Substation Designer

Toth And Associates Inc; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 41,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to 5% of base salary

Job summary

Toth and Associates, Inc. is seeking an in-office Substation Designer to support the design and development of electric utility substation projects. You will work closely with engineers, CAD Technicians, and project teams to produce safe, reliable substation layouts and design packages.

The ideal candidate has strong technical design experience, knowledge of utility electrical systems, and a proven ability to coordinate across multiple engineering disciplines to deliver constructible designs.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant drafting/design experience in utilities.
• Associate's degree in drafting or related field; or 2+ years with Bachelor's.
• Experience in utility, substation, transmission and distribution design.
• Substation design experience preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop physical layouts and detailed designs for substations.
• Create and maintain 2D CAD drawings and models.
• Ensure designs meet industry standards and client specs.
• Coordinate with electrical, civil, and structural teams to develop integrated designs.
• Review equipment and vendor drawings for project information.
• Prepare design documentation and schedules.
• Support design reviews and project coordination.
• Assist through all design phases to construction-ready deliverables.

Skills

CAD drafting

Electrical design

Microsoft Excel

Office applications

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel and Office

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: PDX - Portland, OR 97239

Salary Range: $30.00 - $55.00 Hourly

Job Shift: Day

Qualified candidates applying directly to Toth are eligible for a sign-on bonus up to 5% of the annual base salary. This bonus is subject to the applicable policies.

We are seeking an in office Substation Designer to support the design and development of electric utility substation projects. This role works closely with engineers, CAD Technicians, and project teams to develop safe, reliable, and constructible substation layouts and design packages. The ideal candidate has strong technical design experience and knowledge of utility electrical systems.

The Substation Designer will develop physical substation layouts and ensure equipment arrangements, electrical clearances, and physical spacings comply with applicable industry codes, standards, and client requirements. This position requires a strong combination of technical design knowledge, attention to detail, and the ability to coordinate across multiple engineering disciplines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop physical layouts and detailed designs for new substations, expansions, upgrades, and equipment replacement projects.
• Create and maintain accurate 2D CAD drawings, models, plans, elevations, sections, and design details with assistance from the CAD Department.
• Ensure designs meet applicable industry standards, client specifications, safety requirements, and established engineering practices.
• Coordinate with electrical, civil, and structural engineering teams to develop integrated, constructible designs.
• Review equipment and vendor drawings to incorporate dimensions, connection requirements, and other critical project information.
• Evaluate equipment arrangements, electrical clearances, accessibility, maintenance requirements, and future expansion needs.
• Identify and help resolve design conflicts, clearance concerns, and constructability issues throughout the design process.
• Prepare design documentation, equipment schedules, and supporting project information using Microsoft Office tools.
• Participate in design reviews, quality control efforts, and project coordination meetings to ensure project accuracy and consistency.
• Support projects through all phases of design, from initial concept development through construction-ready deliverables.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in drafting, design technology, engineering technology, CAD, or related field with 4+ years of relevant experience; OR
• Bachelor's degree in a related technical field with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in utility, substation, transmission & distribution, industrial electrical, or similar infrastructure design.
• Substation design experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Utility substation design (12.47 kV - 230 kV).
• Knowledge of electrical clearances, equipment spacing, grounding, conduit & cable design, lightning protection, lighting, electrical schematics, AC and DC services, substation batteries, and related substation elements.
• Familiarity with IEEE, ANSI, NESC, and NEC standards.
• Experience with multidisciplinary coordination.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Eight paid holidays
• Company-paid medical and dental coverage with buy-up options
• 401(k) w/company matching and profit sharing
• Discretionary bonuses
• Paid Bonding Leave
• Vision
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Supplemental life insurance available
• Short-term disability available
• FSA and HSA options
• Education assistance

Company Overview

Toth and Associates, Inc. (TOTH) is a full-service consulting engineering firm offering a broad range of services, including electric utility engineering, structural engineering, civil engineering, land services, GIS/mapping, utility rate services, and joint-use/make-ready support. Since our founding in 2003, we have grown to serve public and private utilities, municipalities, architects, developers, educational institutions, and other clients across the country.

At TOTH, we believe strong relationships are the foundation of successful work. Our team is built on professional expertise, collaboration, and a commitment to serving both our clients and one another well. We value people, encourage continued growth, and strive to provide a workplace where employees can build meaningful, rewarding careers.

TOTH offers competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment. Visit www.tothassociates.com to learn more about our company.