Substation Designer - Power & Energy

ZipRecruiter; Southfield (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in consulting and engineering is seeking talented Substation Physical and Protection & Controls Designers to join their innovative team. This role offers the chance to work on utility-scale solar and high-voltage substation projects, contributing to the future of sustainable energy. With a commitment to excellence and a collaborative environment, you will have the opportunity to develop detailed designs and schematics that meet industry standards. Enjoy competitive compensation, generous benefits, and the flexibility of remote work options. If you're passionate about engineering and making a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Generous Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Flexible Work Schedules

Travel Vouchers

401K Matching

Tuition Assistance

Student Loan Repayment

Wellness Reimbursement

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Pet Insurance

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in substation design, both physical layout and protection & controls.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and MicroStation for detailed designs.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed physical layout designs for high-voltage substations.
• Produce schematics and wiring diagrams for substation systems.

Skills

Substation Design

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Electrical Schematics

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

Atwell, LLC is a bold leader in the consulting, engineering, and construction services industry, delivering a broad range of creative solutions to clients in the real estate & land development, and energy markets. We have a strong presence and a diverse, award-winning project portfolio. Atwell is a privately owned company, with 1,800+ passionate team members across 55+ locations and growing!

Atwell, LLC is a proud recipient of the following 2024 awards:

• Nine consecutive years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" (#16) by Zweig Group
• Recognized as #10 in the "Top 100 Fastest Growing AEC Firms" in the U.S. by Zweig Group
• Recognized as #71 in the ENR Top 500 Design Firms, ranked in every region.
• Recognized in Crains "Fast 50" as one of the fastest-growing firms based in Michigan.
• Recognized in Crains Magazine as one of Michigan's largest privately held companies.

Atwell is seeking experienced Substation Physical Designers and Substation Protection & Controls (P&C) Designers to play key roles in the development of utility-scale solar, BESS, and high-voltage substation projects. These positions offer the opportunity to contribute to both brownfield and greenfield designs and play an essential role in shaping the future of sustainable energy. Remote work options are available.

Key Responsibilities – Substation Physical Designer

• Develop detailed physical layout designs for high-voltage substations, including equipment arrangement, bus work, and grounding systems.
• Produce plan and elevation drawings, section views, and conduit routing using industry-standard CAD tools.
• Support physical design of structures such as steel supports, equipment pads, and foundations for substation infrastructure.
• Coordinate with electrical engineers and civil/structural teams to ensure integrated project design.
• Revise and update drawings based on redlines, project feedback, and engineering changes.
• Ensure all drawings meet project specifications, client standards, and applicable codes.

Key Responsibilities – Substation Protection & Controls (P&C) Designer

• Develop protection and control schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts for substation systems.
• Design control wiring for relays, SCADA, metering, alarms, and other protection devices.
• Assist with creating single-line diagrams, AC/DC elementary diagrams, and connection drawings.
• Perform revisions based on markups, design changes, and client-specific standards.
• Ensure compliance with NESC, IEEE, and utility-specific standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3+ years of experience in substation design—physical layout, protection & controls, or both.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar CAD platforms.
• Experience working on utility-scale renewable energy or substation projects.
• Strong understanding of substation components, wiring, and electrical schematics.
• Familiarity with NESC, IEEE, and utility drafting standards is .
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment.

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Atwell Benefits: To attract and retain the best professionals in the industry, we aim to provide an excellent working environment and a progressive benefits program designed to support your personal and professional needs.

Work/Life:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible work schedules are available for some positions
• Tenure Awards — Travel Vouchers to see the world based on your travel preferences

Compensation:

• Competitive Compensation packages
• Annual bonuses, spot bonuses and peer recognition awards
• 401K plan matching formula is 50% of your contributions up to 8%
• Tuition Assistance
• Student Loan Repayment up to $25K
• Paid Licensing / Certification Fees and Renewals
• Financial Rewards for Obtaining Licensure
• Employee Referrals up to $5,000
• Annual Wellness Reimbursement up to $500 for anything wellness related (Gym memberships, fitness tracker, home gym equipment, etc.)
• Dependent Care Match

'Atwell'ness:

• Medical (BC/BS), Dental (Delta), and Vision (VSP)
• Family Planning & IVF Benefits
• Pet Insurance
• Health Savings Account & Flex Spending Account options
• Employer paid LTD, STD, and life insurance
• Metlife Supplemental Benefits covering accident, hospitalization, and critical illness
• Member Assistance Program (MAP) with complimentary counseling sessions, legal benefits, financial consultations, and work/life referral services