Director Electrical Engineering

Key Responsibilities

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Provide technical direction and oversight for electrical engineering projects from concept through completion.
• Review, approve, and ensure the quality of electrical design packages, calculations, specifications, drawings, and technical documentation.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, design procedures, and best practices.
• Provide expertise in power distribution, power systems, lighting, traction power, and electrical infrastructure.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable electrical codes, safety requirements, industry standards, and client specifications.
• Resolve complex technical issues and provide practical engineering solutions.
• Promote continuous improvement in engineering processes, quality control, and technical delivery.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop electrical engineering staff and project teams.
• Assign resources based on project requirements, priorities, schedules, and workload.
• Establish performance expectations and support professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and technically strong engineering environment.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to engineers and technical staff on complex projects.

Project & Program Management

• Oversee multiple engineering projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Coordinate with project managers and other engineering disciplines to ensure successful project delivery.
• Support project planning, staffing, budgeting, scheduling, and resource forecasting.
• Monitor project progress and identify potential technical, schedule, or resource risks.
• Participate in project meetings and provide senior-level technical guidance.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a senior technical point of contact for clients, agencies, contractors, and project stakeholders.
• Participate in client meetings, presentations, site visits, and technical discussions.
• Work with DOTs, transit authorities, municipalities, and other public-sector agencies to understand project requirements and regulatory expectations.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through responsive communication and high-quality engineering delivery.

Business Development & Proposals

• Support proposal development, scope preparation, fee development, and technical approaches.
• Assist with identifying new project opportunities and expanding client relationships.
• Contribute technical expertise to presentations, interviews, and business development initiatives.
• Help develop competitive and practical engineering solutions for transportation and infrastructure projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering principles, power systems, and electrical infrastructure.
• Significant experience in electrical design and engineering for transportation, transit, infrastructure, or complex building projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following:
• Power systems
• Electrical distribution
• Transportation electrical systems
• Transit electrical systems
• Traction power
• Lighting design
• Infrastructure electrical design
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong project/program management capabilities, including scheduling, budgeting, resource planning, and delivery.
• Ability to review and approve engineering designs and technical documentation.
• Strong knowledge of applicable electrical codes, standards, safety requirements, and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with clients, contractors, architects, engineers, project managers, and government agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in a relevant jurisdiction.
• PE license in Illinois or eligibility to obtain an Illinois PE license.
• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience with DOT, transit authority, public infrastructure, or transportation agency projects.
• Experience with major transit, rail, roadway, bridge, or public infrastructure programs.
• Experience with traction power and moveable bridge electrical systems.
• Experience with lighting systems and transportation infrastructure.
• Experience managing multiple engineering teams or large multidisciplinary programs.
• Experience supporting proposals, client development, and project pursuits.
• Familiarity with public-sector procurement and engineering requirements.