Design Engineer (PE)

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Design Engineer (PE) – Electric Distribution
Location: Remote/Wheaton, IL
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $100K-$125K/YR
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, paid holidays, paid volunteer time off, continuing education reimbursement, and additional comprehensive benefits

Sterling Engineering is looking for a Design Engineer (PE) to join a growing engineering consulting firm supporting electric utility infrastructure projects. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced electrical engineer with electric distribution design experience who enjoys working on utility modernization, infrastructure improvements, and client-facing engineering projects in a collaborative consulting environment.

Job Summary:

The Design Engineer will support the design, analysis, and execution of electric distribution projects involving overhead and underground distribution systems. This role is responsible for performing engineering studies, preparing design deliverables, coordinating with clients and project teams, and ensuring projects meet utility standards and engineering best practices.

Job Duties:

• Design overhead and underground electric distribution systems (4kV–34kV).
• Perform engineering studies including load flow, voltage drop, short circuit, and protection analysis.
• Support electric distribution planning, capacity analysis, reliability improvements, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Interpret and apply utility standards, engineering specifications, and design criteria.
• Prepare, review, and quality check engineering drawings and project deliverables.
• Coordinate with utility clients, municipalities, field personnel, and internal engineering teams.
• Support continuous improvement of engineering standards, templates, and design processes.
• Participate in project execution while ensuring quality, schedule, and technical requirements are met.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required (Illinois preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in electric utility, power delivery, or utility consulting.
• Experience designing overhead and/or underground electric distribution systems.
• Strong understanding of utility engineering standards, design documentation, and engineering practices.
• Experience using power system analysis software such as CYME, Synergi, ETAP, or similar platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work directly with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Experience supporting investor-owned utilities is preferred.
• Knowledge of distributed energy resources (DER), grid modernization initiatives, utility GIS systems, and work management systems is a plus.

Additional Information:

• Primarily remote role with occasional travel to the Wheaton office and project sites as needed.
• Opportunity to work on electric distribution modernization, reliability improvements, and infrastructure projects.
• Collaborative consulting environment with strong opportunities for professional growth and continued technical development.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.