Electrical Engineer/Design Engineer III

ColeBreit Engineering; Santa Cruz (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

3 weeks PTO

Paid holidays

401(k) with employer match

Student loan repayment

Dependent care FSA matching

Profit-sharing opportunities

Cell phone stipend

Job summary

ColeBreit Engineering is seeking an Electrical Engineer III/Design Engineer III to design building electrical systems, including power distribution, lighting, and controls, from concept through construction.

The role emphasizes ownership of design work, coordination with multidisciplinary teams, and adherence to codes and standards, with PE preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in electrical design for buildings and related systems.
• Ability to perform electrical calculations and develop construction documents.
• Experience coordinating with architects, contractors and other disciplines.
• PE preferred but not required; EIT possible for candidates on track to licensure.

Responsibilities

• Design electrical systems from concept to construction documents.
• Perform calculations for loads, voltage drop, and short-circuit analysis.
• Coordinate across disciplines and with AHJ and utility providers.
• Develop drawings, specifications, and system narratives in Revit/AutoCAD.

Skills

Electrical design

Load calculations

Revit

Coordination with teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Revit

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

Job description

Location: Bay Area/South Bay/Peninsula region in California, to support ColeBreit Engineering’s California offices in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Napa, CA.

Are you ready to take the next step in your electrical engineering career while working on challenging, meaningful projects?

As an Electrical Engineer/Design Engineer III at ColeBreit Engineering, you will be responsible for completing detailed electrical designs and supporting projects from design through construction. You’ll work with increasing independence to design electrical systems, perform technical calculations, coordinate with architects and other disciplines, develop project documentation, and support construction administration.

This position may be filled as an Electrical Engineer III or Electrical Design Engineer III based on experience and licensure. A Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred but not required. More important to us is finding someone with strong MEP consulting experience who is ready to take meaningful ownership of their work and continue growing technically.

If you enjoy solving technical problems, taking ownership of your designs, and working collaboratively with a team, we’d like to hear from you.

HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION IN ELECTRICAL DESIGN

You have experience designing building electrical systems, including normal, emergency, and backup power distribution, lighting and lighting controls, and other electrical and special systems. You can perform technical calculations and understand how codes and standards inform your design decisions.

You can take responsibility for meaningful portions of an electrical design with limited guidance, from evaluating loads and sizing equipment through developing drawings, specifications, and construction documents.

CARE ABOUT QUALITY AND THE DETAILS

You understand that successful engineering is about more than completing drawings. You pay attention to technical accuracy, coordination, constructability, project budgets, applicable codes, and quality-control standards.

THRIVE IN A COLLABORATIVE TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENT

You communicate effectively with architects, contractors, utility providers, and other engineering disciplines. You’re organized, dependable, receptive to feedback, and comfortable asking questions when needed while continuing to build your independence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES MAY INCLUDE:

Within the first 30 days:

Develop an understanding of ColeBreit Engineering’s electrical design standards, quality-control processes, project workflows, and expectations.

Become familiar with active projects, applicable codes and standards, project requirements, and existing design documentation.

Begin contributing to electrical system design, calculations, drawings, and project documentation alongside ColeBreit’s electrical team.

Establish working relationships with project managers, engineers, designers, and other team members across disciplines.

Become familiar with ColeBreit’s approach to project budgets, schedules, coordination, and construction administration.

3-6 months and ongoing:

Design basic to moderately complex electrical systems with limited guidance, including normal, emergency, and backup power distribution systems, lighting and lighting controls, and special systems.

Perform electrical calculations, including demand and connected load estimates, voltage drop, short-circuit, and energy code calculations.

Analyze existing and proposed electrical loads to inform system design, sizing, and requirements.

Design and size electrical distribution equipment, feeders, end‑use power connections, generators, UPS systems, and automatic transfer switches.

Coordinate electrical system requirements with architects, contractors, utility providers, and other engineering disciplines.

Develop and edit drawings and models in Revit and AutoCAD, as well as project specifications and system narratives.

Perform field investigations and incorporate existing conditions, utility requirements, AHJ requirements, and applicable codes into project designs.

Complete assigned work within established project budgets and schedules.

6-12 months and ongoing:

Take increasing ownership of electrical design work from project initiation through construction administration with limited guidance.

Develop lighting and lighting‑control designs, including photometric calculations, fixture selections, layouts, schedules, sequences of operation, and control diagrams.

Review contractor product data, submittals, and shop drawings and respond to construction-phase questions.

Conduct construction site observations and document field conditions and installation progress.

Evaluate electrical system alternatives and recommend appropriate solutions based on project requirements, applicable codes, constructability, and existing conditions.

Consistently apply ColeBreit Engineering’s design, technical, and quality-control standards.

Serve as a project or discipline lead on appropriate projects based on experience and demonstrated readiness.

For licensed engineers, serve as Engineer of Record when assigned and properly authorized.

EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

5+ years of progressive experience in electrical design, preferably within an MEP consulting engineering environment

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field from an ABET‑accredited institution

Demonstrated experience designing building electrical systems, including power distribution, lighting and lighting controls, emergency and backup power, and related electrical systems

Experience performing electrical calculations, developing construction documents, and coordinating electrical designs with other disciplines

Ability to independently complete significant portions of electrical design work with limited guidance

Working knowledge of applicable electrical, building, and energy codes and standards

Proven proficiency in Autodesk Revit

Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to coordinate effectively with internal and external project teams

Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize work across multiple projects

Professional Engineer (PE) licensure preferred, but not required

EIT certification and/or demonstrated progress toward PE licensure preferred for candidates who are not currently licensed

Experience with California building codes and regulations highly preferred

Experience with Bluebeam preferred

COMPANY BENEFITS INCLUDE:

The compensation range is $90,000 - $125,000 annually, commensurate with experience level and professional licensure

Well-Being: Hybrid work policy | 3 weeks of PTO | Paid holidays + additional holiday week by year end

Financial Wellness: Safe Harbor 401(k) with employer matching | Student loan repayment | Dependent care FSA matching | Profit‑sharing opportunities | Cell phone stipend

WHO WE ARE:

ColeBreit is a woman‑owned, MWBE‑certified MEP engineering firm with offices across Oregon and California. Founded in 2013 by Laura Breit, we’ve grown into a 50 person team committed to quality, integrity, and strong client partnerships. Specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering, we serve diverse industries, including civic, healthcare, and sustainable housing. ColeBreit is more than an engineering firm—we’re a team that values collaboration, innovation, and care in everything we do.

Our Core Values: Driven to Perform. Want to Grow. Team First (No Jerks Allowed).

What sets ColeBreit apart is our people‑first culture and commitment to creating a supportive, team‑oriented workplace:

Team-First Approach | Client-Focused Leadership | Community and Connection | Work-Life Balance | Growth Opportunities