Project Manager - Commercial

Cupertino Electric; San Bernardino (CA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI) is seeking a Project Manager to oversee day-to-day construction operations, manage a high-performing team, and drive cost control and schedule performance on commercial/industrial projects in the Santa Fe Springs area.

You will coordinate planning with superintendents, engineers, and project staff, review drawings and specs, and manage change orders to protect margins. The role emphasizes safety, quality, and client satisfaction while ensuring contractual

Qualifications

• Typically requires 5+ years of related experience managing Electrical Construction on Commercial or Industrial Projects.
• Typically requires 5+ years of management experience, including client interface and staff supervision.
• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Business, Engineering, or similar preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED required.

Responsibilities

• Own the financial performance of the assigned project or project scopes, including cost control, forecasting, margin protection, and overall commercial success.
• Coordinate and lead planning meetings with Superintendents, General Foremen, and Project Engineers to review progress, assess staffing, and manage procurement.
• Review estimates, drawings, and specifications to understand scope, budget assumptions, and schedule requirements.
• Develop and maintain accurate monthly job cost updates for project scopes, including cost-to-complete assessments and contingency planning.
• Create, review, negotiate, and approve change orders with clients, subcontractors, and vendors for proper scope alignment and financial recovery.
• Plan, coordinate, and supervise activities of company crews and subcontractors to ensure safe, efficient work per project requirements.
• Proactively identify risks related to design gaps, scope conflicts, procurement delays, and site conditions, and implement mitigation strategies.
• Maintain a project risk register and conduct regular risk review meetings to address issues before cost or schedule impact.
• Monitor leading indicators like submittal timelines, cost variances, and long-lead equipment status to anticipate challenges.
• Interpret and enforce contract requirements to ensure alignment with commercial, technical, and administrative obligations.
• Resolve technical challenges and unforeseen field issues quickly to avoid schedule impacts or rework.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for the project or assigned scopes, ensuring clarity of requirements and contract obligations.
• Communicate effectively with department leads, engineers, superintendents, stakeholders, and clients to maintain alignment and transparency.
• Partner with Production to ensure field execution matches client expectations.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Business, Engineering, or similar preferred

High School Diploma or GED required

Job description

Project Manager

Reports To: Project Executive

Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA

Salary Range: $106,500 to $170,000

*This position is eligible for the annual performance bonus plan.

This position primarily involves working on-site at the project location or inoffice. Travel frequency and duration will vary depending on the role and project timeline.

Final determination of a successful candidate's starting pay will vary based on a number of factors, including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, education and experience. The pay scale listed for this position is generally for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed on this specific job description. We provide a competitive compensation package that recognizes your experience, credentials, and education alongside a robust benefits program to meet your needs. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets.

WHO WE ARE

Since 1954, Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI)has been powered by people who've built a reputation for delivering high-profile, complex projects. Real, tangible things that alter the landscape and improve lives. And we've done it with integrity for more than 70 years. We're problem solvers and innovation seekers. We're team players and safety fanatics. And we're proud to be part of Quanta Services (PWR:NYSE), North America's largest employer of skilled craft labor. Because what we do is important, but how we do it is everything.

THE COMMERCIAL TEAM

Our strong project management teams, dedicated in-house engineering resources and skilled union field staff work together seamlessly to deliver commercial projects that are as innovative and unique as the clients who build them.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Construction Project Manager at Cupertino Electric, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of construction projects and the successful management of a high-performing team. You will manage the planning, execution, and financial performance of your projects using business practices that are consistent with our company values - people, safety, integrity, innovation, and excellence.

• Own the financial performance of the assigned project or project scopes, including cost control, forecasting, margin protection, and overall commercial success.
• Coordinate and lead daily/weekly planning meetings with Superintendents, General Foremen, and Project Engineers to review progress, develop means and methods, assess staffing and equipment needs, and manage long-lead procurement and subcontractor sequencing.
• Review estimates, drawings, and specifications to understand scope, validate budget assumptions, and determine resource needs, construction methodology, and schedule requirements.
• Develop and maintain accurate monthly job cost updates for project or project scopes, including cost-to-complete assessments, budget reallocations, and contingency planning.
• Create, review, negotiate, and approve change orders for project or project scopes with clients, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure proper scope alignment and financial recovery.
• Plan, coordinate, and supervise the activities of both company crews and subcontractors to ensure work is executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project requirements.
• Proactively identify risks related to design gaps, scope conflicts, procurement delays, constructability issues, workforce needs, schedule constraints, and site conditions.
• Develop and implement mitigation strategies including resequencing work, clarifying scope, accelerating procurement, or escalating design issues early through formal channels.
• Maintain a project risk register and conduct regular risk review meetings to ensure potential issues are tracked, owned, and acted upon before they impact cost or schedule.
• Monitor leading indicators such as submittal timelines, cost variances, and long-lead equipment status to anticipate challenges and prevent downstream impacts.
• Interpret and enforce contract requirements to ensure project execution aligns with all commercial, technical, and administrative obligations.
• Resolve technical challenges and unforeseen field issues quickly and collaboratively to avoid schedule impacts or rework.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for the project or assigned scopes, ensuring clarity of requirements, specifications, and contract obligations.
• Communicate effectively and consistently with department leads, engineers, superintendents, stakeholders, and clients to maintain alignment and transparency.
• Partner closely with the Production team to ensure Superintendents, General Foremen, and Foremen fully understand plans, specifications, and installation requirements so field execution matches client expectations.
• Ensure all work is performed to the highest standards of safety, quality, and productivity, supporting CEI's safety culture and operational excellence.
• Lead all project closeout activities, including punch list completion, documentation, O&M submittals, as-built verification, financial closeout, retention collection, and support for claims resolution.
• Represent and model CEI's culture and values, engaging in company initiatives, fostering positive working relationships, and contributing to organizational improvement and growth.

ABOUT YOU

You possess dynamic leadership and management skills to influence and drive positive outcomes. You have thorough knowledge of the estimating, project cost accounting, scheduling, procurement, productivity tracking, and reporting methods necessary to profitably complete electrical construction projects. You have experience with union workforces, labor rate calculations, and collective bargaining agreements. In addition to your technical knowledge, you have a history of successfully leading teams and are passionate about developing and growing employees to their full potential.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, supervisory and planning skills.
• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of construction (technology, equipment, methods), union jurisdiction, labor agreements, and negotiations.
• Strong business acumen.
• Ability to manage projects and/or project scopes from $15M to $30M in monetary value.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

*Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.

Education

High School Diploma or GED required. Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Business, Engineering, or similar preferred.

Licensure/Certifications

None required.

Experience

• Typically requires 5+ years of related experience managing Electrical Construction on Commercial or Industrial Projects and/or project scopes.
• Typically requires 5+ years of management experience, including client interface and solicitation, planning and execution, project delivery, and staff supervision.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, supervisory and planning skills.
• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of construction (technology, equipment, methods), union jurisdiction, labor agreements, and negotiations.
• Strong business acumen.
• Ability to manage projects and/or project scopes from approximately $15M to $30M in monetary value.

Driving Record

Valid state-issued driver's license and satisfactory driving record. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

CEI is a place where every single person can-and does-have an impact on the work we do and the communities we serve. Here, you can build your own story and grow to your full potential. You can collaborate and celebrate with amazing people. And you'll go home every day knowing you helped contribute to important work that shapes people's lives. Our commercial, data center and energy projects may be complex, but our approach is simple. We build great things and we do it with great people.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department, program or project needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI) is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

Cupertino Electric Inc. aims to make cei.com accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, please contact us at [emailprotected] or 1-(877)-747-4CEI.