Distribution Design Engineering

Job Description

Distribution Design Engineer I

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Distribution Design Engineer I to join our team. This is a Contract-to-Hire, fully onsite position based in Raleigh, NC, with a pay rate of $29.81/hr. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in developing comprehensive work packages for various electrical distribution projects, encompassing overhead, underground, URD (Underground Residential Distribution), Make Ready, and Street Light initiatives.

The role requires a dynamic blend of both field and office work. While prior experience with specific customer systems like GE Smallworld and Bentley Expert Designer is a plus, comprehensive training will be provided in customer engineering and construction standards, ensuring a smooth transition into the role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and Package Development: Develop detailed design and construction work packages for electrical overhead and underground distribution systems, handling voltages ranging from 4kV through 138kV. This primarily involves programmatic work such as addressing overloaded transformers, performing inspection and maintenance, managing joint use agreements, and responding to inspection reports.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure all designs and work packages strictly adhere to safety requirements, design specifications, and quality expectations established by the client and industry standards.
• Field Investigations and Data Collection: Travel to various sites as needed to perform essential inspections, gather field data, and conduct necessary assessments before returning to the office to complete the engineering design work.
• Engineering Calculations: Execute a range of critical engineering calculations, including:
  • Structural analysis for wood pole loading to ensure stability and safety.
  • Guying calculations to determine appropriate support for poles.
  • Specifying conductor sags and tensions for recommended spans to optimize performance and prevent issues.
  • Calculation of voltage drop and flicker to maintain power quality.
• Permitting Documentation: Prepare and develop all necessary permitting documents required by various Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to ensure project legality and smooth execution.
• Construction Support: Provide essential engineering support throughout the construction phase of projects. This includes conducting post-construction reviews to verify that all applicable engineering and construction standards have been met.
• Outage Analysis and Mitigation: Conduct thorough root cause analyses of electrical outages and implement effective mitigation strategies using sound engineering principles and design practices to enhance system reliability.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor of Science in an Engineering discipline (Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil).
• Experience: 0-1 years of professional experience in an engineering role, ideally within the power distribution sector.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) for documentation, analysis, and communication.
• Communication: Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are crucial for collaborating with team members, clients, and various stakeholders.

Job Type & Location:

• Job Type: Contract to Hire
• Location: Fully onsite in Raleigh, NC

Pay and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $29.81 – $29.81/hr
• Benefits: 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:
  • Medical, dental & vision insurance
  • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
  • 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 coverage
  • Health Spending Account (HSA)
  • Transportation benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Details:

• Application Deadline: This position is anticipated to close on April 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.