Electrical Engineer (3-year term)

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; South Dakota; On-site; USD 125,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

Fermilab in Lead, South Dakota seeks an Electrical Engineer to oversee electrical and IT construction contracts for the LBNF/DUNE facilities. You will coordinate power distribution up to 15 kV, fiber-optic and networking infrastructure, and manage documentation and contractor performance underground at SURF.

The role requires a ABET‑accredited electrical engineering degree and 6+ years of relevant experience (or a Master’s with 4+ years).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• 6+ years of relevant electrical construction oversight experience, or Master’s degree with 4+ years.
• Experience with low- and medium-voltage power infrastructure up to 15 kV.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct oversight of electrical and IT construction contracts with financial responsibility.
• Coordinate contractor activities, schedules, and work sequencing across complex projects.
• Review invoices, pay apps, and changes; develop cost estimates for field changes.
• Coordinate with design teams, detector groups, and facility stakeholders for compliance.
• Maintain project documentation, RFIs, submittals, and commissioning records.

Skills

Electrical power distribution

Contract coordination

Project documentation

Written and verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (ABET-accredited)

6+ years electrical construction oversight experience

Master’s degree with 4+ years experience

Tools

Project management system

Job description

The expected hiring range for this position is: $124,800.00-$164,200.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

What your day-to-day as an Electrical Engineer at Fermilab will look like:

• Provide direct oversight of electrical and IT construction contracts for which LBNF/DUNE has financial responsibility.
• Serve as the primary coordinator for matters related to the electrical infrastructure construction contract, including power distribution up to 15 kV, fiber-optic communications distribution, and networking infrastructure.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of electrical and IT requirements, designs, specifications, and construction documents for the LBNF/DUNE facilities at SURF.
• Coordinate contractor activities with other ongoing construction work and project priorities.
• Review contractor schedules and coordinate work sequencing with other construction activities.
• Review invoices and pay applications and approve or negotiate changes as appropriate.
• Develop cost estimates for field changes and use those estimates to evaluate subcontractor change requests.
• Coordinate with Architect/Engineering firms, LBNF/DUNE detector teams, SURF personnel, and other facilities design contractors.
• Support cost, schedule, and scope management for the Far Site Conventional Facilities, including earned value management, monthly reporting, and participation in LBNF/DUNE project reviews.
• Use the project’s web-based project management system to document and process RFIs, submittals, change requests, and other construction documentation.
• Review contractually required submittals against contract and design documents and provide recommendations regarding acceptance or rejection.
• Review documentation such as job hazard analyses, required tests, inspections, and other construction-quality records.
• Participate in the review of electrical shop drawings for compliance with design requirements.
• Support field inspections of completed work and compare installations against design drawings, documenting compliance or non-conformance.
• Coordinate field modifications and associated technical documentation as appropriate.
• Maintain organized project documentation including drawings, invoices, contracts, QA/QC records, and commissioning documentation associated with electrical and IT design and construction.
• Coordinate project meetings and prepare meeting minutes as needed.
• Work with Fermilab IT subject matter experts to understand network requirements and coordinate implementation and construction compliance.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Perform all duties in accordance with applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations and Fermilab practices.

Skills and Attributes for Success

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• 6+ years of relevant electrical construction oversight experience, or Master’s degree with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with low- and medium-voltage power infrastructure, including systems up to 15 kV.

Electrical & Construction Expertise

• Strong understanding of electrical power distribution and construction in large-scale industrial, commercial, or infrastructure environments.
• Ability to review electrical drawings, specifications, shop drawings, submittals, and construction documents.
• Experience coordinating electrical construction activities and evaluating work for compliance with design requirements.
• Ability to understand and coordinate fiber-optic communications and networking infrastructure requirements with appropriate technical subject matter experts.
• Ability to evaluate field conditions and coordinate modifications when required.

Contract & Project Coordination

• Experience overseeing construction contracts and coordinating contractor performance.
• Ability to review invoices, pay applications, change requests, and supporting documentation.
• Experience developing cost estimates for field changes is strongly preferred.
• Ability to coordinate scope, schedule, cost, and contractor activities across a complex construction project.
• Experience with RFIs, submittals, change management, QA/QC documentation, and commissioning records.
• Strong organizational and documentation-management skills.

Communication & Collaboration

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with contractors, engineers, architects, project managers, technical specialists, safety personnel, and facility stakeholders.
• Ability to facilitate project meetings and clearly document decisions, actions, and follow-up items.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary project environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with fiber-optic network infrastructure for communications and control systems.
• Experience with industrial, large commercial, or government-funded construction projects.
• OSHA and/or MSHA training.
• QA/QC training or experience.
• Cost-estimating experience.

Work Environment

This position is based in Lead, South Dakota, at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Work includes activities at heavy civil construction sites and approximately one mile underground. Must be able to work at heights and in active construction environments. The position is normally scheduled during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, but must be able to work outside normal business hours as project needs require. Minimal domestic and/or international travel may be required. Work environments may include cold, dry, hot, and wet conditions. The position requires periods of sitting and standing, visual demands, mental concentration, and the ability to work within project-driven schedules.

Why Fermilab

Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

Pre-Employment Screening

Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive and drug-free environment.

An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening.

HSPD-12

In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a federal background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

Foreign Government Sponsored Activities

Fermilab employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. Such individuals will be asked to disclose any participation for review by Fermilab's Office of General Counsel.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus

Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf. If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

Fermilab is the United States' premier particle physics laboratory. We work on the world's largest and most advanced particle accelerators and dig down to the tiniest building blocks of matter. We probe the farthest reaches of the universe, seeking out the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Fermilab's over 2,000 employees include scientists and engineers from all around the world and collaborators from more than 50 countries on physics experiments based in the United States and elsewhere. Our work experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, our people. To learn more about Fermilab's employee programs, visit our main Careers site. Please contact [e-mail] to request accommodations for completing the application process.