Manager: Physical Design Engineer

Ready to make a difference?

We are seeking aDepartment Manager, Substation Physical Engineeringto lead and grow our substation engineering practice. In this leadership role, you will be responsible for the operational management, technical oversight, staff development, financial performance, and strategic growth of a department delivering substation physical engineering services to utility clients nationwide.

You will provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team of substation physical engineers, designers, and technical specialists while ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality engineering solutions. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in substation engineering with proven people leadership, business acumen, and client relationship management skills.

Our team is passionate about re-engineering how electric utilities solve their toughest challenges. We combine innovation, technical rigor, and a client-first mindset to deliver exceptional engineering solutions across planning, design, analysis, modernization, and construction support services.

The Ideal Candidate

- Proven leader with experience managing engineering teams and promoting employee development, engagement, and retention.

- Strategic thinker who understands how to scale engineering organizations while maintaining technical excellence and quality.

- Strong communicator capable of leading teams, managing stakeholders, and building trusted client relationships.

- Experienced in balancing technical delivery, resource planning, financial performance, and business development objectives.

- Demonstrates accountability, sound judgment, and the ability to make decisions in a dynamic consulting environment.

- Passionate about mentoring future leaders and creating opportunities for career growth across the organization.

- Committed to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and fostering a culture of safety, quality, and collaboration.

- Critical thinker with the ability to evaluate complex technical and business challenges and develop practical solutions for clients.

What You Will Be Doing

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of substation physical engineers, designers, and technical specialists, establishing performance expectations, supporting career development, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

- Manage department staffing, recruiting, hiring, workload forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure successful project execution and achievement of business objectives.

- Oversee the delivery of substation engineering projects, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with company quality standards and client expectations.

- Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for complex substation projects ranging from distribution through EHV transmission voltage levels, serving as a senior technical resource for staff and clients while promoting engineering best practices and innovation.

- Establish, maintain, and improve engineering standards, QA/QC processes, design procedures, and operational workflows to drive technical excellence, consistency, and efficiency across the department.

- Own department operational performance, including utilization, backlog management, staffing forecasts, revenue targets, profitability, and overall financial performance.

- Partner with project managers and business leaders to monitor project performance, manage risks, resolve resource constraints, and proactively address schedule, budget, and quality concerns.

- Develop and maintain strong relationships with utility clients, contractors, equipment vendors, and industry partners while supporting project pursuits, proposal development, scope definition, contract negotiations, and client satisfaction initiatives.

- Identify and execute opportunities for business growth, service expansion, and market development w