Distribution Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Distribution Design Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on providing experienced QA/QC support for power distribution projects, with a strong emphasis on client standards and resiliency programs. The Distribution Design Engineer reviews and validates overhead and underground distribution designs to ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistency across large-scale distribution and grid hardening initiatives. The position requires deep familiarity with utility distribution practices, strong technical judgment, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to maintain high-quality deliverables and reliable project outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed QA/QC reviews of distribution engineering design packages for utility projects, with a primary focus on AEP-related work.
• Review overhead and underground distribution designs, including line extensions, rebuilds, and resiliency-related scopes, to ensure they meet applicable standards and best practices.
• Evaluate designs for compliance with AEP standards, specifications, construction units, and construction practices, and confirm alignment with established design workflows.
• Identify design discrepancies, potential risks, and quality issues within design packages, and provide clear corrective guidance to resolve them before client submission.
• Collaborate closely with designers, engineers, and project managers to maintain design quality, schedule adherence, and consistency across multiple active projects.
• Support storm hardening, reliability, and modernization initiatives by ensuring distribution designs align with utility resiliency and grid hardening programs.
• Assist in mentoring and guiding junior designers and engineers on AEP-specific requirements, QA/QC best practices, and distribution design workflows.
• Participate in client coordination meetings, providing technical input on design quality, standards compliance, and project status as needed.
• Contribute to internal quality audits and continuous improvement efforts related to distribution design and QA/QC processes.
• Support multiple client projects simultaneously, managing priorities and workload to meet deadlines and quality expectations.

Essential Skills

• 4–5+ years of QA/QC experience supporting utility power distribution projects.
• 4–5+ years of direct experience supporting AEP or CenterPoint distribution projects.
• 4–5+ years of experience working on resiliency or grid hardening programs for AEP or CenterPoint.
• Strong working knowledge of AEP distribution standards, construction units, and design workflows.
• Hands-on experience with overhead and underground distribution design, including line extensions, rebuilds, and resiliency-related scopes.
• Demonstrated ability to identify risk, discrepancies, and quality issues in distribution design packages with excellent attention to detail.
• Prior experience in a lead, reviewer, or quality-focused engineering role within power delivery or distribution engineering.
• Proficiency in QA/QC methodologies and processes applied to power delivery and distribution engineering.
• Ability to support multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high standards of quality and schedule adherence.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with designers, engineers, and project managers.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent utility experience.
• 4–5+ years of experience using Distribution Design Studio (DDS) for distribution design.
• 4–5+ years of AEP-specific design experience, including familiarity with AEP design standards and processes.
• Experience with Distribution Design Studio (DDS) and related distribution design tools and workflows.
• Experience in power delivery engineering, including distribution design and power distribution systems.
• Professional Engineer (PE) credential is beneficial.
• Experience with grid hardening, resiliency, and modernization initiatives in utility environments.
• Familiarity with ENR-recognized power suppliers or large-scale utility power delivery programs.
• Ability to mentor junior team members and support their development in QA/QC and distribution design.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to contribute to internal quality audits and process improvements.

Work Environment

This position is based in an office environment in Houston with standard daytime hours, typically from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The role follows a 9/80 schedule once earned, providing every other Friday off, and involves minimal to little travel. The work centers on power delivery and distribution engineering, including the use of tools such as Distribution Design Studio (DDS) and other distribution design platforms. The environment supports a mix of on-site collaboration and limited work-from-home flexibility, with up to 30 work-from-home days available. Team members work within a structured QA/QC and engineering framework, contributing to grid hardening, resiliency, and modernization projects for major utilities. The organization offers benefits such as holiday time, paid time off (PTO), an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and the opportunity to work with a top-ranked power supplier in an ENR top 100 setting.client

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

The pay range for this position is $32.00 - $48.00/hr.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 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 ziprecruiter.com 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.