Substation Physical Designer

Nexus Engineering Group • Oak Brook, IL

1d • $60,000 - $95,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Nexus Engineering Group is employee-owned, full-service, and growing our Substation Department. As a Substation Physical Designer, you’ll develop the physical design of high-voltage substation projects — and grow from production support toward independent design. You’ll produce the general arrangement layouts, elevation and section views, grounding, conduit routing, and equipment placement that bring substations to life — from new builds to upgrades and expansions. Working alongside a collaborative team of engineers and designers, you’ll take on more ownership as you develop, building toward independent design of substation physical packages.

Requirements

• Associate Degree in a technical discipline or equivalente technical experience.
• 2+ years of experience in substation, power delivery, or electrical design.
• Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD and/or MicroStation).
• Familiarity with substation physical design — layouts, grounding (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, and equipment placement.
• Working knowledge of IEEE, ANSI, NEC, and NESC standards.
• Ability to travel to project and substation sites, some of which are not accessible by public transportation.

Nice To Haves

• Inventor or Substation Design Suite (SDS) experience.
• Grounding or photometric analysis software (WinIGS, CDEGS, AGi32, Visual Lighting, or equivalent).
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification, with progress toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.

Responsibilities

• Develop and revise physical layouts, elevation and section views, below-grade drawings, and supporting documentation in CAD, with growing independence as you develop.
• Lay out grounding systems (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, bus arrangements, and equipment placement.
• Build and maintain cable/conduit lists, nameplates, and client-specific documentation.
• Assist the project lead in developing physical documentation, applying technical design standards.
• Apply internal and external processes, procedures, and design standards (IEEE, ANSI, NEC, NESC).
• Coordinate with drafters, designers, other disciplines, clients, and vendors to deliver complete, constructible packages.

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — an ownership stake and a share in the long-term success of Nexus
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match and discretionary bonus opportunities
• Paid time off, holidays, and paid parental leave
• Professional development and career advancement — training, certifications, licensure support, tuition assistance, and mentorship
• Wellness benefits and a flexible schedule where business needs allow

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree