Substation Electrical Engineer

ViziRecruiter,LLC.; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry-leading bonus program

ESOP

401(k) Traditional and Roth

Tuition reimbursement

Scholarship for associates' children

Sabbatical and travel allowance

Paid volunteer leave

Charitable match

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

ARCO/Murray National is seeking a Substation Engineer to guide the electrical scope and lead substation system designs for design/build projects in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The successful candidate will lead project teams, provide technical expertise on substation engineering, and support work across facility and utility applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 5 years of substation design/engineering experience, utility-scale preferred.
• Strong knowledge of high-voltage equipment, bus systems, grounding, and control/relay systems.
• Ability to read, interpret, and produce single-line, three-line, schematic, and layout drawings.
• Experience preparing technical specifications, bills of material, and vendor data reviews.
• EIT preferred; PE certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage project teams of engineers and designers in electrical substation projects.
• Develop, review, and approve engineering deliverables including diagrams, layouts, and BOMs.
• Perform electrical calculations and studies (short circuit, voltage drop, grounding).
• Support procurement, RFIs, and subcontractor reviews to ensure conformance with specs.
• Coordinate with construction/commissioning teams through all project phases.
• Travel to substations/projects as required and ensure QA/QC compliance.

Skills

Project leadership

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Reading technical drawings

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

ETAP

SKM

Mathcad

Job description

Introduction

At ARCO/Murray, we take our "better team, better planning, and better execution" culture seriously. But we're not an award-winning firm just because we're a great place to work. We're relentless experts at what we do.

Overview

About You:

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for engineering? Do you love designingandimplementing complex electrical systems? Are you looking for a company that is constantly trying to push the boundaries of what it means to offer a better construction solution process by using design/build? If the answer is, "Yes!" then we have an opportunity that will excite you. Who are we?We are ARCO, a Family of Construction Companies.

ARCO/Murray National is currently looking for a Substation Engineer to join our team based in Downers Grove, Illinois. This individual will be responsible for guiding the full electrical scope and leading the development of substation system designs and power solutions in support of design/build projects. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated engineer capable of leading project teams, providing technical expertise on substation engineering projects, and supporting work across a variety of facility and utility-related applications.

What We Can Offer You:

We are dedicated to the well-being of our associates and are proud to be consistently recognized as a Best Place to Work. Our compensation and benefits package not only supports our associates and their families but benefits local communities and communities around the world.

• Industry-leading performance-based bonus program
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Traditional and Roth 401k
• Tuition reimbursement for associates
• Scholarship for associates' children up to $28,000 per child
• 1-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel
• 1-week paid volunteer leave each year
• 100% charitable match
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Paid parental leave

Typical base compensation for the Substation Electrical Engineer role is between $110,000 and $135,000. Candidates with extensive experience may exceed this range. In addition to base salary, the role is eligible to receive discretionary bonus compensation based on individual and company

At ARCO, our first core value is to treat people fairly and do the right thing. We are committed to building and sustaining a culture that supports diversity and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

From recruiting, training, and hiring practices to selecting our subcontractors, we understand that diversity of all those involved in the construction process enhances our ability to deliver the best solutions to our customers. We hire the best and the brightest from across the country – constructing a team of experts in architecture, design, engineering, project management, and business services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage project teams of engineers and designers in the design and execution of electrical substation projects.
• Develop, review, and approve engineering deliverables including single-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, one-line drawings, schematics, bus arrangements, grounding systems, conduit and cable layouts, control house layouts, relay panel arrangements, bill of materials, bus supports, and equipment foundations.
• Perform electrical calculations and studies such as short circuit and interrupting analysis, bus loading, conductor sizing, voltage drop, and grounding or ground-grid analysis.
• Create or review specifications, data sheets, and technical submittals for major substation equipment including transformers, switchgear, breakers, disconnects, bus duct, control and relay panels, and cable tray.
• Support projects involving breaker and switch replacements, relay panel replacements, RTU replacements, ring bus expansions, and line, bus, and transformer relay upgrades.
• Coordinate with procurement to evaluate vendor submittals, ensure compliance with specifications, and respond to technical RFIs and clarifications.
• Interface with construction and commissioning teams by reviewing contractor drawings, monitoring field installation, supporting design changes, and providing technical resolution for field issues and construction deviations.
• Conduct project scoping and site walkdowns and travel to substations or project sites as required.
• Ensure compliance with relevant codes and standards including IEEE, ANSI, NESC/NEC, applicable local utility and authority standards, and company QA/QC processes.
• Provide design support through construction and commissioning phases, including attending factory acceptance tests, witnessing installation, supporting energization, and assisting in commissioning and verification activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including civil/structural, protection and control, project management, and site construction to ensure coordinated design and execution.
• Support change-order review, cost estimating, constructability review, risk identification, and project planning efforts including schedules, budgets, and forecasts.
• Apply a strong understanding of substation physical design including ground grid, rigid and strain bus, and raceway systems.
• Mentor junior engineers and drafters, provide quality reviews of drawings and calculations, and help ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 5 years of substation design and engineering experience, utility-scale experience preferred, or comparable heavy commercial construction-related background.
• Strong working knowledge of substation design practices for high-voltage equipment, bus systems, grounding, control/relay systems, station service, and physical layout design.
• Demonstrated ability to read, interpret, and produce single-line, three-line, schematic, and layout drawings.
• Experience preparing technical specifications, bills of material, and vendor data reviews.
• Proficiency with design tools and software such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, ETAP, SKM, Mathcad, or other power-system calculation tools.
• EIT certification desired; PE certification is a plus.
• Experience leading projects, developing engineering schedules, budgets, and forecasts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across design, procurement, construction, and client teams.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as required.
• Familiarity with engineering deliverables in a GC setting, including design-build or EPC support, is a plus.

MAKE YOUR MOVE

We are proud to be one of the fastest-growing, privately-owned companies in America, celebrating over 30 years of experience as design-build experts. We have completed over 7,500 design-build projects nationwide. We ranked #9 on ENR's Design-Build Firms list and #34 on ENR's Top 400 Contractors list of 2026. Most importantly, our clients like us, trust us, and want to do business with us. We are looking for people with the same enthusiasm, passion, and respect for the hard work that brought us to where we are today. Are you a person who can make a difference at ARCO? If the answer is "Yes!" we look forward to meeting you.