Job Description & Details
This is a solid entry-to-mid-level contract gig focusing on electrical distribution systems from 4kV through 138kV. You'll be bridging the gap between field inspections and office-bound design work, helping upgrade aging infrastructure and handle everyday grid reliability issues.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
You'll spend your time splitting days between getting your boots dirty in the field and cranking out designs back at the desk. Expect to develop work packages for overhead and underground distribution upgrades, run structural wood pole analyses, and spec out conductor sags and tensions. You'll also deal with permitting agencies, help out when things go wrong during construction by performing root cause outage analysis, and ensure everything aligns with strict safety and quality standards.
The Core Tech Stack
You absolutely need a solid grasp of fundamental engineering principles, but practical familiarity with tools like Spida-Calc, Pole Foreman, or similar loading software will make or break your day-to-day efficiency. They also want you to know your way around CAD or GIS tools, along with a firm understanding of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) standards to keep designs compliant and safe.
Interview Expectations
Expect the hiring team to test your foundational knowledge on structural loading and electrical drop. They will likely ask you to explain how you would calculate the maximum wind and ice loading on a wood utility pole, and they'll want to see your methodology for running voltage drop calculations on a long distribution feeder. The interviewer isn't just looking for the right math formula here; they want to see that you understand the physical real-world constraints of utility infrastructure and know how to safely design around them.
Application Advice
To get past the ATS and grab the recruiter's attention, make sure your resume explicitly highlights any coursework or projects involving NESC standards, structural analysis software like Pole Foreman or Spida-Calc, and CAD or GIS platforms. Don't hide your background—explicitly state your ABET-accredited engineering degree and emphasize any experience juggling both field inspections and technical documentation.