Senior Power Distribution Engineer

Westwood Professional Services; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood) seeks a Senior Engineer, Power Distribution to develop and implement cost-effective solutions for upgrading and expanding distribution systems across the United States.

You will mentor engineers, manage complex projects, and collaborate with substation, transmission, and renewable teams. You will ensure compliance with NESC, ASCE, IEEE, and LGE/KU standards, while maintaining strong client relationships and leading technical reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in ABET-accredited engineering with 5–10 years in power distribution line engineering.
• Advanced knowledge of overhead and underground distribution facilities and their integration into utility operations and project workflows.
• Experience applying NESC, ASCE, IEEE, and LGE/KU standards in distribution line design.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and mentor junior engineers while maintaining high quality and reliability.
• Professional demeanor with collaborative project planning and execution.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
• Proficiency with design and analysis software including AutoCAD, PoleForeman, HexEAM, GIS Smallworld, and Pull-Planner.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform distribution line design for overhead and underground projects, including routing, FEM, hardware/conductor selection, and permitting.
• Provide technical guidance and peer reviews for drawings and design documents across teams.
• Support large-scale projects from inception through completion under the Lead Engineer.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and lead technical sessions to raise team capabilities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with substation, transmission, renewable energy, and power storage teams.
• Maintain client relationships and identify opportunities to grow the distribution practice.
• Communicate project status, risks, and technical insights to stakeholders.
• Travel to project sites to gather field data and interface with clients.
• Uphold safety and design standards (NESC, ASCE, IEEE, LGE/KU).

Skills

Power distribution design

Mentoring engineers

Project management

Client relationship management

Leadership

Education

ABET-accredited Bachelor's in Electrical/ Civil/ Structural/ Mechanical/ Multi-Disciplinary Engineering

ABET-accredited Master's in Electrical/ Civil/ Structural/ Mechanical/ Multi-Disciplinary Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

PoleForeman

HexEAM

GIS Smallworld

Pull-Planner

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Description

The Senior Engineer, Power Distribution is primarily responsible for developing and implementing cost-effective engineering solutions to upgrade, expand, maintain, and automate overhead and underground power distribution systems for clients across the United States. Ensuring compliance with client procedures, design standards, and applicable state and federal regulatory and safety requirements, this role operates with a high degree of technical independence while actively supporting the Lead Engineer in managing large-scale projects from inception to completion.

With 5 to 10 years of relevant experience, the Senior Engineer serves as a technical authority and subject matter expert within the distribution design team, mentors mid-level engineers, conducts peer reviews, and collaborates cross-functionally with substation, transmission, renewable energy, power storage, and communications design teams. This role also carries meaningful client relationship responsibilities - maintaining trusted relationships with existing clients and identifying opportunities to grow the firm's distribution practice.

Requirements

• Perform all aspects of overhead and underground distribution line project design, including line routing, finite element analysis, hardware and conductor selection, technical support during construction, One-Calls, DOT and municipality permitting, right-of-way requests, and electrical one-line diagrams.
• Design and implement innovative engineering solutions for complex distribution system designs, applying advanced engineering methodologies and utility standards.
• Assist the Lead Engineer in managing large-scale engineering projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and successful delivery against project timelines.
• Serve as a technical authority and subject matter expert in power distribution engineering, providing guidance across the team on complex design challenges.
• Provide accurate and constructive peer reviews of engineering and design drawings produced by engineers at all levels.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of each project deliverable, including plan and profile drawings, structure load analyses, structure framing drawings, bills of materials, and design drawings.
• Mentor and coach mid-level engineers, fostering their professional growth and development through direct instruction, design reviews, and ongoing guidance.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops to enhance team technical skills, knowledge, and standards awareness.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve complex engineering and design challenges across the project portfolio.
• Ensure all engineering work complies with applicable industry safety and design standards, including NESC, ASCE, IEEE, and LGE/KU.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams - including substation, transmission, renewable energy, power storage, and communications - to align engineering efforts with broader project and business objectives.
• Communicate project status, risks, and technical insights effectively to stakeholders at all levels.
• Maintain trusted relationships with existing clients and actively identify opportunities to grow the firm's presence with prospective clients.
• Travel to project sites as needed to gather field data and interface directly with clients.
• Participate in professional organizations, conferences, and continuing education activities to enhance technical knowledge and professional networks.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet one of the following education and experience combinations:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil/Structural, Mechanical, or Multi-Disciplinary Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, combined with 5 to 10 years of relevant experience as a Power Distribution Line Engineer in a consulting or utility environment OR
• Master's degree in Electrical, Civil/Structural, Mechanical, or Multi-Disciplinary Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, combined with 4 to 10 years of relevant experience as a Power Distribution Line Engineer in a consulting or utility environment.
• Advanced knowledge of overhead and underground distribution facilities and their integration into utility operations and project workflows.
• Demonstrated experience applying NESC, ASCE, IEEE, and LGE/KU standards in distribution line design.
• Proven ability to manage a significant number of concurrent projects and mentor less experienced engineers while maintaining high standards of quality, consistency, accuracy, and reliability.
• Professional demeanor with an open-minded, collaborative approach to project planning and execution.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Proficiency with LGE/KU distribution-specific design and analysis software including AutoCAD, PoleForeman, HexEAM, GIS Smallworld, and Pull-Planner.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or Professional Engineer (PE) license in the United States.

Competencies Required

• Technical Proficiency: Applies discipline-specific knowledge, codes, and engineering principles to produce accurate, high-quality work.
• Design Excellence: Develops functional, constructible, and innovative design solutions that balance client vision, budget, and regulatory requirements.
• Quality Assurance & Control: Take ownership of deliverable accuracy and completeness through disciplined review processes and adherence to Westwood's QA/QC standards.
• Project Planning & Scheduling: Develops realistic project plans, manages resources, and monitors progress to deliver projects on time and within scope.
• Scope, Budget & Fee Management: Manages project budgets with discipline, tracking financial performance and addressing scope changes proactively.
• Subconsultant & Team Coordination: Coordinates effectively with subconsultants, contractors, and agencies to produce integrated, conflict-free deliverables.
• Client Relationship Management: Builds trusted, long-term client relationships by serving as a reliable advisor who anticipates needs and exceeds expectations.
• Mentoring & Talent Development: Invest in colleagues' growth through coaching, feedback, stretch assignments, and active sponsorship of emerging professionals.
• Communication & Presentation: Communicates clearly in written, verbal, and visual formats - translating technical content effectively for any audience.
• Problem Solving, Innovation & Knowledge Management: Approaches complex problems analytically, makes sound decisions under uncertainty, and drives a culture of continuous improvement by capturing institutional knowledge and encouraging experimentation.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative "One Team" mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients' success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.