Lead Electrical Engineer

Sargent & Lundy; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 118,023 - 180,313; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Life & Accident Insurance

Disability Coverage

401(k)

Flexible Work Arrangements

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy in Chicago, IL seeks a senior electrical engineer to lead design of power systems for plant retrofits and new installations, including power distribution, schematics, and protective relay settings. This role requires coordinating with vendors, mentoring engineers, and ensuring compliance with codes and client requirements.

You will apply ETAP/SKM analyses, develop detailed calculations, and contribute to 3-D modeling and design input.

Qualifications

• BSEE from ABET-accredited program; power systems emphasis preferred.
• PE license highly preferred; ability to earn required.
• 8+ years in power plant/industrial design with detailed system focus.
• Experience selecting equipment, materials, and calculating specs.
• Proficient with medium/low voltage systems and protective relay settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering in project teams, designing electrical systems for retrofits and new facilities.
• Develop power distribution designs and equipment specifications.
• Assist PM to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Coordinate design activities to meet specs, codes, and client needs.
• Prepare and review schematics, single-line diagrams, and 3-D models.
• Perform auxiliary power studies, voltage drop, arc-flash calculations.
• Interface with vendors for BOMs and purchase specs.
• Prepare reports and present technical information clearly.
• Review peer work and mentor junior engineers.
• Travel to client and vendor sites for reviews and field verification.

Skills

Power systems design

ETAP / SKM calculations

Medium & Low voltage

Client liaison / leadership

3-D modeling & drawings

Education

BSEE ABET-accredited program

PE license

Tools

ETAP

SKM

3-D modeling

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering in a project team environment, designing, modifying, and analyzing electrical systems for plant retrofits and new installations.
• Develop power distribution designs and prepare specifications for major electrical power equipment and installation services.
• Assist the Project Manager in ensuring projects are completed satisfactorily, on time, and within budget.
• Coordinate systems design activities to ensure installation and operations comply with specifications, codes, and client requirements.
• Prepare and review functional design drawings, including single‑line, relay & metering, cable block, and schematic diagrams; produce documentation for design input for other drawing production and 3‑D modeling.
• Prepare and review detailed calculations, such as auxiliary power system studies, voltage drop, protective relay settings, and arc‑flash calculations.
• Interface with vendors to prepare bills of material and equipment purchase specifications, providing client recommendations.
• Prepare reports and studies presenting technical information clearly and concisely to meet client requirements and S&L formats.
• Perform independent reviews of peer work, including calculations and drawings.
• Mentor and guide less experienced engineers.
• Advance career through peer‑learning via S&L’s processes and Communities of Practice.
• Travel to client and vendor offices for design reviews and plant site locations for construction coordination and field verification.

Qualifications

• BSEE degree from an ABET‑accredited engineering program; emphasis in power systems preferred.
• PE license highly preferred; ability to earn a PE license required.
• 8+ years of experience in power plant or industrial plant design, focusing on integrated, detailed system design for new facilities or modifications of existing ones.
• Experience selecting equipment, materials, control philosophy, and assembling calculations and specifications.
• Proficiency in medium and low voltage distribution systems (transformers, generators, motors), communication systems, equipment selection, and analytical calculations.
• Experience performing calculations in ETAP and/or SKM.
• Knowledge of available electrical power distribution equipment.
• Experience serving as firm/client liaison in a lead engineering role.
• Experience reviewing other engineers’ design calculations and drawings.

Valued But Not Required Skills And Experience

• Technical knowledge of instrumentation and controls engineering.
• Project management and business development experience.
• Construction and start‑up experience a plus.

AI & Automation at Sargent & Lundy

• Lead others in using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost‑effective designs.
• Direct automation and process‑improvement work, for example, automating calculations, summarizing technical documents, or generating design documentation and guiding the use of AI tools while ensuring outcomes are verified.
• Oversee engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, reviewing automated outputs.
• Value additional learning in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enable oversight of automation and agentic AI‑enabled engineering workflows.

Benefits

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back‑Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA
• 401(k)
• Pre‑Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$118,023 - $180,313

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well‑being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

About This Business Unit

The Energy & Industrial Group (EIG) specializes in delivering advanced engineering solutions across power generation, environmental compliance, oil & gas, and industrial projects, from new plant design to plant betterment and upgrade services. EIG has designed nearly 900 conventional power plants, yielding over 100,000 MW of generation capacity. Our expertise includes combined cycle projects, renewable energy, carbon capture, hydrogen power, photovoltaic solar projects, and energy storage integration, managing projects from conceptual studies to commercial scale implementation.

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.

This position is based on a hybrid work schedule and will require in‑office work three days per week.

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.