Designer

Job Title: CAD Designer Underground Utility Distribution

Job Description

The CAD Designer will support a large-scale underground utility program focused on improving electric grid reliability and resiliency by converting outage-prone overhead power lines to underground systems. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with AutoCAD experience in civil, utility, electrical, telecom, fiber, or infrastructure design who wants to build specialized skills within the growing power and utilities industry. You will work closely with right-of-way, design, engineering, and field teams to create accurate plat exhibits and easement drawings used to support underground and overhead electric distribution projects. Your designs will directly support engineers and construction crews as they plan, permit, and build infrastructure that helps reduce storm-related outages and improve reliability for customers. The position provides exposure to large-scale infrastructure projects, industry-specific design tools, and multiple career paths, including advanced design, engineering, and project management.

Responsibilities

- Create accurate plat exhibits and easement drawings for underground and overhead electric distribution projects using AutoCAD and related design tools.
- Partner with right-of-way, engineering, and design teams to support electric distribution projects from initial design through construction.
- Review project scopes and draft required easements along proposed underground cable routes.
- Ensure designs are accurate, practical, buildable, and compliant with utility and safety standards.
- Verify drawing details including addresses, property ownership, parcel numbers, title blocks, dimensions, and other project information.
- Perform detailed quality control and proofreading of drawings prior to final submission.
- Complete QC checklists and incorporate feedback from supervisors and project stakeholders.
- Produce drawings and documentation that engineers and construction crews can effectively use for planning, permitting, and field installation.
- Conduct occasional field visits to collect data, verify existing site conditions, and interact with customers or property owners as needed.
- Utilize GIS and Automated Utility Design (AUD) tools as applicable to support distribution design and data management.
- Maintain organized project files including field notes, drawings, specifications, easements, and estimates.
- Follow applicable regulatory, safety, quality, and utility design standards throughout the drafting process.

Essential Skills

- Proficiency with AutoCAD and experience preparing technical drawings.
- Drafting or design experience within civil, utilities, electrical, telecom, fiber, infrastructure, or a related field.
- Schooling or professional experience in drafting/design related to infrastructure or utility projects is a plus.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately review and proofread technical drawings.
- Ability to create clear deliverables that engineers and construction teams can utilize in the field.
- Comfortable conducting occasional fieldwork to gather information and verify site conditions.
- Basic familiarity with GIS and/or AUD, or an interest in learning these platforms.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Interest in developing a career within the power, energy, utility, or infrastructure industry.
- Ability to meet required badging requirements, including successful completion of required drug screening processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Previous experience with electric distribution design , including overhead or underground systems, is a plus.
- Experience with utility easements, plats, right-of-way, or property documentation.
- Experience gathering and organizing field data to support engineering or design projects.
- Customer service skills and the ability to communicate professionally with property owners, field personnel, engineering teams, and other stakeholders.
- Familiarity with formal quality assurance and drawing review procedures.
- Understanding of utility infrastructure, distribution systems, clearances, or construction standards is beneficial.
- Exposure to large-scale infrastructure, power, utility, telecommunications, or civil projects.
- Motivation to grow into advanced CAD/design, engineering, project management, or specialized utility design positions.

Work Environment

This position offers the opportunity to join a national engineering consulting environment supporting major power, utility, infrastructure, and environmental projects. The team provides end-to-end electric distribution services, giving designers exposure to everything from field data and initial designs to drawings, specifications, easements, estimates, and construction support.

- Hybrid Schedule: Three days per week in the office and two days working remotely.
- Major Project Exposure: Gain hands-on experience supporting large-scale electric utility and infrastructure projects designed to improve grid reliability and resiliency.
- Technical Development: Build valuable experience with AutoCAD, GIS, AUD, electric distribution design, right-of-way, and utility standards.
- Career Growth: Develop skills that can lead to opportunities in advanced design, engineering, project management, or specialized utility design roles.
- National Organization: Work within a national engineering consulting environment with exposure to diverse projects and engineering disciplines.
- Stable Industry: Build your career within the utilities and infrastructure sector, supporting essential infrastructure and long-term modernization initiatives.
- Collaborative Environment: Work alongside designers, engineers, right-of-way professionals, field teams, and project managers while continuing to expand your technical knowledge.
- Meaningful Work: Your designs will contribute directly to projects focused on reducing storm-related outages, strengthening electric infrastructure, and improving reliability for customers.
- The position combines primarily office-based design responsibilities with occasional field activities for site verification, data collection, and customer interaction.

This is a strong opportunity for a CAD Designer who wants to take their drafting experience and build a long-term career in utility and infrastructure design while gaining experience on major, highly visible projects. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply with their most up-to-date resume.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Richmond, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $26.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. 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)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Richmond,VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.