Substation Physical Engineer
Utilities | Remote [Work from Home] | Chicago, Illinois | Lisle, Illinois

Who We Are

We’re a people-first organization. We value knowledge and learning. We believe in the power of connection and collaboration and we seek to build relationships that mean something. We employ some of the best and brightest in the industry and we work hard to maintain a culture that our people can be proud of.

Working For Primera

Our Utilities division is a talented team of experts working together to provide solutions that are vital to energizing our future. We provide full-service electrical, civil, and structural engineering services to support electric and gas utilities nationwide. We’re also fortunate to support wind farms and renewables; data centers; transmissions systems; and university and industrial facilities.

Who You Are

  • You studied electrical engineering. You have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a professional engineer (PE) license. You have at least 5 to 8 years of experience.  You’re familiar with general arrangement, electrical equipment plans, elevation and section views, equipment cable trays, cable design, conduit fill calculations, and rigid bus calculations. Having experience in substation design is a must!
  • You know power. You comprehend the power delivery design process. You understand substation physical and electrical layouts; protection and controls experience is a plus. You possess a strong knowledge of industry codes and standards.
  • You’re a people person with the ability to interface and collaborate effectively with clients, management and other team members. Your strong organization and communication skills will contribute to your success.
  • You’re proficient with business and engineering applications. Microsoft Office proficiency is a must, particularly Word and Excel.

What You'll Do

  • You’ll perform detailed design of new substation layouts. You’ll create design documents, technical specifications, and drawings for new substation projects including electrical plans, schematics, bills of materials, and equipment specifications. You’ll prepare substation design calculations including grounding, DC loading, AC Aux power loading, bus sizing, lighting and cable sizing.
  • You’ll ensure adherence to client and industry standards. The details make a difference. You’ll apply our clients’ standards, guidelines, specifications, practices and procedures or appropriate industry standards in preparing design drawings. You understand NEC, NESC, NEMA, IEEE, and ANSI standards.
  • You’ll connect with people. You’ll communicate and coordinate project activities with project engineers, designers, and customer representatives
  • You’ll enjoy what you do. You’ll work with great people, learn, grow and have a good time doing it.

Some of What You'll Enjoy

  • An excellent benefits package including 401K match and employee stock ownership, gym and transit subsidies, paid volunteer time off, parental leave, continuing education reimbursement and much more
  • Flexible work scheduling in a fast-growing company
  • Colleagues that appreciate differences in people, perspectives, cultures, and ideas
  • The fruits of our employee-led committees focused on offering engaging social, wellness and community service activities all year long

Starting salary is between $90,000 – $125,000 based on skills and qualifications, with the high end of the range limited to applicants based on relevant years of experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Primera is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Primera’s practices and employment decisions, including those regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation, shall not be based on any person’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, physical handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship status or other protected group as defined by law.

Related Positions

Project Management Assistant

Utilities
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Serve as a central hub of information. You’ll be responsible for the implantation and maintenance of contracts and provide assistance to our utility engineering experts. You’ll work with great people, continue to learn and grow, and have a good time doing it. Learn More

Distribution Electrical Engineer (EIT/PE) - Chicago

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois

Perform detailed design of overhead and/or underground electrical distribution systems. This position entails preparation of field notes, drawings, specifications, and calculations for review and approval by a Senior Engineer. Learn More

Distribution Electrical Engineer (EIT/PE) - Mid-Atlantic

Utilities
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Perform detailed design of overhead and/or underground electrical distribution systems. This position entails preparation of field notes, drawings, specifications, and calculations for review and approval by a Senior Engineer. Learn More

Distribution Electrical Engineer (Entry-Level) - Mid-Atlantic

Utilities
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Perform detailed design of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems including renewables, perform field walkdowns to document existing conditions, ensure adherence to client and industry standards, connect with people, learn from our resident experts, grow professionally, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Structural Designer

Utilities
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Perform detailed design of new utility structures, including transmission lines and substations. Create design documents, technical specifications, and prepare drawings for utility projects. Continue to learn, grow, and have some fun while doing it! Learn More

Civil Engineer (EIT/PE) - Utilities

Utilities
Lisle, Illinois Remote [Work from Home] Chicago, Illinois

Execute civil designs for both public and private utility projects by applying standard practices and techniques. Connect with great people, learn and grow personally and professionally, and ideally have some fun doing it. Learn More

