| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Engineering |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Design Engineering Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 3 to 6 years in electrical design |
Electrical Design Engineer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Electrical Design Engineer
Department: Engineering
Reports to: Design Engineering Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An Electrical Design Engineer designs the electrical systems for plants, buildings or products. They size cables, transformers, switchgear and protection, prepare single line diagrams and load schedules, and make sure the design is safe and code compliant. The role sits in the design office. A good Electrical Design Engineer gets the load calculations right, coordinates protection properly and delivers drawings that procurement and site can build without queries.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare single line diagrams, load schedules and cable sizing calculations for the project.
- Size transformers, switchgear, cables, busbars and protection to the load and code.
- Design earthing, lightning protection and internal lighting layouts for the facility.
- Carry out protection coordination and set relay parameters for each feeder.
- Prepare panel schematics, GA drawings, IO schedules and termination details.
- Review vendor drawings and technical bids for electrical equipment.
- Coordinate electrical with mechanical, piping and civil to avoid clashes.
- Answer site and procurement queries and issue revised drawings.
- Ensure the design meets Indian standards and statutory electrical requirements.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or diploma in electrical engineering
- Knowledge of IS and IEC electrical standards
- Cable sizing and protection experience
- 3 to 6 years in electrical design
KRAs and KPIs for a Electrical Design Engineer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Calculation accuracy | Load and cable sizing correct with no recalculation after review |
| Drawing release | Electrical deliverables issued on the dated schedule |
| Protection | Protection coordination completed and checked for every feeder |
| Clash free | Zero electrical clashes reported from other disciplines |
| Vendor review | Vendor drawings reviewed within 3 working days |
| Compliance | Designs pass electrical inspection with no major observations |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: AutoCAD Electrical, ETAP or DIgSILENT, MS Excel, Dialux for lighting, Cable sizing software.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Design Engineer, Design Engineering Manager, Electrical Lead
Interview questions for a Electrical Design Engineer
- Walk me through sizing a cable for a given motor load.
- How do you carry out protection coordination for a feeder?
- How do you design earthing for a substation or plant?
- A vendor panel drawing differs from your schematic. How do you handle it?
- How do you coordinate electrical routing with piping and civil?
- Which Indian standards guide your electrical design decisions?
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What does an Electrical Design Engineer do?
An Electrical Design Engineer designs the electrical systems for a plant, building or product. They prepare single line diagrams and load schedules, size cables, switchgear and transformers, do protection coordination, design earthing and lighting, and release drawings. Their job is a safe, code compliant electrical design that site can build without queries.
What is the difference between an electrical design engineer and a site electrical engineer?
A design engineer works in the office producing calculations, single line diagrams and drawings. A site electrical engineer installs, tests and commissions the systems at site and manages contractors. Design decides what to build; site makes it work in the field. The two coordinate through drawings and site queries.
What software does an Electrical Design Engineer use?
Common tools include AutoCAD Electrical for drawings, ETAP or DIgSILENT for load flow and protection studies, Dialux for lighting design and Excel for load and cable sizing. Familiarity with IS and IEC standards matters as much as the software, since the design must be code compliant.