Civil Designer

Job Title: Civil / Structural Substation Designer (Structural Designer – Physical, Remote/Hybrid)

Job Description

This role focuses on civil and structural substation design for utility power delivery projects, covering the full lifecycle from initial engineering through construction support. You will create detailed technical designs for additions and modifications to distribution and transmission utility systems, including steel and concrete structures, foundations, equipment layouts, and associated calculations. The position offers the opportunity to work primarily with the structural engineering group, with exposure to forensic work and occasional support for overhead transmission and gas infrastructure projects. You will work both independently and as part of project teams to deliver high‑quality substation engineering solutions that enhance reliability and performance.

Responsibilities

• Design civil and structural components for medium and high voltage substation projects, including steel structures, foundations, cabinets, racks, and related concrete and rebar details.

• Prepare comprehensive construction drawings, documents, calculations, and engineering studies for substation and power systems projects, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

• Develop and refine substation physical layouts, electrical elevations, and plans such as foundation, grounding, and raceway drawings, along with detailed bills of materials.

• Use engineering design principles, formulas, and industry standards to perform structural and power system calculations that support safe and reliable substation designs.

• Utilize design and analysis software such as Arista 3D, STAAD, Mathcad, Lpile, FAD Tools, and MFAD to perform structural analysis and prepare design calculations.

• Ensure technical delivery and quality of assigned power delivery engineering projects or tasks, meeting internal standards and client requirements.

• Manage and maintain design records and files, including creating and updating as‑built drawings and permit drawings throughout the project lifecycle.

• Work with small, multidisciplinary project teams to execute substation projects from concept through completion, prioritizing tasks and communicating effectively.

• Support construction activities by providing construction assistance, including site visits and participation in construction efforts and coordination with subcontractors.

• Interpret and apply relevant utility and industry standards, including IEEE, IEC, NESC, and client‑specific requirements, in all aspects of design.

• Select and specify substation physical equipment and non‑standard components as needed, ensuring compatibility with project requirements and standards.

• Contribute to projects within the structural engineering group and, as needed, support overhead transmission and gas infrastructure projects.

• Help ensure that substation designs comply with company standards, government regulations, and applicable tariffs.

• Participate in continuous improvement of substation engineering practices by embracing innovative tools, methodologies, and solutions that enhance efficiency and resilience.

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of experience as a civil or structural designer working on utility substation projects, from initial engineering through construction support.

• 4+ years of experience in the substation design and power delivery field.

• Strong technical experience in civil and structural design, including steel analysis (with some aluminum and stainless steel), foundation design, concrete design, and rebar detailing.

• Demonstrated ability to perform substation physical layouts, electrical elevations, and detailed plans for foundations, grounding, and raceways.

• Experience preparing bills of materials and selecting non‑standard substation equipment.

• Proficiency in structural and design software such as Arista 3D, STAAD, Mathcad, Lpile, FAD Tools, and MFAD for engineering calculations and design.

• Capability to perform steel and concrete detailing for substation structures and foundations.

• Knowledge of substation physical equipment and its application within distribution and transmission utility systems.

• Ability to interpret and apply standards including IEEE, IEC, NESC, and client‑specific utility standards.

• Experience in substation design engineering, including civil, structural, and power delivery aspects.

• Ability to work independently and under the direction of designers and engineers while managing concurrent projects.

• Strong organizational skills to manage and maintain design records, files, as‑built drawings, and permit drawings.

• Effective communication skills for working within small project teams and coordinating with internal stakeholders and subcontractors.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with power system calculations such as AC panel sizing, DC panel and battery sizing, voltage drop calculations, and cable sizing is a plus.

• Experience in substation engineering with exposure to both distribution and transmission systems.

• Experience in construction assistance or construction support, including working with subcontractors and providing technical guidance during construction.

• Familiarity with utility standards and practices related to substation design and power delivery.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.

• Interest in supporting forensic engineering work and occasional overhead transmission and gas infrastructure projects.

• Comfort with using AutoCAD and Civil 3D for substation design and structural detailing.

• Commitment to delivering high‑quality engineering work that meets internal and client standards and contributes to reliable power delivery.

• Willingness to embrace innovative tools and methodologies that improve efficiency and resilience in substation engineering.

Work Environment

This position offers a hybrid work environment, with a preference for candidates located near offices in the San Diego, CA or Phoenixville, PA areas. The typical expectation is up to four days per week in the office, with flexibility for remote work depending on experience and ability to mentor and collaborate effectively from afar. Fully remote arrangements may be considered for highly qualified candidates. The role supports a consistent schedule, with options such as a standard 5/8 workweek or a 9/80 schedule, aligned with any work‑from‑home arrangements. You will work with modern engineering and design tools, including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Arista 3D, STAAD, Mathcad, Lpile, FAD Tools, and MFAD, in a professional environment focused on power delivery, substation design, and structural engineering. The culture emphasizes technical excellence, collaboration within small project teams, and the use of cutting‑edge technology and advanced methodologies to enhance the performance and reliability of substation, transmission line, and distribution engineering. Compensation will vary based on location and experience and may be structured as salary or hourly, with details provided during the hiring process.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $54.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.