Physical Designer I

ANS•La Paz, CA

About The Position

At ANS, we’re not just a consulting engineering firm—we’re a team of trailblazers shaping the future of multi-disciplinary engineering . Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work and Top 10 Hottest Engineering Firms in the US by Zweig Reports, and featured in Inc. 5000’s Top 250 for our staggering 1,748% growth, we’re proud of what we’ve built and where we're headed. We’re allergic to bureaucracy, thrive on innovation, and embrace data-driven decisions. If you love collaboration, creativity, and a fast-paced environment, we might just be your perfect match! Why you'll love working here - A supportive, dynamic, and innovative team culture. - A chance to directly shape the voice and vision of one of the industry’s fastest-growing firms. About the Role We are seeking a motivated and Physical Designer with at least 1 year of experience in physical design and documentation of substations and related infrastructure. This role involves supporting the layout, development, and integration of high-voltage equipment within substations, ensuring compliance with spacing requirements, safety standards, and client specifications.

Requirements

Minimum 1-2 years in substation physical design or similar high-voltage infrastructure projects.
Basic familiarity with substation equipment, grounding systems, and physical layout principles; strong willingness to learn and grow in this discipline.
Education: Degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
Languages: Spanish, Basic English for reading technical documentation and internal coordination.
CAD/BIM Software: Proficiency in AutoCAD 2D; exposure to AutoCAD 3D, Inventor, Revit, Map3D, or similar tools is considered a plus.
Familiarity with ETAP for reviewing or supporting electrical studies (short-circuit, load flow, protection coordination).
Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate and well-organized drawings.
Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and follow established workflows and instructions.
Good organizational skills, with the ability to manage assigned tasks and meet technical deadlines.
Clear and professional written and verbal communication, with the ability to ask questions and seek clarification when needed.
Ability to perform effectively under pressure to meet tight project deadlines without compromising technical accuracy or quality.

Nice To Haves

Experience with solar PV utility-scale projects, inverter integration, and MV collector system layout is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Create and modify 2D and 3D physical layout drawings for substations using CAD tools, following established design criteria, client requirements, and internal standards.
Prepare and update equipment arrangement drawings, grounding layouts, and general arrangement plans under the guidance of senior designers and engineering leads, using tools such as AutoCAD, SDS-physical, Inventor, Map3D, Bentley Open Utility Substation, and other industry-standard applications.
Perform technical analysis related to equipment spacing, clearances, and mechanical integration in line with project and code requirements.
Produce and revise physical layout drawings, conduit routing plans, cable trench layouts, grounding plans, and equipment installation details as part of project deliverables.
Apply applicable American standards and codes (e.g., IEEE, NESC, ANSI, NFPA 70 (NEC), NEMA, OSHA) as directed, ensuring drawings align with approved design guidelines.
Work closely with engineering leads and project managers to understand project scope, receive clear instructions, and execute assigned design tasks accurately.
Learn, manage, and implement specialized software related to substation physical design and electromechanical systems.
Support the development of physical and grounding layouts for substations, including coordination with PV and BESS systems when applicable.
Provide design support for layout optimization and coordination efforts based on project-specific needs.
Coordinate with civil, structural, and electrical teams to ensure drawing consistency and proper interface between disciplines.
Follow established quality control procedures and collaborate with the Quality Assurance team to address comments and maintain drawing quality.