Physical Substation Engineer

Job Title: Physical Substation Engineer

We are seeking a skilled Physical Substation Engineer to join our growing Power Delivery team. In this role, you will lead and execute the physical design of high-voltage substations for major utilities across the Southeast, including TVA, Georgia Power, and Alabama Power. You will work through the full project lifecycle, from conceptual layout through construction support, while mentoring junior engineers and contributing to a team known for delivering high-quality grid infrastructure projects. This is an excellent opportunity for engineers or designers looking to advance their career in utility-scale substation design with strong work-life balance and competitive compensation.

Responsibilities

• Develop physical layouts and high-voltage equipment arrangements for new and existing substations (35 kV and above).
• Produce general arrangement drawings, sectional views, grounding layouts, and bills of materials.
• Create and update technical specifications for transformers, breakers, switches, bus work, and control enclosures.
• Perform grounding and lightning protection calculations using tools such as WinIGS or SEED.
• Collaborate with protection and control, civil, structural, and transmission line engineers.
• Review vendor drawings for compliance with project requirements.
• Incorporate field markups and support construction teams during installation.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers as needed.

Required Qualifications

• 3-6 years of experience in physical substation design.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Inventor, or other 3D design software.
• Experience designing at 35 kV or higher.
• Understanding of high-voltage equipment such as transformers, breakers, grounding grids, and bus work.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (ABET accredited).
  • Candidates without a degree but with strong substation design experience are also encouraged to apply.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with WinIGS, SEED, Civil 3D, or AutoCAD Electrical.
• PE or EIT certification.
• Hands-on grounding design experience.
• Experience supporting data center electrical projects.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that builds long-term financial value.
• Competitive bonus structure.
• Option for a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off.
• Flexibility with 30 remote workdays per year.
• Opportunities to work on major utility projects including TVA, Georgia Power, and Alabama Power.
• Strong career growth through exposure to advanced high-voltage design and leadership opportunities.
• Supportive engineering team that prioritizes professional development.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with approximately 15 percent travel to project sites.
• Team-oriented, collaborative culture.
• Opportunities to mentor junior team members.

This is a Permanent position based out of Chattanooga, TN.

The pay range for this position is $105000.00 - $170000.00/yr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave

This is a fully onsite position in Chattanooga,TN.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 14, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.