Associate Distribution Design Engineer

Catapult Federal Services; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

An engineering services firm in North Carolina seeks an Associate Distribution Engineer to design and develop construction work packages for electrical distribution systems. This entry-level position offers vital experience in both field inspections and engineering design. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's in Engineering and proficiency in tools like MS Office and CAD. The role involves hybrid work, ensuring flexibility while contributing to impactful infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or Industrial preferred) from an ABET-accredited institution with less than 2 years of relevant experience, OR a non-engineering BS degree with less than 5 years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with limited supervision.

Responsibilities

• Develop design and construction work packages for electrical distribution systems.
• Comply with client safety requirements and quality expectations.
• Travel to sites for inspections and perform engineering design work.
• Conduct root cause analysis of outages.

Skills

Proficiency in MS Office Suite

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work with limited supervision

Willingness to perform field and office work

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD tools

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Job description

Position: Associate Distribution Engineer

Location: Wilmington, NC - Hybrid (4 days in office, Fridays remote)

Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

As an Associate Distribution Engineer, you'll play a vital role in designing and developing construction work packages for electric distribution systems across overhead (OH), underground (UG), and underground residential distribution (URD) environments. Working under the supervision of experienced technical leads, you'll use cutting‑edge Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools, and Work Management Systems to create solutions for grid hardening, reliability improvements, substation optimization, and joint use projects.

Your work will directly impact the reliability and safety of electrical distribution systems serving communities across the region. You'll split your time between field inspections and office‑based engineering design, performing critical calculations for structural pole analysis, cable pulling, electric demand, and fault currents. This role offers exceptional growth opportunities including support for obtaining your Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate, Professional Engineer (PE) license, and access to formal mentorship programs. The ideal candidate is passionate about power systems engineering and eager to develop expertise in electrical distribution design while working on meaningful infrastructure projects.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop design and construction work packages for electrical overhead and underground distribution systems operating from 4kV through 138kV mostly associated with programmatic work such as overloaded transformers, inspection and maintenance, joint use, and inspection reports.
• Comply Client Safety requirements as well as design and quality expectations.
• Travel to sites as needed, perform inspections and return to the office to perform engineering design work.
• Perform engineering calculations such as: structural analysis for wood pole loading, guying calculations, specifying conductor sags and tensions for recommended spans, and calculation of voltage drop and flicker.
• Develop permitting documents for different AHJ’s.
• Provide engineering support during construction, including post‑construction reviews to ensure all applicable engineering and construction standards have been met.
• Conduct root cause analysis of outages and mitigation using engineering principles and design.

Required Experience/Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or Industrial preferred) from an ABET‑accredited institution with less than 2 years of relevant experience, OR a non‑engineering BS degree with less than 5 years of relevant experience
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to perform both field and office work in outdoor environments
• Ability to utilize personal vehicle for job‑related travel (10‑20% travel required, reimbursed at IRS‑approved rates)
• Ability to work with limited supervision
• Professional demeanor and positive attitude

Nice‑to‑Haves

• Experience with NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) Standards
• Familiarity with distribution design tools such as BOUD, Pole Foreman, SOCKET, or Spida‑Calc
• Experience using CAD tools like AutoCAD or MicroStation
• Knowledge of ESRI GIS systems
• Experience with utility design standards
• Personal interest in power systems and electrical infrastructure
• Collaborative attitude and ability to work with diverse teams

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Engineering Services and Utilities