Civil Field Engineer

Job Title: Civil Field Engineer – Substation Projects

Job Description

This contract role focuses on providing on-site civil engineering expertise for high-voltage substation projects, ensuring that construction issues are resolved quickly and efficiently without delays between offices. The Civil Field Engineer oversees site development from initial grading through foundation construction and commissioning, with a strong emphasis on quality assurance, structural integrity, and compliance with civil engineering standards. The position is highly field-centric, supporting daily construction activities, managing design changes, and coordinating closely with the project team and subcontractors to keep work on schedule and in line with technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily construction activities on substation sites and ensure all work complies with engineered drawings, specifications, and civil engineering standards.
• Serve as the on-site engineer to address issues immediately, reducing back-and-forth communication between office teams and the field.
• Monitor and manage site grading, access roads, and overall site development to support safe and efficient construction operations.
• Design and review grading plans, access road layouts, drainage systems, and soil retention systems for substation facilities.
• Develop and review structural and foundation designs, including pile foundations and concrete footings for transformers, breakers, rigid bus support structures, and other high-voltage equipment.
• Oversee and support stormwater pollution prevention systems and spill containment systems to ensure environmental and safety compliance.
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor construction progress, identify potential issues, and provide timely technical support and troubleshooting in the field.
• Perform or coordinate material testing and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) activities to verify that construction materials and installation methods meet project requirements.
• Support substation QA activities, including documentation management, tracking design changes, and ensuring that all revisions are properly communicated and implemented.
• Assist with the preparation, review, and maintenance of construction documents, reports, and standardized project reporting.
• Collaborate closely with the construction manager, project management, and subcontractor crews to coordinate work, manage risk, and support schedule, safety, and quality objectives.
• Participate in construction and coordination meetings, providing clear technical input and updates on field conditions, progress, and any required changes.
• Support construction management and project management functions related to substation work, including oversight of subcontractors during construction and commissioning phases.
• Contribute to successful execution of current projects with the potential to transition to subsequent substation and data center-related projects based on performance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• Experience working on substation projects or heavy industrial construction.
• Substation field engineering experience, including on-site support for construction and commissioning.
• Strong understanding of site grading, site drainage, and stormwater management for substation or similar infrastructure projects.
• Proficiency with Civil 3D and site design software for grading and civil layouts.
• Experience with MicroStation and Bentley Substation or similar design tools.
• Knowledge of the structural integrity and design of steel supports, foundations, and concrete structures for high-voltage equipment.
• Hands-on experience with substation QA, documentation management, and handling design changes during construction.
• Ability to interpret and work from construction documents, engineered drawings, and technical specifications.
• Strong computer skills for design work, documentation, and reporting.
• Effective reporting skills, including the ability to prepare clear, accurate, and timely construction and progress reports.
• Familiarity with QA/QC processes in a construction environment.
• Ability to work extended hours in a field setting and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced construction environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with electrical distribution and power delivery projects.
• Background in substation construction and civil engineering for utility or industrial facilities.
• Experience in construction management and project management, particularly for substation or transmission projects.
• Exposure to data center projects, especially involving substation work for large-scale data center developments.
• Knowledge of transmission line projects and associated civil work is beneficial.
• Familiarity with safety practices and requirements in high-voltage and heavy construction environments.
• Experience coordinating and pushing work of subcontractor crews in the field.
• Ability to support standardized reporting, change management, and risk management processes during construction.
• Strong communication skills to interact effectively with project teams, subcontractors, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to move successfully from project to project, supporting a pipeline of substation and related infrastructure work.

Work Environment

This is a contract, field-centric position supporting substation construction on a project expected to last approximately 2+ years, with an initial assignment of roughly 5 months and strong potential for follow-on work at additional sites. The role is primarily based on the construction site, where you will actively coordinate and oversee subcontractor crews during both construction and commissioning phases. Typical work hours are structured as 10-hour days for 5 days per week (5x10s), with a base expectation of 50+ hours per week and the possibility of additional hours as project demands increase. Standard per diem is provided for 7 days per week while on assignment, and overtime is compensated at time-and-a-half beyond the base work week. Holidays and paid time off are available and are billed back to the project according to established policies. The environment is hands-on and fast-paced, focused on delivering high-voltage substation infrastructure for utilities and data center developers, with an active backlog of awarded projects extending into future years. You will work closely with construction management, project management, and technical teams, using tools such as Civil 3D, MicroStation, Bentley Substation, and other site design and reporting software in a field office and outdoor construction setting.

This is a Contract position based out of Dallas, TX.

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $70.00/hr.

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 the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 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
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Dallas,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on May 18, 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.