Senior Electrical Designer in Birmingham

Job Scope

As a Lead Designer, you will provide supervision and technical direction for a team of designers and be accountable for on-time delivery of electrical and instrumentation (E&I) design deliverables within budget and quality expectations. You may also perform advanced design work as a technical specialist on complex assignments, using project controls to manage cost, schedule, and quality. Work is performed under minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply department design and drafting standards.
• Interpret and communicate project scope, specifications, and design criteria when assigned to a project task team.
• Produce E&I design deliverables under minimal supervision, including installation details; MCC single-lines and elementaries; electrical room layouts; connection diagrams; cable schedules; control panel layouts; and grounding, lighting, power, and instrumentation plans.
• Identify and communicate scope and design changes promptly.
• Provide on-site assistance during startup.
• Provide technical guidance to less-experienced drafting personnel.
• Coordinate work activities with other staff members and the discipline lead.
• Report current status of project work to the discipline lead, including delays and opportunities to improve projected finish dates.
• Partner with clients to define scope of work and support client interactions on technical matters.
• Develop 480VAC equipment specifications with engineering review and approval.
• Develop 15kV/5kV equipment specifications with engineering review and approval.
• Develop electrical installation specifications with engineering review and approval.
• Demonstrate a complete understanding of the skills and experience required to perform E&I design functions.
• Lead and coordinate design staff efforts to achieve scope, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Mentor and develop subordinates.
• Participate in team and cross-discipline checks to ensure coordination across design disciplines.
• Review calculations prepared by other designers for accuracy and compliance with codes, specifications, design criteria, and good engineering practice.
• Determine construction quantities and support construction cost estimates.
• Delegate work based on designers’ skills and experience, and follow up to ensure efficient progress and quality.
• Coordinate with design leaders from other disciplines to align scope, priorities, and execution.
• Support training plans, continuing education opportunities, and professional development for staff.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree in Engineering Technology or Computer-Aided Drafting.
• Experience: 15+ years of relevant industrial experience in electrical and instrumentation drafting and design.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Codes, calculations, and electrical sizing.
• Working knowledge of the current National Electrical Code (NEC).
• Perform lighting level calculations.
• Size wire, conduit, and overcurrent protection for lighting and power.
• Perform voltage drop calculations.
• Calculate tray and conduit fill.
• Determine motor control center (MCC) loading.
• Determine load center/unit substation loading.

Design documentation and materials

• Create accurate electrical installation documents using vendor equipment drawings.
• Understand specifications and installation details for construction bulk materials and equipment.
• Route conduit and cable tray.

Equipment and specifications

• Develop 480VAC equipment specifications (e.g., MCCs, VFDs, induction/synchronous motors, load centers/unit substations) with engineering review and approval.
• Demonstrate familiarity with 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques (above and below ground).
• Develop 15kV/5kV equipment specifications (e.g., switchgear, load break switches, MCCs) and perform short-circuit and OCPD rating calculations with engineering review and approval.
• Develop electrical installation specifications with engineering review and approval.

Project execution and coordination

• Understand workflow and information flow between disciplines.
• Understand schedule constraints and information requirements for producing electrical deliverables.
• Accurately estimate completion of assigned tasks.
• Develop design criteria and scope of work.
• Identify required information and proactively obtain it.
• Coordinate with other disciplines regarding design development and changes.
• Determine construction material quantities.
• Develop construction cost estimates, detailed engineering schedules, and man-hour budgets for small projects or areas of larger projects.
• Forecast hours to complete professional services and develop staffing plans based on deliverables and schedule.

Standards, tools, and systems

• Apply company engineering design and CAD drafting standards.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Proficient with 2D AutoCAD and MicroStation (3D AutoCAD preferred).
• Programming experience with PLC, HMI, and/or DCS equipment.

Leadership and communication

• Lead a small team to deliver on commitments.
• Coordinate with the process group to support efficient equipment layouts and space usage.
• Deliver presentations of Hargrove Engineers & Constructors services.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated virtual team skills and cross-divisional collaboration; able to provide interoffice execution support with minimal supervision.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time.

Hargrove Culture

We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a team mentality so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. We know that each person on our team contributes to the success of our company by pairing expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe. Our safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person who works with us and every person touched by our work. As a 100% Teammate owned company, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays, personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible Teammates.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Hargrove is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual identity, marital or family status), disability, military service or obligations, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Hargrove is a drug-free workplace. The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.