Graduate Physical Engineer (Utility Substations)

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

Atwell, LLC is a bold leader in the consulting, engineering, and construction services industry, delivering a broad range of creative solutions to clients in the real estate & land development, and energy markets. We have a strong national presence and a diverse, award-winning project portfolio. Atwell is a privately owned company, with 2,000+ passionate team members across 75+ locations and growing!

Atwell, LLC is a proud recipient of the following 2025awards:

• Ten consecutive years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" by Zweig Group (#11)
• Recognized as #70 in the ENR Top 500 Design Firms, ranked in every region
• Recognized in Crain's "Fast 50" as one of the fastest-growing companies (#14)
• Recognized as the 2025 ENR Design Firm of the year for the Southeastern US
  

About the Position

The Graduate Physical Engineer - Utility Substations supports the engineering design and analysis of physical systems for utility substation and switching station projects. Working under the guidance of experienced engineers, this role assists with general arrangements, equipment layouts, elevations, grounding systems, conduit systems, lightning protection, illumination, equipment specifications, engineering calculations, and related construction documentation. In this role, an employee will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in regard to the essential functions of the job below.

Essential Responsibilities

• Support the detailed physical engineering design of utility substations, including general arrangements, site plans, equipment layouts, elevations, grounding plans and details, conduit and trench plans, lightning protection layouts, illumination plans, bills of material, equipment specifications, and related construction documents under the guidance of experienced engineers.
• Assist with engineering calculations supporting physical substation design, including bus and conductor ampacity, bus loading and structural requirements, grounding, conduit fill, cable sizing, voltage drop, lightning protection, and illumination calculations as assigned.
• Prepare and revise engineering drawings, calculations, specifications, reports, and design documentation from project data, sketches, redlines, markups, vendor information, and technical direction.
• Support equipment selection and specification development and assist with review of vendor drawings and submittals for conformance with project requirements.
• Apply applicable client requirements, utility standards, company standards, and relevant codes and industry standards to assigned work with guidance.
• Perform self-checks of assigned calculations, drawings, and documentation and incorporate review comments and redlines into project deliverables.
• Coordinate assigned work with engineers, designers, CAD technicians, project managers, and other disciplines to clarify design information and support complete project packages.
• Assist with project research, technical documentation, cost estimates, budget information, proposals, and other project-related reports as directed.
• Support site visits, field verification, construction support, and troubleshooting activities as assigned while adhering to company safety and quality requirements.
• Communicate assignment status, technical questions, workload concerns, and schedule impacts to the project engineer or supervisor in a timely manner.
• Perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Basic understanding of utility substation physical engineering principles, equipment arrangements, grounding systems, conduit systems, and related design documentation.
• Ability to apply foundational engineering principles and standard techniques, procedures, codes, and design criteria to assigned physical substation tasks under the guidance of experienced engineers.
• Novice knowledge of general arrangements, site plans, elevations, equipment layouts, grounding plans, conduit plans, lightning protection, illumination, bills of material, and equipment specifications.
• Familiarity with engineering calculations used in physical substation design, including bus and conductor sizing, grounding, conduit fill, cable sizing, voltage drop, lightning protection, and illumination.
• Ability to prepare and revise drawings, calculations, reports, specifications, and related technical documentation from sketches, redlines, markups, vendor information, and technical direction.
• Learn to perform self-checks, accept technical feedback, incorporate review comments, and take responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of assigned work.
• Developing ability to identify unclear information, technical questions, drawing conflicts, and coordination concerns and seek guidance appropriately.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage assigned tasks and proactively communicate workload or schedule concerns.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, designers, CAD technicians, project managers, clients, contractors, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate questions and technical information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bluebeam, Mathcad, Visual Lighting, or related engineering software preferred.
• Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, company quality and safety standards, and advancement toward engineering licensure.
• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification may be preferred by discipline.
• 0-2 years of relevant utility substation, power delivery, electrical, civil, structural, mechanical, or related engineering experience.
• Internship, co-op, academic project, or field experience involving utility substations, power systems, engineering design, or construction documentation preferred.

Additional Position Details

• Work is performed in a professional work environment, with work location and reporting expectations determined by business needs and position requirements. Some field work may be required.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and operate a computer and other office productivity equipment.
• Frequently communicates and collaborates with clients, engineers, designers, contractors, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Must be able to move around project sites and work in indoor or outdoor environments as required.
• Travel may be required based on client and project needs.

Cultural Fit

• Independent yet Collaborative
• Dependable
• Creative Problem Solver
• Natural Communicator
• Flexible
• Results oriented
• Client Focused
• Enthusiastic

Fair Labor Standards Act

• Exempt | Overtime pay is not required

Disclaimer

• The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the USA.
• If your current job responsibilities differ from your assigned duties, please contact Human Resources.

Atwell Benefits: To attract and retain the best professionals in the industry, we aim to provide an excellent working environment and a progressive benefits program designed to support your personal and professional needs.

Work/Life:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible work schedules are available for some positions
• Tenure Awards — Travel Vouchers to see the world based on your travel preferences

Compensation:

• Competitive Compensation packages 
• Annual bonuses, spot bonuses and peer recognition awards
• 401K match - 1:1 up to 4% of compensation 
• Tuition Assistance
• Student Loan Repayment 
• Paid Licensing / Certification Fees and Renewals
• Financial Rewards for Obtaining Licensure
• Employee Referrals 
• Annual Wellness Reimbursement for anything wellness related (Gym memberships, fitness tracker, home gym equipment, etc.)
• Dependent Care Match

'Atwell'ness:

• Medical (BC/BS), Dental (Delta), and Vision (VSP)
• Family Planning & IVF Benefits
• Pet Insurance
• Health Savings Account & Flex Spending Account options
• Employer paid LTD, STD, and life insurance
• Metlife Supplemental Benefits covering accident, hospitalization, and critical illness
• Member Assistance Program (MAP) with complimentary counseling sessions, legal benefits, financial consultations, and work/life referral services