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 Contract-to-Hire Distribution Engineer role supports power distribution planning, design, and field engineering for a Confidential Client serving the Jackson, MI area. This is an entry-level / early-career role with training provided and clear growth paths into technical lead positions.

• Plan, engineer, and design electric distribution systems for residential and commercial customers.
• Determine need, sizing, timing, and location of distribution infrastructure while balancing cost, regulatory, environmental, and reliability requirements.
• Develop work packages for overhead distribution, underground residential distribution (URD), and underground cable/conduit systems.
• Perform field engineering: site visits, verify existing conditions, identify conflicting utilities and site constraints.
• Run engineering/design calculations using established procedures, standards and applicable codes (e.g., NESC where applicable).
• Produce and update distribution design drawings using CAD tools (AutoCAD, MicroStation, OpenUtilities or equivalents).
• Support post-construction reviews to verify designs met project requirements and to capture lessons learned.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external utility clients to resolve design issues and align on scope.
• Assist with distribution equipment tasks related to voltage, transformers, pole loading, and other distribution components.
• Split time between office/remote design work and field inspections (approximately 10–20% field).

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Who We’re Looking For

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical preferred; Mechanical, Civil or Environmental considered).
• Associate degree plus 1–3 years relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience or exposure to electric utility work, utility consulting, or related power systems work preferred.
• Proficiency with CAD/design tools such as AutoCAD and MicroStation (or equivalent).
• Basic knowledge of electrical/mechanical/civil engineering principles as applied to power distribution.
• Ability to apply core engineering concepts to create design solutions under supervision.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; professional client-facing demeanor.
• Comfortable working in both field and office/remote settings.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs and walk up to ~2 miles on unpaved surfaces during fieldwork.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation suitable for travel to client sites.
• Must live within a 40-minute radius of Jackson, MI.
• Positive attitude, coachable, and able to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams.

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Additional Skills & Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)

• Familiarity with the National Electric Safety Code (NESC) and utility design standards.
• Experience with OpenUtilities, PoleForeman (or similar pole loading tools), SAP, or utility enterprise systems.
• Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) certification is a plus.
• Experience with Civil 3D or other civil engineering design platforms.
• Demonstrated collaborative and inclusive working style.

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Work Environment & Location

• Hybrid role based in Jackson, MI (covers Jackson and Adrian, MI territory). Expect roughly 10–20% field inspections; some site visits may require walking on unpaved surfaces and working in variable weather.
• Contract-to-hire position. Travel across the local service area and occasional site meetings with clients are required.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Pay: $29.00 per hour (Contract-to-Hire).
• If eligible, benefits for this temporary role may include:
  • Medical, dental & vision
  • Critical illness, accident & hospital plans
  • 401(k) with pre-tax and Roth options
  • Voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Transportation benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Time off / leave (PTO, vacation, sick)
• Eligibility and availability of benefits may depend on job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to plan terms and change.

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Location & Job Type

• Job Type: Contract-to-Hire (CONTRACTOR)
• Workplace: Hybrid in Jackson, MI
• Must be within a 40-minute drive of Jackson, MI for field assignments.

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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.