Energy - Sr. Designer II

KCI; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Career development & mentoring

Job summary

KCI Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Senior Designer II to lead physical substation design for utility projects. The role includes client coordination, project oversight, and ensuring quality from planning through IFC.

The Senior Designer II will perform field-support, develop design packages, and mentor junior staff while collaborating across engineering disciplines in a dynamic office + field environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent; 14 years relevant experience, or an Associate’s Degree and 12 years of experience.
• Experience with design of physical substations and related systems.
• Knowledge of IEEE, NESC, NEC, OSHA standards and utility practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead physical substation design and coordinate with Project Engineers to deliver projects.
• Manage workflow and allocate tasks to staff to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Oversee design reviews for quality, constructability, and compliance with standards.
• Mentor Designers, CAD Technicians, and junior engineers; support onboarding and knowledge transfer.
• Coordinate with Protection & Control, Civil, Structural, and other teams for integrated design.
• Prepare complete substation design packages from conceptual to IFC stages.

Skills

AutoCAD

MicroStation

OpenUtilities Substation

Project coordination

Team mentorship

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent; 14 years exp, or Associate’s Degree; 12 years exp

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

OpenUtilities Substation

Navisworks

ProjectWise

Job description

Join us as we Rise to the Challenge

At KCI, we’re building an enduring community that provides unparalleled value to our employee-owners. We make our mark designing and delivering our world-class solutions, so we invest deeply in supporting and developing our team. We reward integrity and commitment, and when we do well, you do well. Our employees have the freedom to innovate, unlimited growth, a voice that matters, a lifestyle that works, and skin in the game. Achievements are shared and celebrated. As a team, we are motivated to better ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

Overview

Join us as we Rise to the Challenge

At KCI, we’re building an enduring community that provides unparalleled value to our employee-owners. We make our mark designing and delivering our world-class solutions, so we invest deeply in supporting and developing our team. We reward integrity and commitment, and when we do well, you do well. Our employees have the freedom to innovate, unlimited growth, a voice that matters, a lifestyle that works, and skin in the game. Achievements are shared and celebrated. As a team, we are motivated to better ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

The Company

KCI Technologies, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned engineering, consulting and construction firm serving clients throughout the United States. KCI is recognized as an industry leader, employing cutting-edge technologies, management practices and strategic growth initiatives. Employee ownership fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, encourages technical expertise, and shapes strategic planning. KCI is currently ranked #56 on Engineering News-Record’s list of the Top 500 design firms in the nation.

Kci Benefits Information

We offer a competitive compensation package, family friendly benefits, a collaborative working environment, and the training, mentoring and resources you need to advance in your career. We understand that you have choices, and we know that together we will make a great team!

KCI is committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

KCI Technologies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Duties, Responsibilities & Other

Job Summary: The Senior Designer II (Sr DTII) position is the sixth level in the Designer career track. This career track is tasked with providing designs for utility systems including but not limited to: Overhead and underground circuits for joint use, lighting, and commercial, industrial and residential development and gas and generation systems. This track is also responsible for field data collection and assists with storm restoration when requested. This role involves managing assigned design projects of varying complexity, permit documentation and providing support to others for assigned projects with independence. The Sr DTII will directly communicate with clients to request additional work or project opportunities in addition to tracking progress of their projects. This position primarily involves working in an office environment. There is an expectation of significant field work, which may include exposure to inclement weather conditions such as extreme heat/cold, high humidity, rain, snow and icy conditions.

The Key Responsibilities Of This Role Include

Project and Financial Management

• Serve as the Design Leader for physical substation design while partnering with Project Engineers to deliver successful engineering projects.
• Manage the workflow of assigned staff, delegating tasks as necessary to ensure timely and efficient project completion.
• Achieve or exceed budgeted individual utilization targets while operating within specific budget parameters for projects.
• Take ownership of assigned physical design deliverables from planning through final delivery.
• Maintain accountability for technical accuracy, constructability, completeness, consistency, and quality. Own the planning, coordination, execution, and quality of assigned physical design activities.
• Attend regular project meetings, consult, and coordinate with other practices and sub-consultants as needed to achieve project objectives.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, demonstrating respect and professionalism at all times.
• Translate engineering intent into practical, coordinated, and constructible design solutions.

