Distribution Designer

Distribution Designer II/III Department: Engineering / Distribution Design Location: Hybrid Houston Tx- combination of office-based design work and local/regional field visits Role Type: Full-time About Our Client Our client is a utility engineering organization supporting electric distribution projects for utility, cooperative, and municipal customers. They deliver overhead and underground distribution design services, partnering closely with utility clients on projects ranging from routine upgrades to complex underground and urban distribution work. The team values accuracy, safety, and continuous improvement, and offers designers the opportunity to work across the full project lifecycle - from field assessment through construction support. Job Description The Distribution Designer II/III will support the design and development of overhead and underground electric distribution projects, preparing detailed design and construction packages from initial field review through final construction documentation. Day-to-day work blends office-based design (using CAD, GIS, and pole-loading software) with field visits to verify existing conditions and collect data. This role directly impacts project quality and safety by identifying design conflicts and system risks before work is released, and by ensuring all work complies with utility standards and applicable codes. Duties and Responsibilities Independently develop design and construction work packages for overhead and underground electric distribution systems Review project scopes, utility records, field data, and client documentation to determine design requirements Perform field visits to collect measurements, identify existing utility conditions, and verify project requirements Prepare distribution designs involving poles, conductors, transformers, secondary systems, service connections, underground cable, and conduit Perform or support engineering calculations, including wood pole loading, guying, conductor sag/tension, voltage-drop/flicker, cable-pulling, and demand/fault-current calculations Utilize distribution design, pole-loading, GIS, CAD, and work-management systems to complete project documentation Prepare material lists, cost estimates, construction notes, permits, easement documentation, and right-of-way applications Coordinate designs around existing utilities, roadway requirements, property restrictions, and environmental considerations Required Experience/Skills Minimum 2 years of electric distribution design experience (Level II); typically 4+ years of progressively responsible experience (Level III) Experience working directly for an electric utility, electric cooperative, municipality, or utility engineering consulting firm Demonstrated experience designing overhead and underground electric distribution systems Working knowledge of utility construction standards, distribution equipment, and field-design practices Experience with one or more distribution design/pole-loading tools such as BOUD, O-Calc, SPIDAcalc, PoleForeman, or similar Nice-to-Haves Experience applying National Electrical Safety Code standards Experience with ESRI-based GIS platforms Experience with AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar drafting tools Knowledge of utility permitting, easements, right-of-way requirements, and joint-use coordination Experience preparing project estimates, bills of material, and construction work orders Experience coordinating protective devices or reviewing distribution-system loading Familiarity with utility work-management and customer-information systems Experience reviewing the work of junior designers or providing technical guidance to team members Education Associate or bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology, Drafting, Design, Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred. Keywords Distribution Designer | Electric Utility | Overhead Distribution | Underground Distribution | Pole Loading | SPIDAcalc | GIS | CAD | NESC | Utility Engineering #J-18808-Ljbffr American Society of Interior Designers