Customer Design Lead

American Electric Power; San Angelo (TX); On-site; USD 98,993 - 128,688; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power in Texas seeks a senior engineering leader to provide expertise, training and leadership support for the Customer Design team involved in designing Distribution system facilities. You will build relationships with stakeholders, customers, and internal teams to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective project execution.

The role emphasizes mentoring, policy adherence, and decision-making under risk, with strong focus on customer service and cross-organizational

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited engineering degree plus 6 years utility experience (3 in design).
• Equivalents: Associates degree + 6 years utility design or high school diploma + 8 years utility design.
• Registered Professional Engineering License (PE) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Promotes and trains team members on Distribution Standards, policies, and performance.
• Support the development and implementation of work plans by establishing measurable goals, objectives, and requirements relative to assigned functions and responsibilities.
• Design team expert applying knowledge to make complex recommendations and/or decisions based on calculated risk; understands the impact of the decisions made on other organizational units internal and external of the company.
• Leads activities of the organization and outside resources, to support the design execution of the Distribution work plan and promotes the culture of excellent customer service.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Helps ensure the contribution of all employees within the Customer Design group in recommending and helping leader develop methods and approaches by maintaining close involvement with the employees and listening to their ideas, needs and recommendations.
• Understand and advise on the design, material and work progress of department projects to control costs within estimated budget.
• Helps the leader by providing training for employees to learn and share knowledge, strengthen skills, and deepen and broaden technical and professional capabilities.
• Support the directions of Design management by; communicating job expectations, assigning responsibilities, establishing accountabilities, setting performance objectives (goals), establishing priorities, providing feedback, and ensuring that staff has required resources to accomplish work.

Skills

Leadership

Design reviews

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

ABET-accredited engineering school

Associate degree + 6 years utility design

High school diploma + 8 years utility design

Job description

Job Posting End Date

07-31-2026

Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Job Summary

Responsible for providing expertise, training and leadership support for the Customer Design team engaged in the design of Distribution system electrical facilities. Develop relationships and effective communication with all stakeholders, and customers, both internal and external to the company.

Job Description

What you’ll do:

• Helps promotes and trains team members on Distribution Standards, policies, and performance.
• Support the development and implementation of work plans by establishing measurable goals, objectives, and requirements relative to assigned functions and responsibilities. Helps review planned work of others; and completion of projects.
• Design team expert applying knowledge to make complex recommendations and/or decisions based on calculated risk; understands the impact of the decisions made on other organizational units internal and external of the company. Possesses the knowledge to defend decisions that are made in the interest of the company; demonstrates the ability to extrapolate beyond facts to reach a logical conclusion.
• Leads activities of the organization and outside resources, to support the design execution of the Distribution work plan and promotes the culture of excellent customer service.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Helps ensure the contribution of all employees within the Customer Design group in recommending and helping leader develop methods and approaches by maintaining close involvement with the employees and listening to their ideas, needs and recommendations.
• Understand and advise on the design, material and work progress of department projects to control costs within estimated budget. Ensure codes, policies, standards, internal and external design requirements and schedules are met.
• Helps the leader by providing training for employees to learn and share knowledge, strengthen skills, and deepen and broaden technical and professional capabilities.
• Support the directions of Design management by; communicating job expectations, assigning responsibilities, establishing accountabilities, setting performance objectives (goals), establishing priorities, providing feedback, and ensuring that staff has required resources to accomplish work.

What we’re looking for:

• Education/Experience: Bachelors degree in electrical, mechanical, civil or industrial engineering from ABET accredited school AND 6 years of utility experience (3 of those years in utility design). In lieu of degree, we would consider a combination of education and relevant experience as listed:
• Equivalent: Associates degree in discipline listed above AND 6 years of utility design or High school diploma and 8 years of utility design experience

Required License(s)/Certification(s) are listed below: Registered Professional Engineering License (PE) is a plus

Compensation Data

Compensation Grade:

SP20-008

Compensation Range:

$98,993.00 - $128,688.00

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.