Substation Design Engineer

Job Title:

Substation Design Engineer Job Description The Substation Design Engineer will perform detailed engineering studies and physical design for new and replacement substation equipment, supporting grid modernization and the energy transition. This role focuses on creating safe, reliable, and cost-effective substation designs, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and managing project documentation from concept through completion. The position offers long-term project ownership, clear career growth paths, and the opportunity to contribute directly to the reliability and resiliency of the power system. Responsibilities Conduct engineering studies and perform design calculations for the installation of new and replacement substation equipment. Perform physical substation engineering design, including general arrangement drawings, electrical plan and section views, cable and conduit plans, grounding plans, raceway plans, shielding plans, and bus work calculations. Create or review foundation and structural designs to support substation equipment and structures. Develop detailed bills of materials based on engineering designs. Evaluate geotechnical analysis information and apply findings to substation designs. Design or evaluate site civil plans with a focus on site grading, access, drainage, soil erosion, and sediment control. Create material lists and takeoffs from engineering designs to support procurement and construction planning. Understand, follow, and apply relevant industry standards and best practices to all engineering designs. Iteratively refine designs to achieve optimal outcomes considering cost, project scope, constructability, and consistency with existing practices. Coordinate design activities with other multi-discipline project team members, including planning, protection, construction, and field personnel. Collaborate effectively with operations teams, construction crews, external contractors, and vendors to ensure design intent and constructability. Manage project documents and records to maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date design information. Support the implementation of advanced protection systems and digital substation technologies as part of broader grid modernization efforts. Contribute to projects that enhance system reliability, resiliency, and capacity to support electrification, electric vehicles, data centers, and renewable integration. Essential Skills Minimum of 2 years of applicable experience in substation, industrial PLC/electrical, transmission line, or protection and controls engineering. Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Proficiency with AutoCAD for creating and modifying engineering drawings. Strong understanding of physical substation design, including general arrangements, electrical plans, grounding, raceways, and related components. Ability to interpret and apply geotechnical information to substation and foundation designs. Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to engineers, operations staff, construction crews, and non-technical stakeholders. Proven ability to work cross-functionally with planning, protection, construction, and field personnel, as well as external contractors and vendors. Ability to apply industry standards consistently and accurately in engineering designs. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail in calculations and design documentation. Additional Skills & Qualifications Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred. Experience supporting utility-based capital programs and long-term infrastructure projects. Interest in or exposure to advanced protection systems, digital substations, and renewable integration projects. Desire to pursue professional development, including support for PE licensure and growth into technical specialist, project leadership, or people leadership roles. Openness to expanding into related areas such as protection engineering, transmission planning, asset management, or leadership positions. Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset suited to a team-oriented engineering environment. Work Environment This is an office-based role located in Indianapolis, Indiana, working on-site five days per week. The position follows a standard 40-hour work week in a collaborative engineering office that values safety, planning, and long-term career sustainability. Work is primarily performed in a professional office setting using tools such as AutoCAD and other engineering software, with access to strong technical resources and established best practices. The engineer may occasionally participate in field site visits with coworkers, utilizing a company vehicle to review substation sites and support design and construction coordination. The culture emphasizes stability, consistent year-to-year project work, and a healthy work-life balance, providing opportunities to own projects through their full lifecycle while contributing to the local community and broader grid modernization efforts. Professional, office-appropriate attire is expected in the workplace and during site visits. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Indianapolis, IN. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00/hr. 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 fully onsite position in Indianapolis,IN.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jun 15, 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. 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.