Designer - Substations - Power and Energy

Atwell, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 41,328 - 68,880; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Paid Time Off

Flexible work schedules for some positions

401(k) match 1:1 up to 4% of compensation

Tuition Assistance

Paid licensing / certification fees and renewals

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Atwell, LLC is seeking an experienced Electrical Designer, Substation to support design and execution of substation projects in Chicago. This role covers Physical Design and Protection & Controls (P&C) for utility, renewable interconnection, and power delivery projects.

The ideal candidate should have at least 3 years of substation design experience and be proficient in AutoCAD. The position offers a competitive pay range of $30.00 to $50.00 per hour, generous benefits, and a flexible work schedule.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree, technical certification, or equivalent hands-on design experience in electrical drafting/design.
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in substation design, preferably with exposure to both Physical and Protection & Controls design work.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD required; experience with MicroStation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of substation physical and protection & controls drawing packages for new and existing substation projects.
• Prepare and revise general arrangement drawings and control building layouts, and conduct material take-offs.
• Develop P&C design deliverables including one-lines, schematics, and wiring diagrams.

Job description

Position Overview

Atwell is seeking an experienced Electrical Designer, Substation to support the design and execution of substation projects across our Power & Energy team. This role will support both Physical Design and Protection & Controls (P&C) for a variety of utility, renewable interconnection, and power delivery projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of substation physical and protection & controls drawing packages for new and existing substation projects
• Prepare and revise general arrangement drawings, plan and section views, equipment layouts, grounding plans, conduit and cable plans, control building layouts, and material take-offs
• Develop P&C design deliverables including one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, relay wiring, cable schedules, and interconnection details
• Coordinate closely with engineers, project managers, and other design staff to ensure deliverables are accurate, complete, and aligned with project scope and client standards
• Support project execution from conceptual design through detailed design and construction issue packages
• Review markups and incorporate design changes based on internal review, client comments, and field conditions
• Assist in maintaining drawing quality, design consistency, and adherence to applicable codes, standards, and utility requirements
• Work with multidisciplinary teams across substation, transmission, renewables, and interconnection-related projects
• Support construction and field activities as needed, including drawing updates, as-builts, and response to design questions

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree, technical certification, or equivalent hands‑on design experience in electrical drafting/design
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in substation design, with exposure to both Physical and Protection & Controls design work preferred
• Proficiency in AutoCAD required; experience with MicroStation is a plus
• Experience preparing substation design packages including layouts, sections, grounding, conduit, cable routing, schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel details
• Understanding of substation equipment and design elements such as transformers, breakers, switches, bus arrangements, relay panels, control houses, and cable systems
• Familiarity with utility, renewable interconnection, and/or high‑voltage substation projects is preferred

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting greenfield and brownfield substation projects
• Familiarity with client‑specific utility standards and drafting requirements
• Experience supporting projects related to renewable energy interconnections, transmission, or power delivery infrastructure
• Ability to support both physical layout/design and P&C drafting/detailing across multiple project phases

Pay Range

$30.00 – $50.00 per hour + benefits + bonus

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Flexible work schedules for some positions
• Tenure Awards – travel vouchers based on preferences
• Competitive compensation packages
• Annual bonuses, spot bonuses, and peer recognition awards
• 401(k) match 1:1 up to 4% of compensation
• Tuition Assistance
• Student Loan Repayment
• Paid licensing / certification fees and renewals
• Financial rewards for obtaining licensure
• Employee referrals
• Annual wellness reimbursement for fitness‑related items
• Dependent care match
• Medical (BC/BS), dental (Delta), and vision (VSP)
• Family planning & IVF benefits
• Pet insurance
• Health savings account & flexible spending account options
• Employer‑paid LTD, STD, and life insurance
• MetLife supplemental benefits covering accident, hospitalization, and critical illness
• Member assistance program with counseling and legal services