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Substation Designer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Senior Substation Physical Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site +1

$109K - $149K/yr

Your greatest work is ahead! We're seeking a Senior Substation Physical Engineer to take a key role ... This position will be a member of a design team comprised of engineers, designers, and CAD ...

Showing results 41-60

Substation Designer information

See Minnesota salary details

$52.9K

$82K

$114.6K

How much do substation designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for substation designer in Minnesota is $82,023.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $92,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a substation designer?

A Substation Designer is responsible for creating technical drawings and plans for electrical substations, which are critical components of power distribution systems. They use CAD software to design layouts, wiring diagrams, and equipment arrangements while ensuring compliance with industry standards and safety regulations. Substation Designers collaborate with engineers, project managers, and utility companies to develop efficient and reliable substation designs. Their work supports power transmission and distribution, helping to maintain a stable and functional electrical grid.

What does a substation designer do?

A typical day for a Substation Designer involves developing and revising electrical and physical layout drawings, coordinating with engineers on technical requirements, and ensuring design compliance with industry standards. Substation Designers frequently collaborate with project managers, engineers, drafters, and construction teams to clarify project expectations and resolve design challenges. This role often requires balancing independent detailed work with team meetings to discuss project progress or address client feedback. Daily responsibilities also include updating documentation, reviewing specifications, and providing technical support during construction phases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a substation designer?

To thrive as a Substation Designer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering concepts, drafting, and utility standards, often supported by an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software (such as AutoCAD or MicroStation), industry-specific design tools, and knowledge of relevant codes and regulations is crucial. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills distinguish top candidates in this role. These competencies ensure accurate, safe, and efficient substation designs that meet regulatory requirements and facilitate smooth project delivery.

How much does a substation designer make?

A substation designer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced designers with specialized skills can earn higher wages, especially in utility or engineering firms working with high-voltage systems.

How to become a substation designer?

To become a substation designer, typically a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field is required. Gaining experience with power systems, electrical design software, and obtaining relevant certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) licensure can enhance job prospects. Familiarity with industry standards and safety regulations is also important for this role.

What are the responsibilities of a substation designer?

A substation designer is responsible for creating detailed plans and layouts for electrical substations, including equipment placement, wiring diagrams, and safety features. They ensure designs comply with industry standards and client specifications, often using CAD software, and collaborate with engineers and construction teams throughout the project lifecycle.

What are popular job titles related to Substation Designer jobs in Minnesota?

For Substation Designer jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Substation Designer jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Substation Designer jobs in Minnesota are:

Infographic showing various Substation Designer job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, and 28% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,023 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Engineer III or IV-Physical Substation

Minneapolis, MN • On-site


M. A. Mortenson Company
Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Great coworkers

People enjoy working here

Good employer


$102K - $131K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description


SUMMARY
Mortenson is currently seeking an Engineer III or IV - Physical Substation responsible for completing engineering assignments supporting preliminary and detailed designs for medium and high voltage substations, on renewable/storage projects through 500 kV. Also, this role will be responsible for working closely with Design Phase Managers, Project Managers, and other engineering/design team members to coordinate deliverables, perform quality control, and lead design efforts. This role requires knowledge of industry design practices, standards, products, and engineering-related disciplines regarding utility scale substations. Also, this role will be required to understand the project requirements and be capable of reviewing, evaluating, and developing project ideas and options by applying standard engineering techniques and, procedures, using good judgment in making adaptations and modifications, and providing interpretations and conclusions with limited support from other Engineers.
This position offers opportunities at both levels III and IV, allowing candidates to apply based on their experience and qualifications. Compensation for this role is determined based on factors such as experience and location.
Hiring Locations: Minneapolis, MN (preferred); Denver, CO; Fargo, ND; San Antonio, TX
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Working with the largest utility-scale substation customers in the United States to bring the next generation of storage and renewable generation assets onto the grid.
  • Designing utility scale substation physical designs with the latest technology available
  • Developing innovative designs to optimize overall cost and performance.
  • Comfortable interfacing and presenting to multiple stakeholders (e.g., customer decision-makers, project teams, etc.).
  • Provide technical support to personnel/cross-functional teams for proposals, estimating, detailed engineering, procurement, and construction.
  • Coordinate with other engineering disciplines, Project Managers, and Design Phase Managers to successfully deliver design projects.
  • Participate in project teams that execute the design, analysis, or evaluation of assigned individual and team projects using sound engineering principles and adhering to business standards, practices, procedures, and product/program requirements.
  • Begins leading designs on 1 - 3 large design projects.
  • Mentor and guide other Engineering Professionals.
  • Technical review, approval, and selection of equipment vendor quotes on major equipment from manufacturers with Design Phase Manager / Lead Engineers review.
  • Collects and evaluates data to recommend courses of action.
  • Assure proper documentation of technical data generated for the assigned projects and/or tasks consistent with engineering policies and Mortenson QA/QC procedures
  • Performs data analysis and engineering tasks, calculations, and studies to develop preliminary and detailed designs for the completion of large and small projects.
  • Developing technical specifications, providing direction and guidance to drafters and designers, directing the flow of drafting and designer duties ensuring design schedules are met, including regularly providing project status updates to the project engineer.
  • Responsible for handling multiple projects and providing a detailed design package that complies with applicable engineering design standards and all safety codes.
  • Strong understanding of discipline-specific technical designs, QA/QC procedures, and engineering policies.
  • Advanced knowledge of engineering principles, business standards, practices, procedures, and product/program requirements.
  • Plans and conducts work requiring judgment in the evaluation, selection, and adaptation or modification of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.
  • Review of engineering work produces a first-time review rate of documents at 80% correct.
  • Verify that construction agrees with civil and protection engineering design drawings, including preparatory meetings, and QA/QC.
  • Develops and evaluates the technical requirements for fabrication and construction tender packages.
  • Creates detailed designs aligned with our customer requirements and Mortenson's best practice standards

