Substation Physical Designer

Nexus Engineering Group; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP ownership

Career growth opportunities

Competitive benefits

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Nexus Engineering Group is seeking a Substation Physical Designer to develop the physical design of high-voltage substations, from layouts to grounding and equipment placement. Work with a collaborative team and grow from production support toward independent design of substation packages.

You’ll gain mentorship from senior engineers, participate in full-service EPCm exposure, and explore pathways toward technical leadership and project management within a flexible, employee-owned environment.

Qualifications

• Associate Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent technical experience.
• 2+ years of experience in substation, power delivery, or electrical design.
• Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD and/or MicroStation).
• Familiarity with substation physical design—layouts, grounding, conduit routing, and equipment placement.
• Working knowledge of IEEE, ANSI, NEC, and NESC standards.
• Ability to travel to project and substation sites.

Responsibilities

• Develop and revise physical layouts, elevation and section views, below-grade drawings, and supporting documentation in CAD.
• Lay out grounding systems (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, bus arrangements, and equipment placement.
• Build and maintain cable/conduit lists, nameplates, and client-specific documentation.
• Assist the project lead in developing physical documentation, applying technical design standards.
• Apply internal and external processes, procedures, and design standards (IEEE, ANSI, NEC, NESC).
• Coordinate with drafters, designers, other disciplines, clients, and vendors to deliver complete, constructible packages.

Skills

CAD proficiency

IEEE standards

Travel ability

Substation design knowldg

Education

Associate Degree or equivalent

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Job description

Nexus Engineering Group is employee-owned, full-service, and growing our Substation Department. As a Substation Physical Designer, you’ll develop the physical design of high-voltage substation projects — and grow from production support toward independent design.

You’ll produce the general arrangement layouts, elevation and section views, grounding, conduit routing, and equipment placement that bring substations to life — from new builds to upgrades and expansions. Working alongside a collaborative team of engineers and designers, you’ll take on more ownership as you develop, building toward independent design of substation physical packages.

Why Nexus

You’ll own a piece of what you build. Nexus is employee-owned through our ESOP, so the value you help create comes back to you — not just outside shareholders. We invest in our engineers and give them room to grow into greater ownership of the work.

What you can expect

• Employee ownership (ESOP) — build equity in the firm as it grows
• Real ownership that grows with you — from production support toward independent design
• Mentorship from senior engineers and designers on a collaborative team
• Full-service EPCm exposure, from concept through startup, across a diverse client base
• Career paths that grow with you — toward technical leadership, project management, or discipline leadership
• Flexible work arrangements where business needs allow

What You’ll Do

• Develop and revise physical layouts, elevation and section views, below-grade drawings, and supporting documentation in CAD, with growing independence as you develop
• Lay out grounding systems (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, bus arrangements, and equipment placement
• Build and maintain cable/conduit lists, nameplates, and client-specific documentation
• Assist the project lead in developing physical documentation, applying technical design standards
• Apply internal and external processes, procedures, and design standards (IEEE, ANSI, NEC, NESC)
• Coordinate with drafters, designers, other disciplines, clients, and vendors to deliver complete, constructible packages

Required Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• Associate Degree in a technical discipline or equivalente technical experience
• 2+ years of experience in substation, power delivery, or electrical designli>
• Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD and/or MicroStation)
• Familiarity with substation physical design — layouts, grounding (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, and equipment placement
• Working knowledge of IEEE, ANSI, NEC, and NESC standards
• Ability to travel to project and substation sites, some of which are not accessible by public transportation

Preferred Qualifications

• Inventor or Substation Design Suite (SDS) experience
• Grounding or photometric analysis software (WinIGS, CDEGS, AGi32, Visual Lighting, or equivalent)
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification, with progress toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role combines office-based design work with periodic visits to substation and construction sites. This role may require:

• Periodic travel to substation and construction sites
• Appropriate PPE on site, including arc-rated clothing
• The ability to access outdoor substation yards and walk uneven terrain, with or without reasonable accommodation

About Nexus Engineering Group

Nexus Engineering Group, a distinguished independent full-service engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) firm, provides comprehensive support to clients from concept through startup. With over a decade of demonstrated engineering and design success, Nexus stands out as the firm of choice for those valuing integrity and expertise.

At Nexus, you will be part of a talented and passionate team dedicated to excellence and innovation. We foster a collaborative and engaging work environment, making it a place where you’ll enjoy contributing to impactful projects. Joining Nexus means aligning with a firm renowned for its creativity, dedication, and relentless focus on achieving client goals.

Equal Opportunity Employer & Reasonable Accommodation

Nexus Engineering Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Nexus Engineering Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require an accommodation to participate in any part of the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Sponsorship & Work Authorization

Nexus Engineering Group does not provide employment visa sponsorship of any kind, including CPT, OPT, or employment-based visas. Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States and must be able to maintain that authorization throughout employment without any action, filing, or sponsorship by the company. This requirement applies both at the time of hire and on a continuing basis for the duration of employment.

Third‑Party Agency Notice

Nexus Engineering Group does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from external recruiters or agencies. We only engage approved third‑party partners under a written agreement initiated by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Any resumes submitted without prior authorization or a current agreement will not be eligible for placement fees and will be considered the property of Nexus Engineering Group.

We may use AI tools to help our recruitment team review and organize applications. These tools support — but never replace — human judgment, and final hiring decisions are made by people. If you’d like to know more about how your data is handled, contact us at [e-mail].

The posted salary range represents the anticipated base pay for this position in accordance with applicable pay-transparency requirements and may vary based on experience, qualifications, skills, certifications, work location, and market conditions.

In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — an ownership stake and a share in the long‑term success of Nexus
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match and discretionary bonus opportunities
• Paid time off, holidays, and paid parental leave
• Professional development and career advancement — training, certifications, licensure support, tuition assistance, and mentorship
• Wellness benefits and a flexible schedule where business needs allow