Civil Design Engineer, Substation
The Civil Design Engineer in Substation Engineering at Confidential Client is responsible for developing civil, structural, and environmental designs for high voltage substations, including foundations, structures, and spill containment systems. This hybrid role involves preparing construction drawings, performing structural analysis using specialized software, conducting field reviews, and collaborating with multiple stakeholders to ensure safe and compliant substation infrastructure.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Electric Utility (Transmission & Substation Engineering).
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Overview
Confidential Client is hiring an entry-level Civil/Structural Design Engineer focused on substation civil engineering. This hybrid role supports transmission/substation projects: foundation and structure design, grading and drainage, spill containment, seismic considerations, CAD drawing production and construction support. The assigned work location is in Philatelic, CA and work will include a mix of remote and on-site activities.
What You’ll Do
- Actively promote safe work practices consistent with corporate safety policies.
- Develop civil and structural designs for high-voltage substation equipment and facilities (foundations, anchorage, retaining walls, control buildings, equipment supports).
- Design access roads, grading, stormwater/drainage, soil retention and erosion control for new or modified substations.
- Design spill containment systems (SPCC) for oil-filled electrical equipment to meet environmental compliance.
- Prepare and deliver accurate construction drawings using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Perform or support structural analysis using SAP2000, PLS‑CADD, L‑PILE or equivalent tools.
- Provide construction administration support: review shop drawings, respond to RFIs, and evaluate submittals.
- Participate in field reviews at substation sites and coordinate with engineering, construction, operations and maintenance stakeholders.
- Foster teamwork and process improvements; adopt new tools and methods to increase quality and efficiency.
- Travel approximately 10% of the time to field sites.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, or equivalent combination of education and experience (per source: education + design drafting totaling six years; or four years including two years as a Design Drafter at the employer).
- Must possess and maintain a valid Class C California Driver’s License (or higher) by day 1 of hire.
- Eligible for representation under Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) collective bargaining (this role is subject to the collective bargaining agreement).
Preferred / Strongly Desired
- ~1 year experience in structural engineering or substation/civil design.
- M.S. in Civil or Structural Engineering.
- EIT or PE certification.
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D for construction drawing production.
- Familiarity with SAP2000, PLS‑CADD, L‑PILE or equivalent structural analysis software.
- Working knowledge of building codes and standards (ASCE 7, CBC, ACI 318, AISC 360).
- Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
Compensation & Work Type
- Work type: Hybrid (remote + assigned work location in Philatelic, CA).
- Hourly pay range (per collective bargaining info provided): $44.70 – $74.42 per hour.
Approximate annual equivalent (for reference): ~$92,976 – $154,794 (based on 2,080 hours/year). - Actual pay will depend on factors including skills, experience, education, certifications, geographic location, collective bargaining provisions and internal equity.
Why Apply
- Join a large substation engineering organization focused on safe, reliable electric transmission infrastructure.
- Hands-on design work using industry-standard tools (AutoCAD Civil 3D, SAP2000, etc.).
- Opportunities for professional growth, mentoring, and progression toward EIT/PE licensure.
- Hybrid schedule with field exposure and collaborative multidisciplinary teams.
Additional Notes
- This is an entry-level / individual contributor role.
- Travel requirement: ~10%.
- This position is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) and is subject to collective bargaining terms that affect pay and other conditions.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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