Substation Physical Engineering Associate II

Mesa Associates, Inc.; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Holiday Pay

Life Insurance (Company Paid)

Disability Insurance (Company Paid)

401(K) Retirement Savings plan

401(K) Matching Contribution

Section 125/Cafeteria Plan

Long Term Care Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Fitness Center Reimbursement

Annual Performance Bonus

9/80 Work Schedule Option

FSA and HSA Options

Job summary

Mesa Associates, Inc. is seeking a mid-level Substation Physical Engineer to join the Power Delivery Substation group. You will design and review medium- to large-scale substations for 12kV–230kV, using AutoCAD, Bentley MicroStation, and Bluebeam Revu, with grounding studies and BOM duties.

Located near Pensacola, FL, with travel to client sites and Mesa offices as needed. The role emphasizes independent problem-solving and effective communication with leadership and clients, plus readiness to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering (ABET Accredited).
• 3+ years of transmission substation physical design experience for 12kV–230kV.
• Location within commuting distance of Pensacola, FL.
• FE Certification preferred; plan to pursue PE licensure.

Responsibilities

• Work on design of medium- to large-scale substations including equipment, foundations, grounding, and cable routing.
• Perform and review lightning and grounding studies; develop BOMs and conductor sizing calculations.
• Coordinate with other disciplines to align designs and packages.

Skills

Fast learner

Independent problem-solver

Effective communicator

Travel availability

Education

Bachelor’s degree (ABET Accredited) in Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Bentley MicroStation

Bluebeam Revu

WinIGS

CDEGS

ETAP

Job description

Substation Physical Engineering Associate II

This position is not eligible for recruiting or sourcing by outside parties.

Mesa seeks a mid-level Substation Physical Engineer located near Pensacola, FL that is looking to further their career in the electric power industry. This position is for our Power Delivery Substation group which supports various clients across the United States.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering (ABET Accredited).


• 3+ Years of transmission substation physical design experience in the electric utility industry for voltage ranges spanning from 12kV to 230kV.


• Location – Located within commuting distance of Pensacola, FL due to team requirements.


• FE Certification preferred - Desire to pursue Professional Engineering licensure.


• Fast learner – You can pick up new concepts, standards, and software quickly.


• Understanding of substation physical fundamentals – Foundations, grounding, cable routing, equipment power ratings, clearances, and conductor sizing.


• Design software proficiency – Utilizes AutoCAD and Bentley MicroStation to develop designs and can provide design markups using Bluebeam Revu.


• Grounding study experience preferred, not required – Working knowledge of WinIGS, CDEGS, or ETAP for grounding and lightning analysis.


• Independent problem-solver – Can spot inconsistencies, trace root causes in drawings or specifications, and deliver well-documented solutions with minimal supervision.


• Effective communicator – Comfortable presenting technical findings to leadership, clients, and cross-functional teams.


• Travel availability – Willing to travel to client sites for periodic site visits, typically 1–2 single-night trips per month. Willing to travel to Mesa’s Chattanooga, TN and Knoxville, TN offices multiple times a year for work and team events.

What You’ll Learn

• Project management – The process for leading a project’s design from concept to close-out; aiming for schedule and cost targets.


• Leadership – Guiding junior engineers and designers on drafting standards, calculation methods, and best‑practice workflows.


• Advanced studies – Deepening your expertise in grounding, lightning, and short‑circuit analysis on increasingly complex substation projects.


• Professional communication – Presenting design rationale and progress updates to clients, senior management, and cross‑functional teams.

What You’ll Do

• Work on a team of drafters, designers, and engineers.


• Increase your knowledge under the mentorship of senior engineers.


• Create and review equipment, structural, foundation, grounding, and cable routing plans and details for medium- to large-scale projects.


• Perform and review lightning and grounding studies, and develop Bills of Materials (BOMs) and conductor sizing calculations.


• Coordinate with Protection & Controls, Civil, Studies, and other engineering disciplines to keep designs aligned across packages.


• Examine drawings, specifications, and calculations to locate inconsistencies; research standards or vendor data; propose corrective actions with clear documentation—all with minimal supervision.


• Identify process bottlenecks, develop internal time‑saving tools, and contribute to Mesa’s internal knowledge base.


• Ensure all deliverables meet code, client requirements, and Mesa’s internal QA procedures.

What You’ll Earn

• Paid Time Off


• Holiday Pay – 10 Days Annually


• Life Insurance (Company Paid)


• Disability Insurance (Company Paid)


• 401(K) Retirement Savings plan


• 401(K) Matching Contribution


• Section 125/Cafeteria Plan


• Long Term Care Insurance


• Tuition Reimbursement


• Fitness Center Reimbursement


• Annual Performance Bonus


• 9/80 Work Schedule Option


• FSA and HSA Options

Notice to External Search Firms: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.

Behaviors

Detail Oriented

Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Motivations

Self-Starter

Inspired to perform without outside help

Education

Bachelors or better in Engineering or related field.

Experience

3 years:

Transmission substation physical design experience in the electric utility industry for voltage ranges spanning from 12kV to 230kV.

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.