Distribution Designer

Distribution Designer

Job Description

The Distribution Designer works within the Power Distribution Engineering team as part of a growing Power Sector, producing detailed designs, drawings, and documentation for power distribution projects. This role supports responsible engineers, coordinates with field and office teams, and may lead smaller design efforts while ensuring designs align with technical standards, project schedules, and client expectations.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed design work for power distribution projects, including preparing drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for review and approval by the responsible engineer.
• Prepare manual or computer-assisted design and construction drawings of a complex nature with high accuracy, neatness, and minimal errors.
• Apply a thorough understanding of drawings, specifications, and industry and company standards to perform design services for assigned work.
• Take a significant role in preparing cost estimates, technical specifications, evaluations, and material or equipment requisitions.
• Assist in the preparation of engineering calculations to support design decisions and ensure technical accuracy.
• Coordinate equipment deliveries and design development activities to meet established project schedules and milestones.
• Acquire on-site field data to support design development, verify existing conditions, and monitor or evaluate equipment performance as needed.
• Provide limited direction and guidance to Designers and Technicians on assigned projects, supporting their work and ensuring design quality.
• Act as a design leader on projects of minor complexity, managing design tasks and contributing to overall project success.
• May serve as a Project Coordinator on certain projects, assisting with planning, coordination, and communication among project stakeholders.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of practices and procedures in one or more technical areas such as electrical engineering, instrumentation and control, protective relaying, transmission design, substation design, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, distribution engineering, surveying, GIS and mapping, and CADD.
• Follow prescribed standards and procedures to ensure consistency, compliance, and quality across all design deliverables.
• Handle contacts with clients and other agencies in connection with project design responsibilities, representing the engineering team professionally.
• Perform other design-related duties as assigned to support project and departmental objectives.

Essential Skills

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience as determined appropriate for this position.
• Thorough knowledge of technical practices and procedures in one or more of the following areas: electrical engineering, instrumentation and control, protective relaying, transmission design, substation design, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, distribution engineering, surveying, GIS and mapping, and CADD.
• Demonstrated ability and experience with GIS systems, preferably Smallworld or GWD.
• Proficiency with CADD systems, particularly AutoCAD, for preparing design and construction drawings.
• Ability to interpret and apply drawings, specifications, and industry and company standards to design work.
• Capability to prepare or significantly contribute to cost estimates, specifications, evaluations, and requisitions.
• Ability to follow prescribed standards and procedures consistently in all design activities.
• Demonstrated leadership and technical capability to perform the full scope of job responsibilities, including guiding other team members when needed.
• Ability to handle contacts with clients and other agencies in connection with project design responsibilities in a professional manner.
• Clear and valid driver’s license and eligibility to drive on company time, including use of personal or company vehicles, with a minimum age of 21 for driving on company time.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in both field and office environments is preferred, demonstrating versatility and comfort in varied work settings.
• Utility distribution design experience with a utility or consulting engineering firm, with demonstrated project capability, is preferred.
• Experience coordinating equipment deliveries and design development to meet project schedules.
• Experience acquiring on-site field data to support design development and equipment performance evaluation.
• Experience preparing or assisting with engineering calculations in support of power distribution projects.
• Experience serving in a project coordination or design leadership capacity on projects of minor complexity.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to ensure accuracy and completeness of drawings, specifications, and estimates.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with engineers, designers, technicians, clients, and external agencies.

Work Environment

The Distribution Designer works within a Power Distribution Engineering team in a professional office environment with regular collaboration across engineering disciplines. The role involves extensive use of GIS platforms such as Smallworld or GWD and CADD tools such as AutoCAD to produce detailed design and construction drawings. Work includes both office-based design and documentation tasks and periodic field visits to acquire on-site data and observe or evaluate equipment performance. The position requires coordinating with project teams to meet schedules, interacting with clients and external agencies, and occasionally serving as a project coordinator or design leader on projects of minor complexity. A valid driver’s license and eligibility to drive on company time are required for travel between office and field locations.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Huntersville, NC.

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $23.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Huntersville,NC.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $22 - $23