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Graduate of a four-year college or university with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or related Engineering program from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum.
  • Experienced in researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting recommendations
  • Have a working knowledge of or are familiar with Engineering software packages and Project Controls software (Procore).
  • Acquired knowledge in system integration, product adaptation, and design development for systems.
  • Requires work experience acquired with an electrical background or acquired industry knowledge from time in the electrical business or electrician/construction. Preference is given for knowledge focused on power systems, substations, inverters, and/or DC batteries/solutions.
  • Design optimization skills that involve technical parameters but take into account economic feedback for decisions.
  • Have a working knowledge of or are familiar with software packages: CDEGS, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, etc.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Microsoft Excel experience to track and analyze different components and combinations.
  • Ability to travel up to 30%.

Engineer III
MINIMUM QUALIIFICATIONS:
  • 4+ years of related experience
  • Understanding of discipline specific technical designs, QA/QC procedures, and engineering policies
  • Professional Engineering (PE) certification
  • The base salary range for this role is $108,700 - $146,700

Engineer IV
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • 7+ years of related experience
  • Understanding of discipline specific technical designs, QA/QC procedures, and engineering policies.
  • Professional Engineering (PE) certification
  • The base range for this role is $122,500 - $183,800

(Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL - 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR - 10%, Washington, D.C. - 12.5%).
Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual's knowledge, skills, and experience, with consideration given to internal equity.
A few benefits offered include:
(for Non-Craft & Non-Union Craft working 25+ hours / week)
  • Medical and prescription drug plans that includes no additional cost vision coverage
  • Dental plan
  • 401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
  • Profit sharing
  • Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
  • Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
  • No-Cost mental health tool and concierge with extensive work-life resources
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Gym Membership Discount Program

#LI-TH1 #LI-hybrid
Please make note:
  • Our postings are typically open a minimum of 5 days and an average of 44 days.

ABOUT MORTENSON
As a top builder, developer, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), our expertise spans markets like sports, renewable energy, data centers, healthcare, and more. We are builders at heart, working to ensure the built environment has a lasting positive impact.
Let's Redefine Possible®
Equal Employment Opportunity
Your uniqueness brings new and creative perspectives to the team. Mortenson is committed to providing equal opportunities of employment (EOE) to all individuals, regardless of your race, religion, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status or any other legally protected category.
Other Items to Note
  • Mortenson reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation on unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.

M. A. Mortenson logo

About M. A. Mortenson

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

M. A. Mortenson is a prominent name in the construction industry, based out of Minneapolis, MN, US. Established in 1954 by M.A. Mortenson Sr., the company has over six decades of experience offering construction services that have contributed to building lasting infrastructures across various sectors, including healthcare, energy, corporate, and sports. Mortenson has proven its exceptional expertise through a range of complex building and facility projects across the US fulfilling the customer's specifications and exceeding their expectations. Moreover, the company's core values are outlined as ‘Do the Right Thing’, ‘We Before I’, ‘Inspire What’s Possible’, and ‘In it for the long haul’.

Industry

Manufacturing and construction

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Minneapolis, MN, US

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