Design Engineer

About the role

Serves as a technical lead and trusted advisor to utility clients, driving the design and engineering of overhead and underground distribution systems. Supports infrastructure planning, grid modernization, distributed energy resource (DER) integration, and reliability improvement initiatives while ensuring high-quality project delivery across multiple utility organizations. Plays a key role in mentoring junior engineers and advancing engineering best practices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical lead and trusted advisor to utility clients on distribution engineering projects.
• Lead the design and engineering of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems.
• Develop and review distribution design packages for power distribution and utility design projects.
• Support infrastructure planning initiatives, including grid modernization and system upgrades.
• Contribute to distributed energy resource (DER) integration projects and related studies.
• Support reliability improvement initiatives for electrical utility distribution networks.
• Execute and review load flow, voltage drop, short circuit, and protection coordination studies.
• Utilize tools such as CYME, Synergi, ETAP, or similar software for distribution system analysis.
• Apply CAD and other design tools to develop and refine distribution engineering designs.
• Drive successful project delivery across multiple utility organizations, ensuring scope, schedule, and quality targets are met.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams within engineering, lighting and infrastructure, manufacturing, warehouse, and program distribution units.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers, providing technical guidance and supporting their professional development.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, processes, and best practices.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to internal stakeholders and utility clients.
• Participate in meetings and training sessions, including periodic in-office engagements, to support collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an Engineering degree with a focus on electrical systems.
• 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering or closely related engineering roles.
• Experience with overhead and underground electrical distribution systems.
• Electrical distribution design experience, including utility distribution design, is required.
• Proficiency in distribution engineering concepts such as load flow, voltage drop, short circuit analysis, and protection coordination.
• Experience working with electrical utilities or in power distribution environments.
• Ability to serve as a technical lead and trusted advisor to utility clients.
• Experience with CYME, Synergi, ETAP, or similar distribution system analysis tools.
• Familiarity with CAD tools for distribution design and engineering.
• Fundamentals of Engineering (EIT) certification or Professional Engineer (PE) license, or the ability to obtain one.
• Strong electrical engineering fundamentals and ability to interpret and apply engineering standards.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering best practices.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with clients and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Experience with distributed energy resource (DER) integration projects.
• Experience supporting grid modernization and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Exposure to or experience with SAP is a plus.
• Experience working with municipal, utility, electrical, or industrial sector projects.
• Experience in a multi-business-unit environment such as engineering, lighting and infrastructure, manufacturing, warehouse, or program distribution.
• Interest in contributing to a strong company culture with a clear mission and vision.
• Motivation to grow within a high-growth organization and take on increasing technical leadership responsibilities.

Skills

• Experience with distributed energy resource (DER) integration projects.
• Experience supporting grid modernization and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Exposure to or experience with SAP is a plus.
• Experience working with municipal, utility, electrical, or industrial sector projects.
• Experience in a multi-business-unit environment such as engineering, lighting and infrastructure, manufacturing, warehouse, or program distribution.
• Interest in contributing to a strong company culture with a clear mission and vision.
• Motivation to grow within a high-growth organization and take on increasing technical leadership responsibilities.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Pay

The pay range for this position is $48.08 - $62.50/hr.

Schedule

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wheaton, IL. The role offers a primarily remote work setup, providing flexibility while maintaining strong collaboration with engineering teams. Engineers are mostly tied to the Shorewood office for engineering activities. The expectation is to be in the office approximately two times per month for meetings, training, and team collaboration, with more frequent in-person presence during onboarding to support integration and knowledge transfer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.