Electrical Department Head - Mission Critical

Tom Trese; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A top-ranked MEP firm in Boston is looking for an experienced electrical department head. The role involves leading electrical design on complex data center projects, mentoring engineers, and maintaining high technical standards. Candidates should have at least 15 years of experience in designing electrical systems, significant data center expertise, and a PE license. The position supports a hybrid work environment, emphasizing professional commitments to sustainability.

Qualifications

• 15 or more years designing electrical systems for high performance facilities.
• Significant data center experience.
• Required experience in team management and development.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design on complex data center and commercial projects.
• Develop MV protection schemes and relay coordination.
• Mentor engineers and set technical standards for the department.

Skills

Electrical design leadership

Team management

Data center experience

Sustainability commitment

Education

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

At many MEP firms, the electrical department head position is occupied by someone who isn't leaving. So if you're in the #2 seat, it can be a long wait for that promotion.

Our client, a consistently top‑ranked independently owned MEP firm, with a national footprint in hyperscale, federal, and co‑location data center design and decades of continuous independent operation. The person in this seat is the technical authority for the Boston electrical department, visible to clients, accountable for the work, and running a practice whose mission‑critical pipeline includes some of the most demanding data center infrastructure being built in the country.

The work includes multi‑hundred megawatt campus developments, medium voltage systems engineered for environments where reliability is non‑negotiable, and data center fit‑outs at power densities that demand precision from concept through commissioning. Close coordination with mechanical, civil, and client teams is part of the job throughout.

Day to day, you are leading electrical design on complex data center and commercial projects, developing MV protection schemes and relay coordination on systems built at significant scale, holding the technical bar for everything the department produces, and mentoring the engineers around you. The standards you set will shape how this practice grows.

What the role requires:

• 15 or more years designing electrical systems for high‑performance facilities
• significant data center experience
• PE license required
• Experience managing and developing a team of engineers
• Professional commitment to sustainability, LEED accreditation is a plus

This position offers a hybrid work environment.