Sr. Substation Designer Job Northern Kentucky USA,Engineering

In this role, we are seeking a Senior Substation Designer to support the physical layout and design of medium to high voltage substation projects (15kV-500kV). You will be responsible for producing high-quality physical and electrical substation design packages and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, project management, and construction.

This position is ideal for a highly skilled and proactive designer who enjoys both independent design work and team collaboration. You’ll take the lead on design efforts from concept through construction and play a key role in mentoring junior designers.

Your Responsibilities will Include:

Create complete physical design packages for new substations and retrofit projects including:
- Substation general arrangements and equipment layouts
- Elevations and section views
- Grounding and lightning protection plans
- Conduit, cable trench, and raceway plans
- Foundation layouts and steel structure detailing
- Control building layouts, cable tray, lighting, and grounding
- Substation site plans and detailed bill of materials
Coordinate with engineers and drafters to ensure designs meet project requirements and industry standards.
Interpret one-line and three-line diagrams to develop complete physical drawings.
Apply applicable codes and standards (IEEE, NESC, NEC, client-specific guidelines) to all design work.
Incorporate vendor equipment drawings and specifications into design packages.

Design Support & Collaboration

Collaborate with electrical and civil engineers, protection & control teams, and project managers to meet project milestones.
Attend project kickoff meetings, design reviews, and client interface discussions.
Provide field support and perform site visits to verify design accuracy and resolve issues during construction.
Conduct quality checks and peer reviews of design work for accuracy and consistency.

Leadership & Mentorship

Mentor and support junior designers and drafters.
Provide design oversight on multiple projects and manage design deliverables.
Support proposal efforts with design estimates, scopes of work, and schedule input.

Education & Years of

Experience:

5+ years of substation physical design experience (preferably in utility or EPC environments).
Associate degree in Drafting, Engineering Technology, or related field; equivalent work experience considered.

To Thrive in This Role, You Will Need:

Proficient in AutoCAD, with strong drafting and layout skills.
Understanding of substation equipment (transformers, breakers, switches, buswork, etc.).
Familiarity with industry codes and standards including IEEE, NESC, NEC, ANSI, and client-specific requirements.
Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings including one-line diagrams and schematics.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
8-10+ years of substation physical design experience.
Proficiency with Micro Station, AutoCAD Electrical, or Substation Design Suite (SDS).
Experience with Civil 3D, Inventor, or Revit for 3D modeling and visualization.
Experience supporting physical design for control buildings (indoor panel layout, AC/DC load centers, cable tray, etc.).
Familiarity with power system calculations like grounding studies, conductor sizing, or voltage drop analysis is a plus.

Environmental Factors and/or

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, and arm, hand and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to…