Substation Physical Designer

Nexus Engineering Group is an employee-owned, full-service firm growing our Substation Department.

About the role

As a Substation Physical Designer, you’ll develop the physical design of high-voltage substation projects — from production support toward independent design. You’ll produce general arrangement layouts, elevation and section views, grounding, conduit routing, and equipment placement for new builds, upgrades, and expansions. Working alongside a collaborative team of engineers and designers, you’ll take on increasing ownership as you develop.

Why Nexus

• Employee ownership (ESOP) — build equity in the firm as it grows
• Real ownership that grows with you — from production support toward independent design
• Mentorship from senior engineers and designers on a collaborative team
• Full-service EPCm exposure, from concept through startup, across a diverse client base
• Career paths that grow with you — toward technical leadership, project management, or discipline leadership
• Flexible work arrangements where business needs allow

Responsibilities

• Develop and revise physical layouts, elevation and section views, below-grade drawings, and supporting documentation in CAD, with growing independence as you develop
• Lay out grounding systems (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, bus arrangements, and equipment placement
• Build and maintain cable/conduit lists, nameplates, and client-specific documentation
• Assist the project lead in developing physical documentation, applying technical design standards
• Apply internal and external processes, procedures, and design standards (IEEE, ANSI, NEC, NESC)
• Coordinate with drafters, designers, other disciplines, clients, and vendors to deliver complete, constructible packages

Requirements

• Associate Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent technical experience
• 2+ years of experience in substation, power delivery, or electrical design
• Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD and/or MicroStation)
• Familiarity with substation physical design — layouts, grounding (IEEE Std 80), conduit and cable routing, and equipment placement
• Working knowledge of IEEE, ANSI, NEC, and NESC standards
• Ability to travel to project and substation sites, some of which are not accessible by public transportation

Preferred Qualifications

• Inventor or Substation Design Suite (SDS) experience
• Grounding or photometric analysis software (WinIGS, CDEGS, AGi32, Visual Lighting, or equivalent)
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification, with progress toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role combines office-based design work with periodic visits to substation and construction sites. It may require:

• Periodic travel to substation and construction sites
• Appropriate PPE on site, including arc-rated clothing
• The ability to access outdoor substation yards and walk uneven terrain, with or without reasonable accommodation

About Nexus Engineering Group

Nexus Engineering Group is a distinguished independent full-service engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) firm providing comprehensive support to clients from concept through startup. With over a decade of demonstrated engineering and design success, Nexus is the firm of choice for those valuing integrity and expertise. At Nexus, you’ll be part of a talented and passionate team dedicated to excellence and innovation in a collaborative and engaging work environment.