Senior Electrical Engineer

Senior Electrical Engineer

 At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference 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 of 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 a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

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.

Job Summary: Salas O'Brien's Plymouth, Michigan office is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join a multi-discipline design team in a technical leadership role. The position is focused on serving as Engineer of Record and lead designer for electrical systems on new facilities, additions, and renovation projects, while providing QA/QC oversight and mentoring less experienced engineers. The Senior Electrical Engineer will direct the use of Revit and AutoCAD to design electrical systems, lighting layouts, and power distribution systems across a variety of project types.

The Senior Electrical Engineer leads the creation of construction drawings and specifications, existing system studies, and master planning efforts, and takes primary responsibility for client-facing technical communication. Qualified candidates will meet with clients, project teams, code officials, contractors, and others to address electrical issues, develop effective working relationships, and represent Salas O'Brien as a subject matter expert. Project clientele includes higher education, healthcare, automotive and advanced manufacturing, science and technology, mission critical, commercial, and government markets.

Responsibilities:

Design & Engineering

• Serve as Engineer of Record (EOR) for electrical systems on assigned projects, exercising independent professional judgment and sealing construction documents.
• Lead the design of electrical systems for buildings, including power distribution, lighting, lighting controls, fire alarm, data and communications, and emergency power systems.
• Direct and review electrical system design calculations, including load calculations, panel schedules, fault current and voltage drop analysis, and lighting calculations.
• Oversee the development of lighting layouts and calculations for interior and exterior applications, including associated lighting controls.
• Review and approve detailed design documents prepared in Revit by project team members, including single-line diagrams, panel schedules, and lighting and power floor plans.
• Lead existing-building surveys and documentation of existing electrical systems and site conditions on complex or critical-facility projects.
• Direct equipment selections and specifications for switchgear, transformers, generators, UPS systems, and other electrical equipment.

Coordination & Compliance

• Lead coordination of electrical system requirements with architects, contractors, and other engineering disciplines.
• Serve as the department's technical resource on code compliance, with emphasis on the National Electrical Code (NEC, NFPA 70) and the Michigan-adopted electrical and building codes.
• Perform QA/QC review of project deliverables prepared by other engineers and designers, and mentor junior and mid-level staff in design methodology and code application.
• Communicate design intent and technical decisions directly with clients, contractors, and project teams as the Engineer of Record, Design Lead, or Project Manager.

Construction Administration

• Lead construction administration responsibilities, including submittal and shop drawing reviews, responses to contractor RFIs, and resolution of electrical issues during construction.
• Conduct and oversee site visits and observation reports during construction, including complex or high-risk conditions.
• Lead project management activities for electrical scope, including coordination with the Project Manager on schedule, budget, and resource needs, and support proposal and fee development for electrical scope.

Qualifications and Experience: Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Eight (8) or more years of experience in the design of building electrical systems.
• Active Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Michigan, or the ability to obtain Michigan licensure by reciprocity within an agreed-upon timeframe.
• Demonstrated experience serving as Engineer of Record and sealing construction documents.
• Strong working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC, NFPA 70), IEEE standards, and applicable building codes.
• Advanced knowledge of the design of power distribution, fire alarm, data and communication, lighting, and emergency power systems.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and review the work of junior and mid-level engineers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including direct client-facing experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• PE. licensure in multiple states, or demonstrated ability to obtain reciprocal licensure as project needs require.
• LEED accreditation.
• Experience leading multi-discipline design teams and coordinating deliverables across disciplines.
• Experience with lighting design software (e.g., AGi32, ElumTools, Visual).
• Experience with SKM PowerTools, ETAP, or EasyPower for short-circuit, coordination, and arc-flash studies.
• Extensive experience with K-12 / higher education, healthcare, automotive, mission critical, or industrial facility projects.
• Experience supporting business development and client development activities, including proposal writing and client presentations.
• Familiarity with building automation, lighting control protocols (DALI, 0-10V, networked controls), and low-voltage systems integration.

Location: Plymouth, MI (Hybrid)

Travel: Up to 15%

Compensation & Benefits:

The expected base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a 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.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, 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.