Electrical Project Manager (Aviation) (Philadelphia, Full-Time)

McKnight International; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with employer matching

PTO and holidays

Professional development and certif. }

Job summary

McKnight International is seeking a senior-level Electrical Project Manager with 10+ years of experience to support aviation capital improvement and infrastructure programs in Philadelphia, PA. This role oversees the planning, coordination, and delivery of electrical substations, power distribution, and related infrastructure within an active airport environment.

The ideal candidate combines strong project management expertise with experience in aviation infrastructure, stakeholder coordination,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Management, Architecture, or related field.
• Minimum ten years of experience managing complex, multi-phase capital construction programs.
• Experience supporting aviation or transportation infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing electrical construction scopes in active or mission-critical facilities.
• Strong background in schedule management, cost control, estimating, forecasting, and risk management.
• Experience reviewing and communicating project performance metrics, dashboards, and reports.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, engineers, inspectors, contractors, consultants, testing agencies, commissioning personnel, and client organizations.
• Knowledge of multiple construction delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CM at Risk, or similar delivery methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, leadership, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within an active aviation and construction environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, coordination, execution, and delivery of electrical projects within an active airport environment.
• Coordinate with aviation stakeholders, designers, contractors, utilities, and vendors to deliver complex infrastructure.
• Lead the development and delivery of program reports, including schedule, cost, risk, and performance metrics.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to continuous improvement and team development.
• Coordinate electrical shutdowns, testing, commissioning, energization, turnover, and closeout activities.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Eng/Mg

10+ years experience

Aviation infrastructure experience

Leadership & team mentoring

Schedule, cost, risk management

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Management, Architecture, or related field

Job description

Electrical Project Manager (Aviation) (Philadelphia, Full-Time)

Philadelphia, United States | Posted on 09/28/2026

McKnight International is a leading project controls and technology implementation company known for its commitment to delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget. We take pride in our dedication to safety, quality, and excellence in the construction industry. As we continue to grow, we seek skilled individuals to join our team and contribute to the success of our projects.

Job Description

Electrical Project Manager (Aviation) (Philadelphia, Full-Time)

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Fully On-Site

(Hybrid potential may be available based on project needs and client approval; not guaranteed.)

Note: We kindly ask not to be contacted at this time by recruiters or third-party agencies.

Our Company

At McKnight International, we specialize in providing innovative project controls and infrastructure technology consulting services to architects, engineers, and construction firms. Our work spans aviation, transportation, capital improvement programs, civil infrastructure, commercial development, and infrastructure technology initiatives.

We focus on integrating qualified personnel and effective systems to deliver precision, visibility, and successful project outcomes. Our organization is committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence while supporting complex infrastructure and consulting environments.

To learn more about McKnight International, please visit mcknightintl.com. For additional career opportunities, visit mcknightintl.com/careers.

The Role

McKnight International is seeking a senior-level Electrical Project Manager with 10+ years of experience to support complex aviation capital improvement and infrastructure programs in Philadelphia, PA.

This role is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, execution, and delivery of electrical substation, power distribution, and related electrical infrastructure projects within an active airport environment.

The ideal candidate combines strong project management expertise with experience in electrical substations, power distribution systems, aviation infrastructure, stakeholder coordination, and regulatory compliance. This role requires a strong focus on safety, system reliability, schedule adherence, cost control, and continuity of airport operations.

The individual hired will represent McKnight International while coordinating with aviation stakeholders, designers, contractors, utilities, equipment vendors, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams to successfully deliver complex electrical infrastructure projects.

This position is primarily on-site within an active aviation environment. Limited hybrid flexibility may be available depending on project phase and client approval; however, on-site presence is a core requirement.

Requirements

Leadership Scope

• Lead electrical program deliverables requiring cross-functional coordination
• Provide clear direction, goals, and accountability to project teams
• Participate in weekly team and client meetings to review progress and performance
• Lead the development and delivery of recurring program reports, including schedule, cost, risk, and performance metrics
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to continuous improvement and team development
• Build and maintain strong relationships with aviation stakeholders, designers, contractors, utilities, equipment vendors, and client representatives
• Operate effectively within an active aviation environment where safety, system reliability, schedule, cost, and operational continuity are critical

Essential Job Functions

Project Planning & Execution

• Define project scope, objectives, milestones, and deliverables in coordination with aviation stakeholders
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, and resource strategies
• Coordinate project activities across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders
• Manage electrical project activities through planning, construction, testing, commissioning, turnover, and closeout

Budget & Cost Management

• Develop and manage project budgets for large-scale aviation electrical and substation projects
• Track project costs and expenditures
• Analyze cost variances and forecast project trends
• Implement corrective actions as needed to maintain project budget objectives
• Support cost control, estimating, forecasting, and financial reporting activities

