Intern Power Distribution Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR

Cushing Terrell is seeking a Medium Voltage Distribution Engineer to join our growing infrastructure team. This on-site position is available in Missoula, MT, Billings, MT, or Boise, ID. Remote work may be considered for candidates with seven or more years of directly relevant experience.

Day to day, you will design and deliver medium voltage underground and overhead distribution projects under the direction of a Senior Engineer. A typical week involves producing electrical and physical drawings in AutoCAD, running system modeling and engineering calculations including load flow, short circuit analysis, cable ampacity, structure analysis, and sag and tension studies, sizing medium voltage equipment, and collaborating with drafters, clients, and your project team. You will carry roughly two to four active projects at a time.

Year-one success in this role means becoming the engineer your lead can hand a task to with minimal detail and trust that you will work through the specifics and deliver. You are expected to be fully billable within the first month, with growing autonomy by 90 days. Engineers in this seat typically grow into a Project Engineer role. This is a small, close-knit team of three, and your contributions shape the direction of the practice.

The expected salary range for this position is $80,000 to $96,000 annually.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering
• 5 or more years of experience in medium voltage distribution design, including underground and/or overhead distribution systems
• Demonstrated experience producing MV design drawings and specifying equipment in the 5kV to 35kV range
• Proficiency in power system modeling using ETAP, EasyPower, or PSSE
• Working knowledge of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and National Electrical Code (NEC)
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Microsoft Office Suite
• Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) certification obtained or actively scheduled, with active pursuit of Professional Engineer (PE) licensure

• Experience with overhead distribution line design
• Proficiency in SpidaCalc or PLS-CADD for structure analysis and pole loading calculations
• Experience with Bluebeam for document review and markup
• Substation Design BIM software experience

Did you know that some people hold back on applying to jobs if they don’t meet 100% of the listed requirements? We don’t want you to hold back! If you check most of the qualifications above and believe you could successfully do the work, we encourage you to apply!

• Design medium voltage underground and overhead distribution systems, producing electrical and physical drawings, one-line diagrams, metering and relaying diagrams, control schematics, grounding plans, and construction specifications
• Run engineering calculations and system modeling studies including load flow, short circuit analysis, cable ampacity, structure analysis, and sag and tension studies using ETAP, EasyPower, or equivalent software
• Size and specify medium voltage equipment including transformers, circuit breakers, switches, reclosers, insulators, surge arresters, and support structures for projects ranging from small to medium scale
• Apply NESC and NEC requirements throughout design, ensuring compliance in grounding plans, clearance requirements, conduit and cable schedules, and construction documents
• Collaborate with clients, project engineers, and multidisciplinary team members to define project requirements, review design concepts, and deliver coordinated construction documents
• Direct and coordinate with drafters to produce accurate, high-quality drawings aligned with project scope and schedule
• Manage two to four concurrent medium voltage distribution projects, maintaining quality control and progressing toward greater design autonomy

Cushing Terrell is a multidisciplinary design firm with 17 offices and more than 500 team members who bring together their expertise to deliver holistic built environments. Leveraging our influence as designers, we work to create sustainable systems and spaces that help people live their best lives.

At Cushing Terrell, we empower creative designers to discover imaginative, responsible, first-of-their-kind environments. But more than that, we support a strong, cohesive team, from our design professionals to our business operations staff. Together, we champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, placing people at the center of our practice, thus our tagline, “design meets you.” Together, we find joy in uncovering imaginative solutions for the people who work here, the people we work for, and the planet as a whole. We offer a competitive benefits package, work opportunities in a variety of locations and markets, and a company culture that celebrates all the unique viewpoints and personalities that make up our talented team. View our Employee Benefits Guide: https://cushingterrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CushingTerrell_Benefits-Guide_2025.pdf

*Actual pay will be determined based on the candidate’s years of experience, licensure status, location, level of proficiency, and other job-related factors (as permitted by law). This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus.

**Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Cushing Terrell will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

***The majority of the time, a person in this role will be sitting in an office with limited physical requirements. This may require individuals to bend, stretch, twist, and reach.

Cushing Terrell is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Contact 406.248.7455 if you require assistance or accommodation during the employment application process.

Note to recruitment agencies: Cushing Terrell does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Cushing Terrell without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of Cushing Terrell.