Distribution Engineer

Job Title: Distribution Engineer Job Description This role leads engineering projects focused on gas utility distribution design while serving as the primary point of contact for clients throughout the project lifecycle. The distribution engineer oversees scope, risk, resources, and workload distribution, ensuring projects meet technical standards, regulatory requirements, and client expectations. The position emphasizes strong technical design skills, leadership, and mentoring, along with a high degree of autonomy within a flexible, fully remote work environment. Responsibilities Lead client meetings and act as the primary point of contact for all project-related communication. Provide overall project oversight, including scope definition, scope management, risk assessment, resource planning, and workload distribution across the project team. Deliver clear and timely project status updates, workload forecasts, and performance metrics to clients and internal stakeholders. Review and approve project estimates, ensuring alignment with client expectations, internal standards, and established cost-estimating procedures. Perform final reviews, pre-project-manager reviews, and AFC (Approved for Construction) releases, serving as the final technical reviewer when required. Ensure all designs and deliverables comply with applicable codes, company standards, and client-specific requirements. Drive process improvements by identifying opportunities to streamline workflows and support continuous operational efficiency. Mentor and develop team members by providing guidance, training, and technical leadership in distribution design and related tools. Monitor project key performance indicators (KPIs) and team performance to support successful project execution and on-time delivery. Complete assignments on schedule and within established budgeted hours while maintaining high-quality standards. Collaborate with drafting and CAD resources to produce accurate design drawings, cross sections, and survey-based plans. Support permitting activities by ensuring design packages meet regulatory, environmental, and jurisdictional requirements. Incorporate environmental regulations, survey plans, and gas pipe design standards into distribution design work. Perform other related engineering and project duties as assigned to support team and organizational goals. Essential Skills Experience in the natural gas industry, particularly in gas utility and gas pipe distribution design. Proficiency in distribution design, including preparation of design drawings, cross sections, and survey-based layouts. Hands-on experience with AutoCAD and CAD-based drafting tools for engineering design and documentation. Strong understanding of utility design principles, including gas utility infrastructure and related systems. Knowledge of permitting processes and requirements for utility and gas distribution projects. Familiarity with environmental regulations as they relate to gas utility and distribution design projects. Ability to interpret and work from survey plans and integrate survey data into engineering designs. Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to guide, mentor, and support engineering and drafting team members. Capability to manage project scope, assess risk, plan resources, and distribute workload effectively. Strong communication skills for leading client meetings and presenting project status, metrics, and forecasts. Ability to review and approve estimates and ensure alignment with standards and client expectations. Commitment to meeting deadlines and working within established budgeted hours while maintaining quality. Bachelor of Science in an engineering field from an ABET-accredited university. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience working with gas utility distribution projects in a consulting or client-facing environment. Background in drafting and design drafting for utility or gas-related infrastructure. Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with IT, training, and other support resources in a remote setting. Interest in process improvement and continuous operational efficiency initiatives. Ability to adapt to a flexible, results-oriented culture that emphasizes trust and autonomy. Comfort working across multiple time zones and collaborating with distributed team members. Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and stakeholder expectations. Work Environment This position operates in a 100% remote work environment with team members located across multiple states and time zones. Core collaboration hours are approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the specific start time is flexible based on the candidate’s location, as long as most of the workday overlaps with core business hours to ensure access to training, IT support, and other resources. The organization emphasizes a "work where you want, when you want" culture built on trust, allowing employees to manage their work around personal responsibilities while maintaining accountability for deliverables. Workweeks are structured to remain within a 40-hour bandwidth, with no overtime expected, reflecting a strong focus on work-life balance and employee wellness. The company hosts employee wellness events and fosters a supportive, growth-oriented culture, including investment in building out transmission and related engineering teams. Work is performed using digital collaboration tools and engineering software such as AutoCAD, with no specific in-office dress code requirements due to the fully remote setting. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Woodridge, IL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $54.50/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 fully remote position. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 11, 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.