Gas Designer

Utilities
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania Remote [Work from Home]

Performs drafting assignments related to the design of natural gas distribution systems by application of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria. Limited exercise of judgment is required on details of work and in making preliminary selections and adaptations of design alternatives. Tasks may be performed under Project Engineer, Experienced Engineer, or Senior Designer.
Learn More

Transmission Line Engineer

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

You have extensive knowledge of high voltage transmission line design. You'll work with a project team to create all design documents and drawings for transmission line projects. Ideally, you're a self-starter who needs little or no supervision to complete new transmission line designs, do business development, and are capable of supervising junior engineers. Learn More

Lead Structural Engineer

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Performs assignments designed to develop professional knowledge and abilities, requiring application of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria in carrying out a sequence of related structural. Learn More

Substation Group Manager (PE/PMP)

Utilities
Lisle, Illinois Remote [Work from Home] Chicago, Illinois

Establishes, promotes, and assures quality on all projects and work performed by department staff; assigns department personnel to project teams; signs-off on department fees for proposals and projects, monitors staffing needs to ensure projects are completed on schedule; follows up on department-related construction issues to resolve problems and concerns; and, supervises/develops engineers, senior engineers, designers, senior designers, and CAD personnel within the department. Learn More

Distribution Design Manager (PE)

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois

You're highly-motivated with at least 20 years of experience in above and below ground utility distribution. You have management and communication skills that enable you to effectively lead large or complex projects for investor-owned utilities, developers or campuses. You'll connect with people, continue to learn, grow professionally, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Civil Engineer (Entry-Level) - Utilities

Utilities
Lisle, Illinois

Execute civil designs for both public and private utility projects by applying standard practices and techniques. Connect with great people, learn and grow personally and professionally, and ideally have some fun doing it. Learn More

Substation Physical Designer

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois Remote [Work from Home]

This position requires a high level of expertise in quality assurance, the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and strong organizational skills for coordinating various project owners, stakeholders, and client interactions. You'll be responsible for leading large-scale design projects, from concept through to execution, ensuring exceptional design quality, consistency, and alignment with client objectives. You'll support design strategies while maintaining attention to detail in every aspect of your work. Learn More

Utilities Project Manager

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

You’ll be responsible for leading and managing projects, directing and coordinating the activities of multiple disciplines on a project of moderate scope or a combination of smaller projects. You’ll also work with great people and have a good time doing it. Learn More

Distribution Electrical Engineer (Entry-Level) – Chicago

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois

Perform detailed design of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems, perform field walkdowns to document existing conditions, ensure adherence to client and industry standards, connect with people, learn from our resident experts, grow professionally, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Substation Protection & Control Engineer (Entry-Level)

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home] Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

You’ll work on the design and implementation of electrical protection systems within substation projects. Working closely with project teams, you’ll be responsible for creating comprehensive design documents and detailed drawings that are crucial for the successful completion of substation projects. With a deep understanding of protection relaying schemes, such as bus protection, transmission line protection, and transformer protection, you’ll apply your expertise to design and engineer solutions that ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of power systems. Learn More

CAD Drafter

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

Flex your drafting muscle as part of our Utilities team. Prepare drawings from engineering and/or field markups for designers and engineers and coordinate CAD for projects. Prepare drawings for permit, adhere to company and clients standards, connect with people, learn and grow, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Substation Protection & Control Engineer (Mid-Level)

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois Remote [Work from Home]

You’ll work on the design and implementation of electrical protection systems within substation projects. Working closely with project teams, you’ll be responsible for creating comprehensive design documents and detailed drawings that are crucial for the successful completion of substation projects. With a deep understanding of protection relaying schemes, such as bus protection, transmission line protection, and transformer protection, you’ll apply your expertise to design and engineer solutions that ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of power systems. Learn More

Senior Distribution Electrical Engineer (PE)

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Execute complex designs for overhead and underground power installations; work on challenging assignments that include investigating, troubleshooting, and solving a wide variety of overhead/underground distribution engineering and constructability related issues; and lead projects. Connect with people, continue to learn and grow, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Substation Senior Project Manager (PMP)

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home] Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Lead and manage signature projects for our Utilities division. Conduct project initiation, develop and manage project plans, monitor progress, and serve as Chief Problem Solver. Connect with clients, assist with BD and marketing efforts, continue to learn and grow, and have some fun doing it.
Learn More