Team Lead - High Voltage Testing Services

Powertech Labs; Surrey; On-site; CAD 127,000 - 1,161,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology testing laboratory in Surrey is seeking a Team Lead to provide technical and project leadership to a team of Engineers and Technicians. The ideal candidate will have a significant background in engineering, preferably in Electrical Engineering, along with strong leadership and project management skills. This position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment focused on clean technology and safety.

Qualifications

• Eight years of relevant engineering experience, preferably in Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum three years managing a team of technical experts.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer with relevant local authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Engineers and Technicians towards project success.
• Manage project execution, ensuring quality and timeliness.
• Oversee equipment maintenance and troubleshoot issues.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical or mechatronics engineering

Job description

As the largest test lab on the west coast of North America, the High Voltage lab is capable of conducting distribution and transmission level high voltage tests on all types of equipment such as transformers, insulators, switchgear, bushings, cables, instrument transformers, transmission line hardware, surge arrestors, SF6 insulated equipment, and transformer rectifier units (TRUs). The lab’s independent, third‑party status, and experienced technical staff of more than 30 years enhance the credibility of manufacturers’ test reports.

Our lab offers a full range of qualification and certification tests, as well as custom testing solutions. Condition assessment tests may be performed in the field or in the lab to evaluate the equipment condition. It also has a long history of conducting forensic analysis investigations to identify the cause of failures and providing expert witness services.

Under the direction of the Division Manager, the successful candidate will provide technical and professional leadership to a team of Engineers and Technicians to achieve work program and department objectives. The Team Lead will excel at enhancing the scope of services and work prioritization to ensure that the team is focused on delivering core work on time, on budget and to the required level of safety, quality, and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Act as an energetic, proactive leader who motivates the team, manages multiple priorities, communicates effectively with clients and staff, and confidently handles challenges in a fast‑paced environment.
• Lead and drive project execution across a range of complexities, including field testing, consulting, and laboratory activities ensuring high‑quality, timely results.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership by mentoring and coaching team members, fostering continuous learning, and ensuring safe and efficient work practices.
• Oversee and streamline equipment maintenance, including troubleshooting issues, developing proactive maintenance plans, and coordinating repairs to minimize downtime.
• Prioritize tasks and allocate resources effectively, guiding the team to meet project timelines, reviewing in‑progress work, and ensuring accuracy and compliance with quality and engineering standards.
• Support business growth by:
  • Identifying and developing new laboratory service opportunities.
  • Building strong, trust‑based client relationships to expand partnerships.
  • Leading initiatives aimed at improving lab efficiency, capabilities, and performance.
• Champion safety culture by reinforcing safety protocols, ensuring strict compliance, and proactively addressing potential risks within the laboratory environment.
• Manage lab scheduling and workflow, resolving conflicts, adjusting priorities, and implementing contingency plans to keep operations running smoothly.
• Contribute to strategic and annual goals related to safety, quality, environmental compliance, client satisfaction, and financial performance.
• Lead people‑management activities, including setting clear performance expectations, conducting reviews, addressing performance issues, and supporting career development through training and skill‑building.
• Collaborate with the Division Manager on team‑development efforts, including recruitment, change management, talent growth, and recognition or promotion of high performers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical or mechatronics engineering recognized by universities in Canada.
• Eight (8) years of relevant engineering experience. Preference will be given to candidates with an Electrical Engineering background and hands‑on experience in high‑voltage testing.
• Demonstrated a minimum of three years of direct experience in managing all aspects of a highly qualified team of technical experts.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer with the Engineers and Geoscientists of BC.
• Strong project management and goal‑setting skills with the ability to work with senior management and subject matter experts.

In addition, the following are desired skillsets:

• Strong problem‑solving abilities to diagnose and address equipment and testing issues in the lab.
• Possess strong leadership skills to guide, mentor and coordinate team of lab technicians and engineers.
• Demonstrated management of a P&L and an understanding of annual planning, budgeting, and business forecasting is an asset.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communications skills including the ability to build successful relationships, make presentations to technical and non‑technical audiences and liaise with peers in industry.
• Excellent risk‑based decision‑making capabilities.
• Previous experience working in a unionized environment is an asset.
• Thorough understanding in principles of managing multifaceted multidisciplinary projects; inclusive of budgets, resources, schedules, and deliverables through proposal, definition, initiation, planning, execution, reporting, and closure stages.

Job Grade: P4
Job Status: Full time Regular
Job location: Surrey

Annual Salary: $127K - $1161K
Business Group: Testing Services Business Unit
Department: HVL Testing Services

Note that candidates with lesser experience may be considered for a P3 role that is appropriate to their level of experience.

As part of the selection process, applicants may be required to complete a written test/ assessment and/or a presentation as part of the interview process.

A condition of employment for this job is that you maintain your Driver's License (Class 5) in good standing.

Please be advised that this role has been assessed as safety sensitive and pre‑qualification alcohol and drug testing will be required as a pre‑condition to employment.

Powertech Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We include everyone. We welcome applications from anyone, including members of visible minorities, women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. We are also happy to provide reasonable accommodations throughout the selection process and while working at Powertech Labs.

Maintaining customer‑confidence and our reputation is key: To this end, all our campus and laboratories are accredited to ISO9001 (quality), ISO14001 (environment stewardship) and ISO45001 (safety) and IEC/ISO 17025 for over 100 standards. To complement the focus on accreditation, we encourage our experts to drive global standards and provide development opportunities for all staff to grow in their role and to advance in their careers.

Working at Powertech is not a job but a career. If you want to be a part of a growing clean technology company that is impactful and working towards a common goal of accelerating the world towards a net zero carbon future, come and join our team.