Technical Proficiency And Essential Competencies

• Utilize your expertise in design principles and engineering fundamentals to produce accurate and compliant construction drawings.
• Lead design and constructability reviews to confirm quality, consistency, and compliance with KCI and client standards.
• Improve standards, workflows, details, and digital design practices to strengthen project execution.
• Support proposal development, technical planning, estimating, resource planning, and client presentations.
• Identify design conflicts, technical risks, schedule impacts, and constructability concerns early.
• Partner with Project Engineers to resolve issues and maintain alignment with engineering objectives.
• Lead the physical design team in meeting project milestones, quality expectations, and client commitments.
• Mentor Designers, CAD Technicians, and early-career engineers through technical coaching and project guidance.
• Support onboarding, technical development, succession planning, and knowledge transfer within the design team.
• Promote technical excellence, consistency, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Comply with KCI policies, ISO requirements, Quality Management Systems, client standards, and industry best practices
• Execute design activities efficiently while meeting quality, budget, schedule, and scope expectations.
• Support Project Managers and Project Engineers by identifying scope changes, schedule impacts, technical risks, and opportunities affecting project performance.
• Promote efficient use of engineering and design resources through proactive planning and coordination.
• Identify opportunities to improve project performance through standardization, constructability, and efficient design practices.
• Lead the development of complete physical substation design packages from conceptual engineering through Issued for Construction (IFC).
• Develop and review equipment arrangement plans, yard layout plans, grounding systems, lightning protection systems, raceway layouts, cable routing, control building arrangements, auxiliary AC/DC station service systems, foundation coordination, structural interfaces, and construction details.
• Coordinate with Protection & Control teams to integrate relay panels, control buildings, cable routing, panel interfaces, communication systems, and station control systems into the physical design.
• Perform interdisciplinary reviews to confirm complete, integrated, and constructible project deliverables.
• Support field investigations, construction, commissioning, Requests for Information (RFIs), and design revisions.
• Manage efforts to produce deliverables that meet KCI quality standards, client specifications, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Gather and analyze field data, measurements, sketches and other relevant information to inform design decisions.
• Read and interpret technical documents, design manuals, and jurisdictional requirements to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Size and specify design requirements based on project specifications and client needs.
• Mentor and train junior staff, fostering their growth and professional development.
• Lead by example, inspiring those around you to excel and embody our shared values.
• Lead the physical design of greenfield and brownfield transmission and distribution substations.
• Develop substation plan layouts, section cuts, physical details, yard layouts, ground grid design, lightning design, raceways, cable routing, control building layouts, auxiliary AC/DC station service systems, structural interfaces, foundation coordination, and construction details.
• Coordinate effectively with Protection & Control, Civil, Structural, Transmission Line, Geotechnical, Project Engineering, Project Management, vendors, and clients.
• Apply working knowledge of Protection & Control interfaces. Experience with one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, relay panels, control cable routing, and station control systems is preferred, but not required.
• Use AutoCAD at an advanced level. Experience with MicroStation, OpenUtilities Substation, Autodesk Inventor, Bluebeam, Navisworks, and ProjectWise is is preferred, but not required.
• Apply IEEE, NESC, NEC, OSHA, utility standards, client specifications, and industry best practices to physical substation design.
• Bring strong constructability, field support, quality review, and multidisciplinary coordination skills to project execution.

Compliance, Safety, and Standards

• Adhere to all company policies and procedures, as well as regulatory requirements, including ISO compliance standards.
• Identify, implement, and adhere to safe working practices.
• Essential Duties and Responsibilities are the basic job functions that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent, and fourteen years relevant work experience, or an Associate’s Degree and twelve years of work experience.
• Valid driver’s license required for field-oriented roles.
• Pre-employment drug screening and background check are conditions of employment. Motor vehicle checks may be required based upon position.