Substation Scoping & Estimating Specialist

Description Substation Scoping & Estimating Specialist is responsible for providing technical leadership and project development support for transmission and distribution substation projects. This role leads the development of project scopes, conceptual designs, engineering deliverables, and cost estimates that support capital project planning and execution. The position serves as a key liaison between Engineering, Project Management, Construction, Operations, and external stakeholders to ensure projects are accurately scoped, appropriately budgeted, and positioned for successful execution. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in utility substation design, construction practices, project development, estimating methodologies, and capital project planning. This individual is expected to independently manage multiple projects while maintaining schedule commitments, budget accuracy, and compliance with established engineering standards and procedures. Key Responsibilities Project Scoping & Development Lead development of project scopes for substation upgrades, expansions, asset replacement programs, system improvements, and new construction projects. Evaluate existing station configurations, equipment conditions, system limitations, and operational requirements. Conduct field assessments and site investigations to support project development activities. Identify project risks, constructability concerns, outage requirements, environmental considerations, and potential schedule constraints. Develop recommendations that support effective project prioritization and funding decisions. Estimating & Cost Management Prepare planning-level and detailed cost estimates for transmission and distribution substation projects. Develop TEAMS estimates, RSAs, DPDs, and supporting project authorization documentation. Generate equipment, labor, engineering, construction, outage, and contingency estimates. Perform estimate revisions as project scopes mature through the development process. Support forecast accuracy and maintain alignment with capital budget objectives. Engineering & Drafting Support Develop conceptual station layouts and preliminary engineering packages. Prepare and review engineering drawings, site layouts, equipment arrangements, and supporting documentation. Coordinate drafting activities utilizing AutoCAD, MicroStation, or similar design platforms. Ensure deliverables meet established engineering quality standards and client requirements. Project Execution Support Collaborate with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, Construction personnel, and Operations stakeholders throughout project development. Support project review meetings, milestone planning sessions, and estimate validation efforts. Track project progression through development phases and proactively address schedule risks. Assist in identifying critical path activities and mitigation strategies to maintain project schedules. Continuous Improvement Support development and refinement of estimating tools, processes, best practices, and project development methodologies. Analyze historical project performance data to improve estimate accuracy and project planning effectiveness. Mentor junior estimators, designers, and project support personnel. Skills Substation, Substation design, Design, Power delivery, Project Scoping, Construction Management, Project Controls Top Skills Details Substation,Substation design,Design,Power delivery,Project Scoping,Construction Management,Project Controls Additional Skills & Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or related technical discipline; equivalent industry experience may be considered. 10+ years of experience supporting electric utility transmission, distribution, or substation projects. Demonstrated experience with project scoping, conceptual design development, and cost estimating. Experience developing construction cost estimates and capital project documentation. Strong understanding of utility engineering and construction practices. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, Teams, and Outlook. Experience utilizing AutoCAD, MicroStation, or related design software. Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. Experience Level Expert Level Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Birmingham, AL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $45.00/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 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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.