Substation Physical Designer

Kimley-Horn; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan match

Health coverage

Time off & flexible scheduling

Student loan matching

Tuition reimbursement

New Parent Leave

Job summary

Kimley-Horn’s Charlotte office is seeking a Substation Physical Designer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. You will support high-voltage and medium-voltage substation projects, developing layouts, grounding systems, and construction drawing packages.

Collaboration with protection, civil, structural, and electrical disciplines is essential. The role requires strong technical design skills, knowledge of substation design standards, and the ability to manage multiple

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant experience in substation design.
• Associates degree with engineering or drafting concentration preferred.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, MicroStation and Inventor.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual and detailed HV and MV substation physical/electrical design for utilities and substations, including layouts and grounding.
• Perform engineering studies and calculations.
• Conduct quality control reviews on substation design projects.
• Lead technical aspects of projects with limited guidance.
• Create and review bills of materials for projects.
• Develop proposals and scopes of work for smaller projects.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and designers.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and clients to meet objectives.

Skills

Technical design

Project coordination

Team collaboration

Education

Associates degree in engineering or drafting

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Inventor

Job description

Overview

Kimley-Horn's Charlotte office is seeking a Substation Physical Designer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. The successful candidate will support the design, and execution of high-voltage and medium-voltage substation projects for utility, renewable energy, and industrial clients. Responsibilities include developing physical layouts, equipment arrangements, grounding systems, lightning protection systems, and construction drawing packages while coordinating closely with protection and control, civil, structural, and electrical disciplines. The ideal candidate is a self-driven designer with strong technical skills, experience in substation design standards and industry practices, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. This is not a remote position.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual and detailed HV and MV substation physical/electrical design for utilities and substations, including basic layout, electrical arrangement, one-line diagrams, three-line drawings, plan-section drawings, and grounding.
• Perform engineering studies and calculations.
• Perform quality control reviews on substation physical design projects.
• Assume the role of technical lead on projects with limited guidance.
• Create and review bills of materials for substation physical projects.
• Develop and review proposals and scopes of work for smaller substation physical projects.
• Support the continued professional development of less experienced engineers/designers, including technical guidance and training recommendations.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and clients to meet project objectives.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant experience in substation design.
• Preferred (but not required): Associates degree with an engineering or drafting concentration.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design software such as AutoCAD, MicroStation and inventor.
• Experience with grounding studies, lightning protection studies, and lighting studies.

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it— that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.