Substation Physical Designer

Kimley-Horn • Plymouth Meeting, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Kimley-Horn is looking for an Experienced Substation Physical Designer to join our Power Delivery team in Plymouth Meeting, PA! The person in this position will make and quality check drawings and plans of substantial complexity and may perform some multifaceted calculations. This role involves developing substation packages in AutoCAD up to 500 kV, including single line diagrams, substation layouts, control building layouts, electrical elevation views, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, and relay panel elevations. Additionally, the role includes developing distribution packages in AutoCAD up to 34.5 kV, encompassing single line diagrams, above and below grade circuit routing, aerial or survey data integration, trench, grounding, and pole details, and street lighting design. The designer will also contribute to the substation CAD design standardization process, develop a database of CAD tools and blocks for HV substations and transmission lines, and a database of major equipment for substations and transmission lines. The position utilizes automated design (AUD) for distribution material lists and modeling, performs quality control checks, and provides feedback to team members. The role requires minimal supervision, knowledge of engineering principles, and the ability to suggest design changes. The designer will maintain the drawing database, may supervise and train CAD staff, and develop familiarity with Kimley-Horn’s practices, procedures, and standards.

Requirements

• High School Degree
• 4+ years experience developing substation Physical CAD designs
• Must be proficient in using AutoCAD and Bluebeam
• General knowledge of all aspects of electrical systems for substations
• Familiarity with HV substation equipment such as main power transformers, circuit breakers, etc.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize projects and tasks
• Experience in creating CAD tools and symbol databases.

Nice To Haves

• Associates Degree (or higher) with emphasis on Drafting and Design Technology from an accredited technical institution or college in engineering
• Desired knowledge of these softwares: AutoCAD, MicroStation, Civil3D, Revit, PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE

Responsibilities

• Make and quality check drawings and plans of substantial complexity.
• Perform multifaceted calculations.
• Develop substation packages in AutoCAD up to 500 kV (single line diagrams, substation layouts, control building layouts, electrical elevation views, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, relay panel elevations, etc.).
• Develop distribution packages in AutoCAD up to 34.5 kV (single line diagrams, above and below grade circuit routing, aerial or survey data integration, trench, grounding, and pole details, street lighting design, etc.).
• Contribute to the substation CAD design standardization process to expedite design timelines.
• Develop a database of CAD tools and blocks for specific HV substations (and transmission lines) to support analysts and engineers with a plug-and-play AutoCAD experience.
• Develop a database of major equipment for both substation (and transmission).
• Use automated design (AUD) for the development of distribution material lists and guying, voltage drop, and pull tension modeling.
• Perform quality control checks and provide feedback to team members.
• Maintain drawing database.
• Supervise and train CAD staff.
• Develop familiarity with Kimley-Horn’s practices, procedures, and standards.

Benefits

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED