Substation Physical Designer

Ampirical; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 64,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing bonus

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) match

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Tuition reimbursement

Gym stipend

Wellness program

Fertility benefits

Pet insurance

Job summary

Ampirical is hiring for Substation Physical Designer I–III to design substations from 12kV to 500kV. Onsite in Duluth, GA with occasional travel. Strong CAD skills and knowledge of codes are required.

You’ll work on IFR/IFA/IFC packages, collaboration with clients and vendors, and apply design standards across projects.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in drafting/CAD or related field.
• 2+ years in substation physical design for Designer II; 4+ for Designer III.
• Experience with 2D/3D design and relevant codes/standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and interpret substation layouts and physical designs.
• Create IFR/IFA/IFC design packages.
• Ensure compliance with electrical, grounding, and clearance rules.

Skills

AutoCAD

P4A

Inventor

Microsoft Office

Bluebeam Revu

NESC/NEC/IEEE standards

2D/3D design

Education

AS/AA in Drafting or CAD

Bachelor’s in Engineering Tech or related

Tools

AutoCAD

P4A

Inventor

Bluebeam Revu

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Ampirical

At Ampirical, we’re shaping the future of the power grid with precision, innovation, and purpose. Just as the ampere is the foundation of electric current, Ampirical is a core force driving the energy sector forward. We focus on quality, forward-thinking solutions, and empowering our team to grow and thrive.

We don’t just build projects—we build careers. If you’re looking for a place where your contributions matter and your professional development is supported every step of the way, we’d love to meet you. Watch this video to get a glimpse into our culture.

Why Ampirical?

Hourly Rate

• Designer I
  • 0+ years of experience
  • $28.92 - $38.46/hour ($60,144 - $80,001 annualized) - Commensurate (dependent on experience, education, and qualifications)
• Designer II
  • 2+ years of relevant experience
  • $30.65 - $40.77/hour ($63,752 - $84,801 annualized) - Commensurate (dependent on experience, education, and qualifications)
• Designer III
  • 4+ years of relevant experience
  • $31.97 - $43.48/hour ($66,497 - $90,429 annualized) - Commensurate (dependent on experience, education, and qualifications)

Profit-Sharing Bonus:

Semi-annual, performance-based (10% to 20% of salary)

Day-One Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k):

4% match with immediate vesting

PTO:

Starting at 80 hours of vacation and 40 hours of sick time per year + 10 paid holidays

Flexible Work Schedule:

Every other Friday off

Career Development:

Advancement opportunities and tuition reimbursement

Perks:

Gym membership stipend, wellness program, fertility benefits, pet insurance, and more

Your Role: Substation Physical Designer I, II, or III

This onsite position in our Duluth, GA office supports Ampirical’s Substation – Physical team and the development of physical design packages for substations ranging from 12kV to 500kV.

We are primarily seeking a Designer II-level candidate, but will consider a strong Designer I who demonstrates good critical-thinking skills and the ability to grow technically. Ideal candidates will have experience working in both 2D and 3D design environments.

Occasional field visits and site walkdowns are required, with limited overnight travel possible.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and interpret substation layouts and physical design drawings
• Support the creation of Issued for Review (IFR), Issued for Approval (IFA), and Issued for Construction (IFC) design packages
• Interpret single-line and three-line diagrams to develop physical layouts
• Produce general arrangements, elevations, section views, foundation layouts, grounding layouts, conduit layouts, and bills of material
• Apply electrical, working, road, maintenance, and construction clearance requirements to substation designs
• Apply knowledge of grounding, shielding, and lighting principles
• Consider the constructability of transmission lines, transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and other substation equipment
• Use AutoCAD, P4A, Inventor, and related engineering/design software
• Review and incorporate vendor drawings and equipment information into design deliverablesFollow governing codes and standards including NESC, NEC, and IEEE
• Support project schedules, budgets, quality-control processes, and client-specific design standards
• Participate in field support, pre-scoping activities, site visits, and documentation as needed
• Collaborate with clients, vendors, engineers, and other members of the project team

The scope and independence of the work increases with level. Designer I performs lower-complexity work with significant guidance, Designer II handles intermediate-complexity work with moderate oversight, and Designer III handles medium-complexity work with low oversight and provides peer checking of lower-level work.

What You Bring

Education

Designer I

• Associate Degree in Drafting, CAD, Engineering Design Technology, or a related technical field OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related technical field
• Either degree path is acceptable
• 0+ years of experience required

Designer II

• Associate Degree in Drafting, CAD, Engineering Design Technology, or a related technical field OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related technical field
• 2+ years of directly relevant experience
• In lieu of degree: 2+ additional years of relevant experience may substitute for the degree

Designer III

• Associate Degree in Drafting, CAD, Engineering Design Technology, or a related technical field OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related technical field
• 4+ years of directly relevant experience
• In lieu of degree: 2+ additional years of relevant experience may substitute for the degree

Experience

Designer I

• Entry-level; no prior professional experience required
• Foundational understanding of substation layouts and physical design principles
• Ability and willingness to develop technical skills under close supervision
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
• Exposure to or experience with 2D and 3D design preferred

Designer II

• 2+ years of directly relevant experience in substation physical design or a related technical field
• Basic to intermediate knowledge of substation configurations, layouts, clearances, grounding, shielding, and lighting
• Experience working with 2D and 3D design
• Ability to create and interpret preliminary substation layouts and contribute to design packages
• Ability to provide peer checks for lower-level designers

Designer III

• 4+ years of directly relevant experience in substation physical design or a related technical field
• Intermediate knowledge of substation configurations, layouts, clearances, grounding, shielding, and lighting
• Experience working with 2D and 3D design
• Ability to independently apply multiple governing codes and client standards
• Ability to peer check lower-level work, support QC activities, develop simple scopes of work, and provide technical presentations

Skills

• AutoCAD
• P4A
• Inventor
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Bluebeam Revu
• Understanding of NESC, NEC, and IEEE standards appropriate to position level
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate design documentation
• Strong communication, organization, collaboration, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills
• OSHA 10 or equivalent site safety training preferred, or willingness to obtain prior to field assignments

Ampirical is an Equal Opportunity Employer, meaning we do not discriminate based on the following characteristics in our hiring and employment practices: Age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religion or religious attire, marital status, pregnancy (child birth or related medical conditions), citizenship status or amnesty, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, sickle-cell trait, status as a tobacco user or non-user, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.