure support, and continuing education assistance
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
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