Technical Director, Electrical Engineer

WSP is seeking a Technical Director, Electrical Engineer for our San Francisco or Sacramento, CA office. This role involves working on projects within our Transportation Sector Mechanical & Electrical Team as part of a growing organization that meets client objectives and solves their challenges.

About the role

Provides leadership within a sector of the organization to ensure electrical engineering subject matter, technical deliverables, infrastructure projects, and programs are delivered with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry and company standards for design, safety, and functionality. Responsible for SME innovation and administration, ensuring corporate compliance with all local, state, and federal engineering, construction, and safety regulations, and providing pragmatic direction to address current and future challenges in a rapidly changing business climate.

Responsibilities

• Act as a staff specialist in providing technical guidance for complex or unique assignments, applying diversified knowledge of engineering principles and practices.
• Independently make decisions on significant engineering problems or methods.
• Direct segments of major projects and participate in the application of engineering concepts and techniques.
• Analyze complex problems requiring the development of new or improved techniques or procedures.
• Monitor project progress for technical accuracy and adherence to schedule and budget.
• Act as a representative at project meetings and conferences.
• Plan, organize, and supervise engineering staff and activities for projects of significant size and complexity.
• Make recommendations on project staffing.
• Direct design tasks requiring independent judgment in the evaluation, selection, and substantial adaptation and modification of standard design or engineering techniques and procedures.
• Ensure that production of specifications, reports, and analyses meet scope, schedule, cost, and quality requirements.
• Perform electrical calculations including electrical loads, equipment sizing, feeder sizing, load flow, voltage drop, short circuit, selective coordination, and arc flash.
• Design lighting systems including calculations, circuiting, and controls.
• Design facility electrical service and power distribution for 480/277, 120/208, and 120/240 volt classifications.
• Apply medium voltage knowledge and work experience.
• Design grounding systems and perform calculations for system and equipment grounding.
• Design motor control centers (MCC) including layouts, sizing, and motor starter selection.
• Design standby and emergency power systems including generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
• Coordinate with other design disciplines, including architectural, mechanical, systems, civil, geotechnical, structures, hydraulics/drainage, stormwater, traffic, utilities, and right of way.
• Occasionally serve as a Project Manager on some projects.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
• Remain current in latest electrical engineering techniques and practices.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future-ready solutions for clients.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 12+ years of relevant post-education experience in electrical engineering and infrastructure design for capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution at a utility, industrial, or commercial scale.
• Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
• Advanced proficiency with electrical engineering principles, practices, processes, design/build, standard of care, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Advanced proficiency with infrastructure design.
• Experience with infrastructure planning, design, and program/construction management, including comprehensive experience working with adjacent disciplines such as electrical engineering, P&C, SCADA, and telecom.
• Strong knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes (especially NFPA 70-NEC, NFPA 130, and NFPA 101), regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
• Advanced proficiency with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, regulators, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exists.
• Advanced proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (e.g., CADD, ETAP and/or SKM, AutoCAD Electrical), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety, and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Engineering.
• Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment.

Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Disability and life insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation or other personal time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Pay

Expected salary (all locations): $190,000 - $260,000.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water, and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., WSP partners with clients to help communities prosper. The company provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs.