Substation Physical Project Designer - Grid

Sargent & Lundy•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Substation Physical Project Designer works in a project team with engineers and other designers on high- and extra-high-voltage substation design. The role prepares and reviews detailed substation drawings, reviews vendor design deliverables for compliance with specifications, and coordinates project-team comments. It leads field and constructability walkdowns, gathers data at client facilities, and interfaces with clients and contractors about walkdown issues. The position applies and provides guidance on relevant codes, standards, and client requirements; contributes to company quality-system enhancements; and maintains working knowledge of design standards and practices. It guides and mentors designers, drafters, and other stakeholders, reviews and supervises design deliverables, and provides technical guidance on calculations. The designer develops cost-effective approaches, coordinates with other disciplines, independently prepares and reviews calculations, and supports delivery within project budgets and schedules. The role also delegates and monitors assigned staff's technical work and provides performance feedback while overseeing routine personnel matters. The role follows a hybrid work schedule, with in-office work three days per week at a Sargent & Lundy office. Sargent & Lundy describes its benefits as including healthcare plans, paid time off, and other financial and work-life benefits.

Requirements

An associate degree in drafting or equivalent technical experience.
15 or more years of substation physical design experience.
Advanced knowledge of computer drafting tools such as AutoCAD and/or MicroStation.
Ability to visualize equipment details and phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase clearances.
Ability to multitask across projects.
Ability to visualize parts in 3D without the aid of a computer.

Nice To Haves

An associate degree in Computer Aided Design.
Familiarity with Bentley Substation, Inventor SDS, and BlueBeam.
Familiarity with ground-based LiDAR and converting point-cloud information to vector.
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles used to produce technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology, including relating equipment to a technical design.
Interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant to the role; experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued where relevant but is not required.

Responsibilities

Prepare and conduct detailed reviews of substation general arrangements, electrical equipment plans, electrical section views and elevations, detailed bills of material, lightning stroke shielding plans, grounding plans, conduit and electrical connection details, below-grade conduit and raceway plans, and control-building equipment, cable tray, lighting, grounding plans, and sections.
Technically review project-team comments on vendor design deliverables for specification compliance, coordinate comment incorporation, and consolidate and resolve comments.
Lead field walkdowns at client facilities and gather data.
Interface with clients and contractors to discuss walkdown issues and perform constructability walkdowns.
Identify applicable codes, standards, and client requirements; provide guidance on their application; and ensure designs conform to them.
Participate in the company quality system by developing enhancements to standards and processes.
Maintain and use working knowledge of design standards and practices.
Guide and mentor designers, drafters, and other project stakeholders in design and drafting tools, including client-specific tools.
Review and supervise the production of design deliverables.
Provide technical guidance on calculations and independently prepare and review calculations.
Develop cost-effective design approaches and coordinate with other disciplines to obtain adequate inputs for an integrated design.
Implement work-plan requirements within budget and schedule using efficient methods, and guide the project team in meeting budget and schedule goals.
Delegate and monitor assigned staff's technical work, provide performance feedback as a primary evaluator, and oversee routine day-to-day performance and personnel matters for the assigned group.