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, Engineering.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

This role supports overhead and underground electric distribution design for a large utility in the Chicago, IL area. You’ll work with designers, engineers, project managers, field crews, and client representatives to produce construction-ready packages and help move projects from field investigation through design and construction.

• Support the design of overhead and underground electric distribution facilities, with significant opportunities to work on underground projects.
• Develop and update design drawings, layouts, sketches, maps, and construction-ready packages using CAD, GIS, and utility-specific design systems.
• Assist with underground facility design: cable routes, conduit systems, transformers, switchgear, handholes, manholes, and related equipment.
• Support projects for new service, system extensions, equipment replacements, reliability improvements, relocations, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Gather, organize, and document field information necessary for accurate designs.
• Conduct site visits and investigations to verify equipment locations, take measurements, and identify constraints.
• Assist with material takeoffs, cost estimates, bills of material, and construction documentation.
• Prepare and maintain plans, specifications, reports, diagrams, records, and other technical documentation.
• Support permit applications, municipal coordination, and agency submittals as required.
• Update GIS, mapping, and utility records to reflect design changes.
• Collaborate with engineers, designers, construction teams, and client reps to resolve design and field issues.
• Track assigned projects to help ensure deliverables meet quality requirements and schedules.
• Provide construction support through field verification, design revisions, and issue resolution.
• Travel locally for fieldwork and coordination (approximately 20%).

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Examples of Projects You May Support

Underground Distribution

• New underground electric service for residential and commercial customers.
• Underground primary and secondary cable installations and overhead-to-underground conversions.
• Transformer, switchgear, handhole, manhole, conduit, and cable routing projects.
• Replacement or relocation of aging underground infrastructure.

New Service & Customer Growth

• Electric service for new residential subdivisions and multifamily developments.
• Commercial and industrial service extensions and distribution system extensions for new loads.

Reliability & Infrastructure Improvements

• Pole and equipment replacement, conductor and cable replacement, facility relocations.
• Feeder and system reliability upgrades and infrastructure modernization projects.

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Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Open to entry-level through experienced candidates.
• Strong technical aptitude and interest in electric utility design, engineering, construction, or infrastructure.
• Ability to read, interpret, and develop technical drawings, maps, sketches, and construction documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and accurate field documentation skills.
• Comfortable working in both office and field environments.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and work effectively as part of a project team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally for site visits and coordination.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Previous electric distribution design experience (especially underground distribution) strongly preferred.
• Experience with AutoCAD, MicroStation, Distribution Design Studio (DDS), GIS, O-Calc, SPIDACalc, or similar utility design tools.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in engineering technology, CAD/drafting, design technology, construction technology, engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience supporting an electric utility, utility engineering consultant, utility contractor, electric cooperative, or infrastructure organization.
• Knowledge of utility construction practices, permitting, easements, rights-of-way, and design standards.
• Experience producing construction-ready drawings and packages.

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Ideal Candidate Profile

We’re looking for someone who is detail-oriented, technically curious, and committed to building or advancing a career in electric distribution design. Entry-level candidates should have a strong CAD/drafting or engineering-technology foundation and an eagerness to learn utility systems. Experienced candidates should bring hands-on distribution design experience and an understanding of how field findings translate into construction-ready designs. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential.

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Why Join Our Client

Our client is focused on technical excellence and delivering critical infrastructure that powers communities. You’ll join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth while contributing to meaningful modernization, reliability, and resiliency projects across the region.

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Compensation & Location

• Location: Chicago, IL (local travel ~20%)
• Employment type: Full-time
• Pay: $20.00 – $28.00 per hour (the specific rate within this range will be influenced by location, experience, skills, and education)

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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.