Designer

Job Title: Designer III – Electrical Distribution (Overhead & Underground)

Job Description

The Designer III plays a key role in delivering electrical distribution projects for developer new business and service orders in the San Diego area. This position focuses on both overhead and underground electric distribution design, applying utility, industry, and regulatory standards to plan the construction, relocation, installation, and maintenance of distribution facilities and equipment. The role requires an experienced, self-sufficient designer who already holds active qualified status for both overhead and underground work with the local utility and can operate with limited direct supervision while working onsite at the utility owner’s facilities.

Responsibilities

• Complete distribution design projects for developers, including new business and service orders, in alignment with utility and regulatory requirements.
• Collect data from digital records and through field inspections to support accurate and constructible design packages.
• Apply company, industry, and regulatory standards and specifications to plan the construction, relocation, installation, and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems.
• Conduct job walks and field walks across San Diego County in a variety of conditions to gather detailed infrastructure information.
• Collect, organize, and analyze information from field walks to generate clear and accurate construction plans and drawings.
• Create, read, and interpret construction sketches and translate them into complete design and drafting documentation.
• Use design tools and software to produce construction drawings for power distribution, including overhead and underground facilities.
• Collaborate and interact effectively with clients, peers, management, and potential customers to clarify requirements and resolve design issues.
• Manage time effectively and adapt to changes in schedule, project priorities, and field conditions.
• Simultaneously manage several projects and maintain progress on multiple assignments with varying deadlines.
• Demonstrate creative problem solving to address design challenges, field constraints, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant rules and regulations, including CPUC rules, conversions, and applicable codes and standards.
• Participate in the utility’s job walks and coordination activities as needed while working onsite at the utility owner’s location.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of experience in electrical distribution design; 5+ years is required.
• Active qualified status with the local utility for both overhead and underground distribution work, with current certification under the latest qualification process.
• Proven experience in design and planning for overhead and underground electrical distribution systems.
• Strong knowledge of distribution design principles and electrical distribution systems.
• Ability to conduct field walks and job walks in varied conditions to gather infrastructure data.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze field information to develop accurate construction plans.
• Ability to create, read, and interpret construction sketches and drawings.
• Experience producing construction drawings for electrical power distribution and utility design projects.
• Ability to work with minimal direct supervision and limited onsite training or resources while maintaining high-quality output.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to adapt to schedule changes and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills when working with clients, peers, management, and potential customers.
• Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills in a technical design environment.
• Reliable transportation and willingness to drive a personal vehicle for job walks throughout San Diego County.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using AutoCAD for electrical or utility design drafting.
• Experience with GIS tools for mapping and design of distribution systems.
• Pole loading analysis experience, preferably with O-Calc.
• Knowledge of General Order 95 (GO95) requirements.
• Knowledge of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).
• Familiarity with CPUC rules and regulations, including conversion projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications such as Excel and Outlook.
• Experience with Google Apps, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
• Understanding of utility design, power distribution, and construction drawings.
• Experience as a designer or planner within electrical distribution or related utility environments.

Work Environment

This role is based onsite in San Diego at the utility owner’s facilities, working directly within the client’s environment on active distribution projects. The office culture is casual yet focused, with a strong emphasis on hard work and delivering high-quality results. The typical workday runs approximately from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 or 4:00 p.m., with workloads that can vary significantly; some weeks may be closer to 40 hours while others may approach 50-60 hours with OT depending on project demands. The position requires regular job walks and field visits throughout San Diego County, so the designer must be comfortable working in varied outdoor conditions and using their own reliable vehicle for travel. The work involves extensive use of design and productivity tools such as AutoCAD, GIS, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps, as well as specialized pole loading and utility standards software. The environment supports long-term career growth in a stable electrical power drafting and distribution design industry, with a well-run, growing organization that values organization, decisiveness, fairness, and professional respect. Casual attire is generally acceptable in the office, aligned with a professional, hardworking culture.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

The pay range for this position is $42.00 - $55.00/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 San Diego,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on May 13, 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.