Substation Physical Designer
About the role
Nexus Engineering Group is employee-owned, full-service, and growing our Substation Department. As a Substation Physical Designer, you'll develop the physical design of high-voltage substation projects — and grow from production support toward independent design. You'll produce the general arrangement layouts, elevation and section views, grounding, conduit routing, and equipment placement that bring substations to life — from new builds to upgrades and expansions. Working alongside a collaborative team of engineers and designers, you'll take on more ownership as you develop, building toward independent design of substation physical packages.
Why Nexus
You'll own a piece of what you build. Nexus is employee-owned through our ESOP, so the value you help create comes back to you — not just outside shareholders. We invest in our engineers and give them room to grow into greater ownership of the work.
- 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
Required Qualifications
- 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. This role 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, a distinguished independent full-service engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) firm, provides comprehensive support to clients from concept through startup. With over a decade of demonstrated engineering and design success, Nexus stands out as the firm of choice for those valuing integrity and expertise. At Nexus, you will be part of a talented and passionate team dedicated to excellence and innovation. We foster a collaborative and engaging work environment, making it a place where you'll enjoy contributing to impactful projects. Joining Nexus means aligning with a firm renowned for its creativity, dedication, and relentless focus on achieving client goals.