Substation Electrical Engineer

ARCO a Family of Construction Companies; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

ESOP

401k (Traditional and Roth)

Tuition reimbursement

Scholarship for associates’ children

Sabbatical program after five years +$

Volunteer leave

Charitable match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

ARCO, a Family of Construction Companies, is seeking a Substation Engineer to lead electrical substation design and power solutions for design/build projects in Downers Grove, IL. You will guide the full electrical scope and mentor project teams, delivering technical excellence across a range of utility applications.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in substation design, strong HV knowledge, and experience reading diverse drawings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of substation design and engineering experience.
• Experience reading, interpreting, and producing single-line, three-line, schematics, and layouts.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, MicroStation, ETAP, SKM, Mathcad or similar tools.
• EIT desirable; PE certification is a plus.

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.

Skills

Substation design

Project leadership

High voltage

Reading drawings

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

ETAP

SKM

Mathcad

Job description

About You

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for engineering? Do you love designing

About You

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for engineering? Do you love designing and implementing 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.

A Day In The Life

• 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.

Necessary Qualifications

• 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.

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.

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.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

EOE, including disability/vets