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 and sciences services and talent solutions.

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

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Responsibilities

This entry-level Distribution Design Engineer will support planning, engineering, and design of electric distribution systems under the guidance of experienced engineers. Key responsibilities include:

• Plan, engineer, and design electric distribution systems for residential and commercial customers.
• Determine need, size, location, and timing of distribution infrastructure while factoring economic, environmental, regulatory, and reliability constraints.
• Develop work packages for overhead distribution, underground residential distribution (URD), and associated cable and conduit systems.
• Perform field engineering: gather requirements, verify site conditions, and identify utility conflicts or constraints.
• Run engineering and design calculations using established procedures, standards, and applicable codes (e.g., NESC where applicable).
• Produce and update distribution drawings and documentation using CAD tools (AutoCAD, MicroStation, or equivalent).
• Support post-construction reviews to verify designs meet requirements and identify improvements.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external utility clients to clarify requirements and resolve design issues.
• Assist with tasks involving voltage selection, transformer sizing, and other distribution equipment considerations.
• Communicate technical findings clearly to peers, clients, and stakeholders.
• Escalate complex technical issues to senior engineers; handle routine problem-solving independently.
• Support administrative activities tied to design packages, inspections, and project documentation.
• Balance field inspections with office/remote design work to meet schedules and quality expectations.
• Maintain professional client-facing behavior, communication, and presentation.

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Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical preferred; Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, or Design considered).
• An associate degree plus significant related experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's.
• Experience or exposure to electric utility or utility-consulting environments preferred.
• Experience with CAD/design tools such as AutoCAD and MicroStation or similar platforms.
• Foundational knowledge of engineering principles related to power distribution and delivery.
• Comfort working in both field and office/remote settings, including site visits and inspections.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds and walk up to 2 miles on unpaved surfaces during fieldwork.
• Reliable personal transportation and a valid driver’s license.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for client-facing interactions.
• Teamwork skills and ability to collaborate with diverse colleagues across locations.
• Positive attitude, eagerness to learn, and willingness to work under supervision while growing technical skills.
• Must live within a 40-minute radius of Portage, MI.

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Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or Environmental Engineering is preferred.
• Prior work on power delivery projects (overhead and underground distribution) is highly beneficial.
• Familiarity with industry standards and codes relevant to distribution engineering (e.g., NESC practices).
• Experience supporting projects for utilities, generation owners, or industrial clients is advantageous.
• Interest in career growth toward technical lead roles as experience increases.
• Willingness to support work across utility disciplines (generation, substations, transmission, distribution) and in other regions as needed.

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Work Environment

• This is a hybrid role: roughly 70% remote/office design work and about 30% field activities within the assigned Michigan territory.
• Field duties include visiting utility sites, verifying conditions, walking on unpaved surfaces, and collecting data.
• You will use modern engineering/design tools and collaborate with construction partners, utilities, and internal teams.
• Safety-focused culture with opportunities for advancement inside a large utility engineering program.

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Job Type & Location

• Employment type: Contract (with potential for assignments that require full-time commitment).
• Location: Portage, MI — hybrid role with regular field activities within the local territory.
• Must be based within ~40 minutes of Portage, MI to support timely field work.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Pay: $29.00 per hour (range provided in source: $29.00 - $29.00/hr).
• Actual pay offered will depend on qualifications, experience, location, and other job-related factors.
• If eligible, benefits for this temporary/contract role may include:
  • Medical, dental & vision (subject to eligibility)
  • Critical illness, accident, and hospital plans
  • 401(k) retirement plan (pre-tax and Roth options where available)
  • Voluntary life and AD&D coverage
  • Short- and long-term disability (subject to eligibility)
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Transportation benefits and Employee Assistance Program
  • Paid time off / leave programs (as applicable per classification and tenure)

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Candidate Requirements & Logistics

• Must be able to travel to local field sites (reliable personal transportation required).
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Ability to perform physical field tasks (lift up to 20 lbs, walk uneven terrain).
• Willingness to follow established engineering procedures, codes, and safety practices.
• Open to training and mentorship; strong candidates show initiative and a readiness to learn.
• Reasonable accommodations: If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact Careertakes to request assistance.

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About the Client

This opportunity is posted on behalf of a Confidential Client operating in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. Careertakes is supporting the recruitment and will share matched opportunities through our platform.

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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.