Principal Electrical Engineer II

Covanta; New York (NY); On-site; USD 118,700 - 169,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid parental leave

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Covanta is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead electrical engineering design projects. This technical leadership role emphasizes project execution, technical standardization, and mentorship across facilities.

The ideal candidate will have over ten years of experience in electrical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in the field. The position includes collaboration with corporate functions and approximately 20% travel. Benefits include health insurance and a competitive salary based on experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of engineering experience.
• Registered Professional Engineer or eligibility to obtain licensure preferred.
• Proficiency in developing and interpreting electrical diagrams.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical engineering design for capital projects and facility upgrades.
• Manage multiple electrical projects and mentor junior team members.
• Provide troubleshooting support to plant operations.

Skills

Electrical engineering design

Project management

Troubleshooting

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

CAD/AutoCAD

ETAP

SKM Powertools

Job description

About the role

Reporting directly to the Director of Electrical Engineering, the Principal Engineer will be responsible for leading electrical engineering design, project execution, and technical standardization. The role is a technical leadership position that spans design, implementation, and mentorship across multiple facilities.

What You'll Do and Who You'll Work With

• Electrical engineering design for capital projects and facility upgrades.
• Provide electrical design support for planned outages and equipment troubleshooting.
• Lead business development and expansion projects at operating facilities.
• Manage multiple electrical projects/programs, acting as a subject‑matter expert and guardian of Electrical Design Standards.
• Mentor junior team members and share best practices.

Location & Travel

Preferred location: Florham Park, NJ headquarters. The position requires close collaboration with corporate functions and facilities and includes approximately 20% travel across the network, including domestic locations and occasional low‑cost‑country travel such as China. A remote work option may be available with additional travel as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently develop, review, approve electrical system design documents, including one‑line, three‑line diagrams, control schematics, wiring diagrams, arc‑flash, short‑circuit, voltage‑drop calculations, and coordination studies.
• Develop scope of work for electrical engineering agreements and coordinate with suppliers and contractors.
• Plan design tasks to achieve design and construction within budget and schedule constraints.
• Serve as technical lead and subject‑matter expert for small to medium capital programs.
• Conduct system design, scope development, engineering calculations, specifications, and risk assessments for HV, MV, and LV systems (switchgears, transformers, motor control centers, relay/protection systems).
• Evaluate, select, and apply engineering techniques, procedures, and criteria, adapting for specific design challenges.
• Maintain and update key electrical design standards and specifications as the SME for the Reworld Electrical Team.
• Provide SME engineering support during commissioning, startup, and construction projects.
• Offer troubleshooting support to plant operations, analyzing failure root causes and providing cost‑effective technical solutions.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum ten years of engineering experience.
• Registered Professional Engineer or eligibility to obtain licensure preferred.

Experience

• Experience with high, medium, and low‑voltage distribution systems and electrical power generation in large utility plants, industrial co‑generation facilities, or design/architectural engineering firms.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency in developing and interpreting one‑line/three‑line diagrams, DC control schematics, wiring diagrams, GA drawings related to interconnections, substations, power plants, and process plants.
• Experience with all project phases: conceptual design, scoping, detailed design, equipment selection, testing, startup, and problem resolution.
• Experience with protective relaying schemes (medium voltage), coordination, and relay setting development; SEL relays experience highly preferred.
• Proficiency in engineering software such as CAD/AutoCAD, ETAP, SKM Powertools, SEL Acselerator, etc.
• Effective written and oral communication skills; ability to write technical reports and develop work packages.

Benefits

In addition to salary, the role offers medical, prescription drug, vision, and dental plans; a 401(k) plan; paid parental leave; paid time off; and paid holidays. Additional benefits details are available on the company website.

Pay Transparency

The base salary range for the primary location of this position is $118,700.00 – $169,800.00 USD. Salary is determined by experience, education, geographic location, skills, and other factors.

Our DEI Commitment

Reworld is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We uphold a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we do not discriminate against qualified applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.