Independent Contractor Electrical Engineer Jobs in Iowa

DGR Engineering is a growing engineering firm with offices in Rock Rapids, Sioux City and Sioux Center, Iowa as well as Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Belle Fourche, South Dakota.  

 DGR has been recognized with the Circle of Excellence award as one of the top 20% of firms for the last ten years by PSMJ Resource, so you can work with one of the best!  DGR has also been named by the Des Moines Register as a Top Workplace for the last six years.

 DGR Engineering offers a competitive salary and benefits package with the opportunity for advancement and ownership in a challenging and professional work environment. Our competitive benefits package includes: 

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Healthcare and Dependent Care FlexSpending Accounts
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan w/Company Match
• Employee Profit Sharing
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays

The DGR Engineering Electrical Power Department in Rock Rapids, Iowa specializes in the planning and design of infrastructure improvements for electrical power utilities in the upper Midwest. Typical projects include power generation, substation, transmission and distribution systems design and construction management.

Position Summary

DGR Engineering is seeking an Electrical or Civil Engineer with experience in substation design to join our Electrical Power (EP) Department. This position supports the planning, design, and construction of electrical substations and related power infrastructure projects for utility clients throughout the Upper Midwest. The successful candidate will work closely with project managers, engineers, and technicians to deliver highquality engineering solutions from concept through construction.  Candidates with experience in physical substation design or protection & control design are encouraged to apply.  Experience in both areas is not required.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsibilities may focus on physical substation design or protection & control design depending on the candidate's experience.
• Perform engineering design and analysis for electrical substations, including new installations, expansions, and upgrades.
• Prepare construction drawings, oneline diagrams, schematics, layouts, specifications, and cost estimates related to substation projects.
• Coordinate substation designs with transmission, distribution, protection & control, and civil disciplines.
• Develop equipment layouts, grounding designs, conduit and cable routing, and equipment specifications consistent with utility standards and project requirements.
• Develop protection and control designs, including relay protection control schematics, and associated wiring and logic (as applicable to experience).
• Review vendor submittals, shop drawings, and technical data for compliance with project specifications.
• Provide engineering support during construction, including responses to RFIs, field observations, and coordination with contractors and clients.
• Communicate effectively with utility clients, project stakeholders, and internal project teams.
• Support project schedules, budgets, and quality control procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Civil Engineering.
• Professional experience in electrical power engineering with demonstrated experience in substation design (physical, protection & control, or related disciplines).
• Working knowledge of electrical power systems and utility infrastructure.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• EngineerinTraining (EI) or Professional Engineer (PE) licensure, or ability to obtain licensure.
• Experience with medium and highvoltage substations (e.g., 34.5 kV, 69 kV, 115 kV and above).
• Experience in protection & control design or physical substation design.
• Familiarity with substation physical design, equipment specifications, and utility standards.
• Experience supporting projects through construction, commissioning, and closeout.

Technical Skills

• Familiarity with AutoCAD and standard engineering software tools.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and related design and documentation software.
• Ability to produce complete, accurate, and wellorganized engineering documents.

DGR Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). DGR Engineering complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding hiring and employment. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.