Electrical Engineering Design Manager

Electrical Engineering Design Manager

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a different applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build unique, meaningful, and high-impact career- and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

Job Summary: The idea candidate to fill this position is an Electrical Engineer that is a working technical leader responsible for the quality, consistency, and timely delivery of electrical engineering design across multiple power generation, distribution, and industrial projects. This role leads multidisciplinary design execution from conceptual development through issued-for-construction (IFC) documents, while coordinating with project managers, clients, contractors, vendors, and internal discipline leaders.

The manager will provide day-to-day direction, workload planning, technical review, coaching, and career development for junior electrical engineers and electrical designers who may report directly to this position. The role remains hands-on in design and analysis and is expected to establish repeatable design practices, strengthen quality control, support proposal development, and help grow the Power Generation and Industrial practice.

Competencies:

• Ability to balance hands-on technical contribution with delegations, coaching, and quality oversight.
• Provide constructive feedback and support the progression of engineers toward independent design responsibility and professional licensure.
• Partner with project leadership to address staffing, performance, schedule, and technical issues promptly and professionally.
• Experience in personally developing electrical design packages from a conceptual to IFC level for power generation and distribution including specification of all protective device/relays, instruments, transformers, breakers, alternators, grounding components, and power/control wiring.
• In-depth understanding of the design limitations and routing of conduit, cable tray, trench duct for high density power applications.
• Experience with coordinating closely with vendor packagers to develop cost effective and timely design solutions for highly technical applications.
• ETAP or SKM modelling experience and understanding of systems coordination, arc flash, grounding, and Neher-McGrath.
• Capability to personally develop one-lines, three-lines, breaker control diagrams, power plans, and systems plans.
• Strong familiarity with IEEE, UL, NEMA, NFPA standards for renewables, harmonics, generation, energy storage, hazardous area, and industrial systems
• Take ownership and have ability to read, understand, and review vendor shop drawings for GIS switchgear, substation transformers, DCU/PLC enclosures, Microgrid controllers, and complete generation systems.
• Ability to effectively communicate with architects, owners, and contractors
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a strong team
• Excellent organization and time management skills

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering
• 7-15 years of work experience with complex electrical systems in the industrial and power generation sector.
• Experience leading electrical design teams, assigning work, reviewing deliverables, and mentoring junior engineers and designers.
• Registered Professional Engineering license preferred.
• Experience with Revit
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential for team-based projects.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills required for simultaneous project schedules.
• Highly motivated, proactive, and willing to take on new challenges
• Willing to travel approximately 10%

Location: Nashville, TN

Travel: 10%

This role is eligible for performance-based bonuses, and comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here - Salas O’Brien benefits

About Us:

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.

Third-Party Agency Notice

Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.