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: The Senior Electrical Engineer leads the design and delivery of complex building electrical systems, including power distribution, lighting, life safety, and related systems. This role applies advanced technical judgment to develop practical, code-compliant solutions and deliver accurate, coordinated construction documents.
The position is accountable for project quality, timely execution, effective communication, and collaboration with clients and multidisciplinary teams. The Senior Electrical Engineer also supports the growth of other engineers and designers through technical guidance, mentorship, and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities:
- Lead electrical engineering design for complex projects, including design criteria, calculations, equipment selection, specifications, and construction documents.
- Ensure engineering deliverables meet applicable codes, client requirements, established standards, and quality expectations.
- Independently resolve technical and constructability challenges using sound judgment and practical, cost-effective solutions.
- Own assigned project deliverables, manage competing priorities, and proactively communicate schedule, budget, and resource concerns.
- Coordinate effectively with Project Managers, Team Leaders, Technical Leaders, other disciplines, and external project partners.
- Build client confidence through responsive communication, reliable follow-through, and professional technical representation.
- Prepare technical studies, design narratives, condition assessments, and field investigations as required.
- Provide construction-phase support, including submittal reviews, RFIs, field observations, and punch lists.
- Guide and review the work of junior engineers and designers, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and mentorship.
- Contribute to engineering standards, quality control, process improvements, and sharing technical knowledge across the team.
- Demonstrate accountability, adaptability, collaboration, and alignment with company values and established processes.
Qualifications and Experience:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
- Proficient in engineering and designing/coordinating the following electrical systems:
- Power Distribution Systems, including medium and low voltage distribution systems, standby power applications, load calculations, short circuit and coordination studies, arc flash hazard
- Lighting Systems, including calculations, lighting controls, luminaire selections and architecturally integrated lighting systems
- Auxiliary Systems, including fire alarm systems, voice/data structured cabling systems, access control, CCTV and other low voltage systems design
- Proficient use of Revit and AutoCAD
- Understanding of the coordination aspects of all design disciplines and how they impact the project
- Team-oriented problem-solving skills and decision-making ability
- Ability to organize work, multi-task and effectively work within a project team.
- Detail oriented, self-motivated, enthusiastic and flexible
- Excellent written/verbal communication skills and organizational skills
- Professional Engineer License
Location: Plymouth, MI (Hybrid)
Travel: Up to 15%
Compensation & Benefits:
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.
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.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
- Proficiency designing and coordinating power distribution systems, including medium- and low-voltage systems, standby power, load calculations, short-circuit and coordination studies, and arc-flash hazard analysis
- Proficiency designing lighting systems, including calculations, lighting controls, luminaire selection, and architecturally integrated lighting
- Proficiency designing auxiliary systems, including fire alarm, structured cabling, access control, CCTV, and other low-voltage systems
- Proficiency using Revit and AutoCAD
- Understanding of coordination among all design disciplines and project impacts
- Team-oriented problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Ability to organize work, multitask, and work effectively within a project team
- Detail-oriented, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible work approach
- Excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills
- Professional Engineer license
Salas O'Brien Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Salas O'Brien and has not been reviewed or approved by Salas O'Brien.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare options include multiple medical, dental, and vision plans with an individual medical option at no premium, plus no‑cost preventive medications and mental‑health resources. Employer‑paid disability and life coverage further strengthen the safety net.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes a base PTO allotment plus company office‑closure days and paid parental leave for births, adoptions, and foster placements. Feedback suggests the breadth of leave is a standout component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits include a 401(k) employer match with a potential additional company stock contribution, along with RRSP support in Canada and a student‑loan payment 401(k) match in the U.S. These features provide structured long‑term savings support beyond base pay.
Salas O'Brien Insights
What We Do
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact™, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues, including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.
