Substation Physical Engineering Associate II

Mesa Associates, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesa Associates, Inc. seeks a mid-level Substation Physical Engineer to support the Power Delivery Substation group, primarily across the United States. The role emphasizes design, grounding, and protection coordination with CAD tools and strong communication skills.

You will work with a team of engineers and drafters to develop equipment, grounding, and cable routing plans, review studies, and ensure compliance with codes and client requirements. Opportunities to mentor teammates are available.

Qualifications

• 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 12kV–230kV.
• Located within commuting distance of Pensacola, FL due to team requirements.
• FE Certification preferred - Desire to pursue Professional Engineering licensure.
• Fast learner – able to 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 – AutoCAD and Bentley MicroStation; can provide design markups using Bluebeam Revu.
• Grounding study experience preferred – familiarity with WinIGS, CDEGS, or ETAP.

Responsibilities

• Work on a team of drafters, designers, and 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 BOMs and conductor sizing calculations.
• Coordinate with Protection & Controls, Civil, Studies, and other disciplines to keep designs aligned.
• Examine drawings, specifications, and calculations to locate inconsistencies and propose corrective actions with documentation.
• Identify bottlenecks and contribute to Mesa’s internal knowledge base.
• Ensure all deliverables meet code, client requirements, and Mesa’s QA procedures.

Skills

Substation design

Electrical engineering

Communication

Problem-solving

Travel readiness

Education

ABET-accredited degree in electrical/ mechanical/ civil engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Bentley MicroStation

Bluebeam Revu

WinIGS

CDEGS

ETAP

Job description

PDS 8 / Power Delivery Substation

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

Disclaimer: Be cautious and only respond to emails from our "mesainc.com" domain. We will never ask for sensitive information, such as bank account details, SSN, etc., via email. If you receive any communication asking for such information, it is not from Mesa. For any concerns, or to verify the authenticity of a message, please contact us through our official channels.

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
• Group Medical/Dental Insurance
• 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.