Schedule Management

• Develop, manage, and monitor project schedules
• Coordinate with project controls personnel on integrated program schedules
• Monitor project milestones and identify potential schedule impacts
• Coordinate work sequencing with airport operations, phasing constraints, shutdowns, cutovers, contractors, and project stakeholders
• Support development and implementation of schedule recovery strategies when necessary

Electrical & Technical Oversight

• Oversee construction and upgrades of electrical substations, medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems, transformers, switchgear, switchboards, circuit breakers, protective devices, grounding systems, emergency and standby power systems, and associated controls
• Coordinate electrical infrastructure with mechanical, structural, architectural, communications, controls, fire/life-safety, and other project disciplines
• Review electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, specifications, studies, submittals, RFIs, and technical documentation
• Ensure electrical work complies with project drawings, specifications, electrical codes, applicable standards, and aviation facility requirements
• Coordinate electrical shutdowns, system cutovers, testing, commissioning, energization, turnover, and closeout activities
• Coordinate closely with mechanical and other discipline leads to support successful integration of substation and supporting infrastructure systems

Risk & Quality Management

• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Monitor project risks and issues throughout project execution
• Implement QA/QC processes to meet or exceed client and industry standards
• Ensure project deliverables meet applicable quality, technical, and performance requirements

Stakeholder & Client Communication

• Serve as a primary point of contact between aviation stakeholders, designers, contractors, utilities, equipment vendors, consultants, and client representatives
• Maintain clear and consistent communication across project teams and stakeholders
• Prepare and present project status reports, performance updates, and executive-level briefings
• Facilitate project coordination meetings and support timely resolution of project issues

Contract Administration & Compliance

• Support contract administration, change management, and claims resolution
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations and project requirements
• Ensure compliance with applicable FAA, OSHA, electrical safety, environmental, and local regulatory requirements
• Support adherence to airport-specific safety, security, operational, and construction requirements
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams including engineers, inspectors, contractors, consultants, testing agencies, and commissioning personnel
• Coordinate closely with electrical, mechanical, and other discipline leads
• Provide direction and support to project team members
• Foster a collaborative, professional, accountable, and safety-focused project environment

Problem Solving & Decision Support

• Identify and address technical, construction, schedule, cost, and coordination challenges
• Develop and implement practical solutions that maintain project progress and operational continuitySupport project decision-making related to electrical infrastructure, construction sequencing, outages, testing, commissioning, and energization activities

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Management, Architecture, or a related field
• Minimum ten (10) years of experience managing complex, multi-phase capital construction programs
• Demonstrated experience supporting aviation or transportation infrastructure projects
• Proven experience managing electrical construction scopes in active or mission-critical facilities
• Strong background in schedule management, cost control, estimating, forecasting, and risk management
• Experience reviewing and communicating project performance metrics, dashboards, and reports
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, engineers, inspectors, contractors, consultants, testing agencies, commissioning personnel, and client organizations
• Knowledge of multiple construction delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CM at Risk, or similar delivery methods
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, leadership, and decision-making abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within an active aviation and construction environment

Preferred Certifications

One or more of the following professional credentials is strongly preferred, but not required:

• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Project scheduling or controls certifications, as applicable

Equivalent experience delivering complex aviation, electrical, and substation programs will be considered in lieu of certifications.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Electrical substation project experience
• Medium-voltage power distribution experience
• Transformer, switchgear, switchboard, and emergency power system experience
• Experience supporting major aviation programs valued at $500M+
• Electrical construction experience within active or mission-critical facilities
• Electrical shutdown, cutover, testing, commissioning, and energization experience
• Utility coordination experienceExperience coordinating electrical infrastructure with mechanical, structural, architectural, communications, controls, and fire/life-safety systems
• Master's degree in a related discipline
• Primavera P6 or similar project controls and scheduling platforms
• Schedule Management and Reporting Tools
• Project Documentation and Reporting Systems
• Project Controls and Performance Reporting Platforms
• Electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, specifications, submittals, RFIs, and related technical documentation

Physical, Schedule & Eligibility Requirements

• Full-time, primarily on-site position in Philadelphia, PA
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and drive for extended periods
• Ability to navigate active construction sites and uneven terrain
• Ability to access electrical rooms, substations, and related infrastructure as required
• Ability to wear required PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, and other required safety equipment
• Additional hours may be required based on project demands, including outages, shutdowns, cutovers, testing, commissioning, or energization activities
• Limited hybrid work may be available depending on project phase and client approval but is not guaranteed
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship
• Must be able to successfully pass all background checks and security clearances required for the assigned work location
• Must have reliable transportation to and from assigned work location(s). Travel and commuting expenses are not reimbursed unless otherwise approved in writing.

Annual base salary range: $145,000 – $180,000.

Compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, certifications, electrical and aviation project experience, and project requirements.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with employer matching contribution
• Paid time off (PTO) and company holidays
• Professional development and certification support
• Collaborative and growth-oriented work environment

McKnight International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran disability or genetic information or any other reason prohibited by law in employment.