Substation Designer

Job Title: Senior Substation Designer

Department: Power Delivery

Summary

This Senior-level Substation Designer role supports complex, large-scale power delivery projects for a global, employee-owned engineering and construction firm with more than a century of experience delivering critical infrastructure. You will lead and produce high-quality physical substation design deliverables and partner closely with engineering, construction, and client teams.

Why Join

• Employee-owned culture where designers share in the value they help create, encouraging long-term investment in quality and innovation.
• Recognized leader in power delivery and substation engineering across North America.
• Advanced 3D/BIM environment using Inventor, AutoCAD, SDS, and MicroStation to reduce rework and improve constructability.
• Stability and career growth with an organization that has operated continuously for 100 years supporting utilities, grid modernization, and the energy transition.
• High-impact projects, including transmission and substation facilities up to extra-high voltage levels.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Provide proactive technical guidance on standards, systems, document control, and internal design practices.
• Review project requirements and determine appropriate formats and content for physical substation design deliverables.
• Ensure deliverables comply with applicable codes, utility standards, and project-specific requirements.
• Develop moderately complex substation layouts using established engineering principles and best practices.
• Make technical decisions related to deliverables and interpretation of engineering inputs.
• Serve as a resource for complex substation design challenges; mentor designers and technicians.
• Perform design calculations, material takeoffs, and quantity estimates.
• Create intelligent 3D physical substation models with advanced modeling and design software.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to understand client priorities and translate them into design solutions.
  
  

Required Skills And Knowledge

• Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor (SDS), and/or MicroStation.
• Advanced experience in physical substation design.
• Strong experience producing general arrangements, equipment layouts, sections, and elevations.
• Intermediate knowledge of engineering calculations related to substation physical design.
• Advanced understanding of engineering standards, document control systems, and design guides.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and support execution from design through construction.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Associate degree in Drafting or Engineering Design Technology (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Design Technology (preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant substation or power delivery design experience.
  
  

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Columbus, OH.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $55.00/hr.

Requirements

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)
  
  

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Columbus,OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 15, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, Diversity And Inclusion Are a Bridge Towards The Equity And Success Of Our People. DE&I Is Embedded Into Our Culture Through

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
  
  

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000 extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.