Substation Physical Designer

Company: KDM ENGINEERING LLC
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 25, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description: Substation Physical Designer Contribute your expertise, skills, and experience as a Physical Designer II/III by joining our KDM Substation team. KDM is a growing, award-winning, minority- and woman-owned professional engineering firm focusing on substation, electric, gas, site civil, and telecommunications engineering designs and support services. KDM Engineering is searching for a Physical Designer to join the substation team. Responsible for design of substation layouts, sections/elevations, and the related details and bill of materials for medium and high voltage projects. Provides in-progress design coordination with multi-discipline project team, clients, and internal and external customers to ensure that production is completed in a timely manner. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within the Engineering Design field. Relies on instructions, pre-established guidelines, and client standards to perform the functions of the job. Salary range: $80,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year Responsibilities Design and preparation of: Plans and Arrangements Control Building Layouts Section and Elevation Views Grounding Plan and Details Control Building conduit and cable trays Bills of material Raceway Design Including: Yard Trough Building Cable Trays Above and Below Grade Conduits Perform walkdowns and record conditions at client sites. Interpret design inputs such as scope notes, one line diagrams and studies, to perform physical design scope. Apply industry and client standards to a variety of designs. Uphold KDM QA/QC procedures and practices. Understand Vendor cutsheets and specifications and how to incorporate them into design packages. Proficient in practices of researching design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing recommendations. Ability to understand complex initiatives across multiple teams/platforms. Quantitative and analytical skill set. Proficient in understanding and utilizing CAD, CAD standards and configuration practices. Communication, both verbal and written, with project team. Ability to multitask and adapt to changing demands. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within the Design field. Requirements: 4 years of prior industry experience in Physical design. Preferred experience with Physical design be related to utility transmission or distribution substations. Proficient in the use of all software needed to produce quality electrical design drawings such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, Microsoft Office programs. Ability to work with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Must be able to interpret and analyze customer's electrical/schematics diagrams and cable tabulations. General understanding of of power engineering theories and principles Preferred associate degree in drafting or equivalent work experience. Additional Requirements: Must be willing to comply with all pre-employment screening, including but not limited to, drug testing, reference verification, education and employment verification and background screening. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. Possess a valid Driver’s License Why Choose KDM? Established in 2012 on a promise to alter the face of engineering, KDM Engineering has built a reputation of excellence in providing outstanding technical services, maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality assurance, and offering a truly inclusive work environment. Our clients and partners in the public and private sectors consistently recognize KDM for our responsiveness to their needs, budgets, and schedules. Our peers distinguished KDM with Edison Electric Institute's Diverse Supplier Award, Capital One and Women Presidents’ Organization’s (WPO) 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For annually for seven years. Our talented, experienced team delivers exceptional engineering designs, project management, and customer support services to each of our projects. Our enduring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is unmatched in our industry. Because our team comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, we bring uniquely different and diverse perspectives to solving complex engineering problems. Top Reasons to Work for Us: Challenging and Meaningful Work Competitive Base Salary Comprehensive Benefits Package Company Paid Holidays Great Work-Life Balance Fun and Flexible Work Environment Organization with People-First Mentality Dynamic Leadership Team A Culture that Values Your Input Full List of Benefits & Perks: Positive team environment Competitive salaries Flexible schedules Growth opportunities Training and professional development Health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances Paid time-off. Paid holidays. Volunteer leave Performance bonuses HSA Transit program arental and maternity leave Supportive management Culture engagement group Professional development assistance Employee Assistance Program Quarterly team-building outings Laidback office culture, including pool table, arcade games, and happy hour Meditation space, nap room, and nursing mothers’ room Equal Employment Opportunity: KDM Engineering strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Join us in re-engineering the future, together! kdmengineering.com Requirements:

Keywords: KDM ENGINEERING LLC, Glenview , Substation Physical Designer, Engineering , Chicago, Illinois