Entry level engineer Jobs in Cary, NC

Entry Level Distribution Designer

** Great opportunity for new grads with STEM majors**

Job Description

The Distribution Designer works as a key member of the Power Distribution Engineering team within a growing Power Sector, delivering detailed distribution design solutions for utility and infrastructure projects. This role focuses on preparing complex design drawings, specifications, and cost estimates, while supporting project schedules and collaborating closely with engineers, designers, technicians, and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed design work for power distribution projects, including the preparation of drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for review and approval by the responsible engineer.
• Prepare manual or computer-assisted design and construction drawings of a complex nature with high accuracy, neatness, and minimal errors.
• Apply a thorough understanding of drawings, specifications, and applicable industry and company standards to all assigned design work.
• Take a significant role in developing cost estimates, technical specifications, equipment evaluations, and material requisitions for distribution projects.
• Assist in the preparation of engineering calculations to support design decisions and project documentation.
• Coordinate equipment deliveries and design development activities to meet established project schedules and milestones.
• Acquire on-site field data to support design development, verify existing conditions, and monitor or evaluate equipment performance as needed.
• Provide limited direction and guidance to Designers and Technicians on assigned projects, supporting their work and helping ensure quality and consistency.
• Act as a design leader on projects of minor complexity, organizing design tasks and contributing to project coordination.
• Serve as a Project Coordinator on certain projects, facilitating communication and coordination among project team members and external parties.
• Maintain a thorough working knowledge of practices and procedures related to one or more technical areas such as electrical engineering, instrumentation and control, protective relaying, transmission design, substation design, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, distribution engineering, surveying, GIS and mapping, and CADD.
• Handle contacts with clients and other agencies in connection with project design responsibilities, representing the engineering team in a professional manner.
• Follow prescribed standards, procedures, and quality requirements in all design and documentation activities.
• Perform other design-related duties as assigned to support the overall success of the Power Distribution Engineering team.

Essential Skills

• Degree in STEM related majors
• Proficiency with GIS systems, preferably Smallworld or GWD, for utility and distribution design applications.
• Proficiency with CADD systems, particularly AutoCAD, for preparing detailed design and construction drawings.
• Foundational knowledge in one or more of the following technical areas: electrical engineering, instrumentation and control, protective relaying, transmission design, substation design, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, distribution engineering, surveying, GIS and mapping, and CADD.
• Ability to interpret and apply engineering drawings, specifications, and industry standards to design tasks.
• Capability to prepare complex design and construction drawings with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to follow prescribed standards, procedures, and quality guidelines consistently.
• Strong communication skills to handle contacts with clients and other agencies related to project design responsibilities.
• Demonstrated leadership and technical capability to perform the responsibilities of the role and provide limited direction to other team members.
• Valid driver’s license and eligibility to drive on company time, including use of personal and company vehicles, with a minimum age of 21 for driving on company time.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in both field and office environments, supporting design development and project execution.
• Utility distribution design experience with a utility or consulting engineering firm, with demonstrated project capability.
• Experience coordinating equipment deliveries and design development to meet project schedules.
• Experience acquiring on-site field data to support design work and evaluate equipment performance.
• Ability to serve as a Project Coordinator on certain projects, supporting scheduling, communication, and documentation.
• Ability to act as a design leader on projects of minor complexity, organizing tasks and assisting other designers and technicians.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple design tasks and project priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Work Environment

The Distribution Designer works within a collaborative Power Distribution Engineering team that supports a growing Power Sector portfolio. The role involves a mix of office-based design work and periodic field visits to acquire on-site data and observe equipment performance. You will regularly use GIS platforms such as Smallworld or GWD and CADD tools like AutoCAD to produce detailed design and construction drawings. Work typically follows structured engineering standards, procedures, and quality guidelines, with opportunities to take on design leadership and project coordination responsibilities. The position requires driving on company time for site visits or meetings, using either a personal or company vehicle, and operating in professional office and field settings where safety practices and appropriate attire for office and field conditions are expected.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Raleigh, NC.

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $27.00/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 Raleigh,NC.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 2, 2026.