Substation Design Engineer

Job Title: Substation Design Engineer

Job Description

This on-site Substation Design Engineer role is based at a Dayton-area service facility and focuses on delivering reliable energy solutions through the design and support of 12kV to 345kV substations. You will develop detailed engineering design packages, support construction and maintenance activities, and contribute to the planning and management of critical substation projects while ensuring compliance with industry standards and internal design practices.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed design for all or portions of 12kV through 345kV substations, including physical layouts, one-line diagrams, protection and control schematics, and wiring diagrams.
• Produce complete and accurate engineering design packages that comply with internal standards and applicable industry standards such as IEEE and NERC.
• Prepare procurement specifications for materials and services, evaluate vendor proposals, and collaborate with Purchasing to support the issuance of purchase orders.
• Provide engineering support to field crews during substation construction, commissioning, and maintenance activities.
• Assist in the planning, design, and construction management of substation projects from concept through implementation.
• Maintain and optimize internal design standards, templates, and engineering databases to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Support after-hours storm restoration efforts and long-duration customer outage events as required.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Eligibility for entry-level consideration with an ABET-accredited BSEE and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Knowledge of substation design principles for voltages ranging from 12kV to 345kV.
• Ability to create physical layouts, one-line diagrams, protection and control schematics, and wiring diagrams for substations.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD or similar computer-aided design tools for electrical system design.
• Understanding of relevant industry standards, including IEEE and NERC, and ability to apply them in design work.
• Ability to prepare technical procurement specifications and evaluate engineering and material proposals.
• Capability to provide clear technical guidance and support to field construction and maintenance personnel.
• Ability to work safely and incorporate safety considerations into all engineering designs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Access.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Bentley MicroStation or similar CAD software for substation or electrical design.
• Passing grade on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
• Familiarity with the application and operation of substation equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, disconnect switches, and protective relays.
• Experience maintaining and improving engineering standards, design libraries, and databases.
• Willingness and ability to participate in after-hours storm restoration and extended outage support.

Work Environment

• This position is fully on-site at a Dayton-area service building, with a standard schedule of approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• You will work in a professional engineering office environment that frequently interfaces with field crews and substation sites, using tools such as AutoCAD, Bentley MicroStation or similar CAD platforms, and Microsoft Office.
• The role involves close collaboration with engineering colleagues, construction and maintenance personnel, and procurement staff to deliver safe and reliable substation designs.
• Field support activities may occasionally require visits to active substation facilities, where adherence to appropriate safety procedures, personal protective equipment, and site-specific dress expectations is required.
• The work environment supports a strong safety culture and emphasizes reliability, teamwork, and responsiveness, particularly during storm restoration and critical outage events.

This is a Permanent position based out of Dayton, OH.

The pay range for this position is $73000.00 - $100000.00/yr.

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 Dayton,OH.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 7, 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 : $73,000 - $100,000