Substation Physical Designer

WSP; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP seeks a Substation Physical Designer for our Duluth, GA office to support the Power & Energy Substation Team. This role focuses on substation physical design, layouts, grounding plans, and conduit/cable routing using CADD tools.

You will collect site data, prepare precise drawings, verify calculations, and work with engineers to ensure designs meet codes and client requirements. A strong eye for detail, teamwork, and adherence to safety policies are essential.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma is required.
• At least 3 years of post‑education experience in substation design for electrical power transmission/distribution.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Clear and effective English communication.
• Familiar with drafting/design support principles and relevant codes.
• Ability to work independently or in a team and meet project goals.
• Commitment to workplace safety and company policies.

Responsibilities

• Collect, compile, and analyze data from sites and drawings to support substation design.
• Use CADD software to prepare precise substation drawings (GAs, grounding, routing).
• Assist with design that ensures proper fit, form, and function per standards.
• Verify calculations and interpret plans; escalate issues as needed.
• Collaborate with engineers and cross‑functional teams on project phases.
• Ensure plans comply with codes, standards, and client requirements.
• Prepare multiple design versions for review by engineers.
• Adhere to contract requirements and design deliverables.
• Participate in training on tasks and tools for substation design.
• Demonstrate current drafting practices and ethical conduct.

Skills

CADD drafting

English communication

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma

Associate’s Degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Electrical

MicroStation

Job description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substation Physical Designer for our Duluth, GA office. Be involved in projects with our Power & Energy Substation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

This Opportunity

Under general to minimal supervision, provides technical design and CADD support on projects to produce designs and specifications to be used for power and energy electrical infrastructure services, supporting transmission and distribution substations. Tasks may include developing skills and generating CADD designs on various assigned projects of basic complexity, with an emphasis on substation physical design (e.g., layouts, equipment arrangements, grounding, conduit and cable routing). Generates accurate and concise design phase deliverables including reports, technical memoranda, design manuals, plans and profiles, models, sections, details, specifications, and material lists. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, accuracy, and functionality.

Your Impact

• Under general supervision, assist with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, structural concepts, blueprints, schematics, data, verbal or written specifications, technical drawings, rough sketches, diagrams, and other matrices to support substation physical design and drawing development activities.
• Under general supervision, use computer‑aided design and drafting (CADD) software to assist with basic design details and prepare substation physical drawings which require a high degree of precision (e.g., general arrangement/layouts, equipment plans, grounding plans, conduit/cable routing).
• Provide basic technical design assistance that accounts for the proper illustration, fit form, and function using geometric dimensioning, tolerance and quantity calculations, while ensuring the construction and maintainability of designs according to design standard specifications.
• Assist with verifying calculations, design, change orders, interpretation of contract plans and specifications, and escalating any issues or technical problems for appropriate resolution.
• Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work.
• Assure plans adhere to applicable codes, standards, and client/utility requirements.
• Prepare multiple versions of designs for review by engineer.
• Ensure the specification of dimensions, materials, and procedures for assigned projects, ensuring compliance with contract requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the engineer-in-charge and other technical professionals on assigned project phases, segments, checks, and tasks.
• Complete training on assigned tasks and tools supporting substation physical design.
• Exhibit basic knowledge of current drafting and design support practices supporting substation physical design deliverables.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision‑making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant post‑education experience in a substation design role supporting physical design for electrical power transmission and distribution projects, preferably in utility or industrial/commercial environments.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship (including H‑1B, OPT, CPT, or other employment‑based visas).
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Familiar with drafting and design support principles, practices, process, methods and techniques.
• Familiar with relevant codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record‑keeping requirements applicable to electrical/substation design work.
• Excellent research and evaluation skills with analytical mindset.
• Capable interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to a technical and non‑technical audience.
• Capable self‑leadership with attention to detail, ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, follow instruction, and comply with company policies.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project‑specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree in closely related discipline is preferred.
• Experience with discipline‑specific design software (e.g., AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, MicroStation) is preferred.
• Exposure to substation physical design deliverables such as general arrangement (GA) drawings, grounding plans, and material lists is a plus.

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

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About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.