Substation Physical Designer I

Position Overview

Power your future with Qualus in our Engineering department as a Substation Designer. The Substation Designer supports engineering teams by preparing, coordinating, drafting and managing technical drawings and documentation for substation design projects — spanning both physical substation layout and the interface with Protection & Control (P&C) systems and drawings. This position will work closely with other substation design teams consisting of Lead Physical and P&C Engineers (who often are Engineer of Record on projects), along with the engineers and designers that support them. Our designer roles require proficiency in CAD software (AutoCAD and MicroStation) and must bring a solid understanding of drafting principles, and the ability to collaborate across Civil, Structural, and Electrical disciplines to deliver accurate, high-quality drawing packages on schedule and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Develop complete, accurate substation design drawings based on engineering specifications, standards, sketches, and vendor information.
• Create and maintain substation physical design packages, including:
  • Drawing indexes
  • General arrangement and elevation drawings
  • Plot plans and GIS-based site layouts
  • Electrical layouts, conduit/cable routing, and schedules
  • Grounding, lighting, oil containment, and related layouts
  • Foundation, structural, and interface drawings
• Develop Protection & Control (P&C) drawing packages, including:
  • One-line and three-line diagrams
  • AC/DC schematics
  • Panel layouts and wiring diagrams
  • Circuit schedules and bill of materials
  • SCADA and communication drawings
• Produce construction drawing packages and as-built documentation.
• Coordinate with electrical, civil, structural, physical design, operations, project teams, engineers, and vendors to ensure project alignment and drawing completeness.
• Perform drawing quality reviews and participate in formal QC processes.
• Support engineers during project administration, including shop drawing reviews.
• Manage CAD files, document archives, revision control, file structures, naming conventions, and project closeout documentation.
• Establish project drawing files, track deliverables, and maintain document control systems.
• Prepare transmittals, design reports, material takeoffs, schedules, legends, and related project documentation.
• Research materials, manufacturer data, industry standards, and technical requirements to support design accuracy and compliance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain CAD standards and provide CAD software support.
• Develop and maintain 3D/BIM substation models and generate construction-ready deliverables from model-based designs.
• Coordinate BIM activities across disciplines, including clash detection, federated models, and BIM execution plans.
• Generate BIM-based schedules, equipment lists, and quantity takeoffs.
• Support the adoption of AI-assisted design tools, automation, and workflow improvements.
• Utilize AI and scripting tools to automate repetitive CAD tasks and improve quality assurance processes.
• Participate in evaluation, testing, training, and implementation of emerging CAD, BIM, and AI technologies.
• Collaborate effectively with team members, communicate project status, ensure proper handoffs, and promote a strong team-oriented culture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience developing substation physical and/or protection & control design drawings using CAD software.
• Proficiency in preparing engineering drawing packages, layouts, schematics, and construction documentation.
• Knowledge of CAD standards, document control practices, drawing management, and quality control procedures.
• Ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary engineering and project teams.
• Experience managing drawing revisions, deliverables, file structures, and project documentation.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to research and apply manufacturer specifications, industry standards, and utility requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and support project execution from design through closeout.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time.Ability to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, and multiple monitors frequently throughout the day.
• Ability to review detailed drawings, technical documents, and project information with close attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, clients, and project stakeholders in person, by phone, and through virtual meetings.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand and finger movements associated with computer-based design work.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift or carry office materials up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to work primarily in a professional office environment and occasionally travel to client or project sites, as needed.

Benefits & Compensation

Qualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.

 

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

Company Overview

Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, energy efficiency and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 2,000 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.

We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.