Senior Electrical Engineer - Water/Wastewater

Jacobs; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 136,000 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) + stock purchase plan

Paid time off and holidays

Caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer for our Northern California team, ideally based in the San Francisco area. You will lead electrical design for complex water and wastewater facilities, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, and act as technical lead on major projects.

You should bring a PE license (California preferred) or the ability to obtain licensure, 20+ years of experience, and strong communication and leadership skills to mentor junior engineers and develop client

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is required.
• Professional Engineer license; California PE preferred or ability to obtain licensure via comity.
• 20+ years of progressive electrical engineering experience.
• Experience leading electrical design for water and wastewater facilities and related infrastructure.
• Experience with power systems including medium- and low-voltage distribution.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical engineering design for complex water and wastewater facilities and related infrastructure.
• Serve as electrical discipline lead and technical authority on major projects.
• Lead Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build projects from pursuit through commissioning.

Skills

Leadership

Client relations

Power systems

SCADA knowledge

Communication

Mentoring

Design-Build

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

PE license (California)

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

SKM PowerTools

ETAP

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we’retransforming intangible ideas into innovative solutionsdesigning the future-today.As a Senior Electrical Engineer, on our California team, you willtoo.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Electrical Engineer, preferably based out of Northern California (Redding, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose), to serve as a technical leader supporting the planning, design, and delivery of complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will be recognized for their deep electrical engineering expertise, ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams, and effectiveness in building and maintaining strong client relationships.

This role requires a professional who can provide technical leadership from project conception through commissioning, serve as a trusted advisor to clients, mentor engineering staff, and help expand client relationships throughout the municipal and industrial water markets.

The successful candidate will have experience delivering complex projects using traditional Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and Progressive Design-Build delivery methods. They will be comfortable collaborating with owners, contractors, construction managers, and multidisciplinary teams throughout planning, design, procurement, construction, startup, and commissioning.

We'll Expect You To

• Lead electrical engineering design for complex water and wastewater facilities, including
  • Medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems
  • Utility service coordination and interconnections
  • Substations and switchgear
  • Emergency and standby power systems
• Serve as the electrical discipline lead and technical authority on major projects
• Lead electrical engineering efforts for Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build projects from pursuit through commissioning.
• Participate in design validation, value engineering workshops, constructability reviews, risk assessments, and cost optimization efforts.
• Prepare, review, and approve electrical calculations, studies, technical specifications, drawings, and design reports
• Lead or oversee power system analyses, including Short-circuit studies, Protective device coordination studies and Arc flash hazard analyses
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, regulations, utility requirements, and industry standards
• Provide technical leadership during construction, startup, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Provide quality assurance and technical reviews for project deliverables
• Develop innovative and practical solutions that balance reliability, safety, constructability, schedule, and cost.
• Partner with account managers and project managers to identify and pursue new opportunities
• Support proposal preparation, scope development, fee estimates, and project interviews.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with existing and prospective clients
• Identify opportunities for additional services and follow-on work.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers and designers.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Professional Engineer (PE) license; California PE preferred or ability to obtain California licensure through comity
• 20+ years of progressive electrical engineering experience
• Demonstrated experience leading electrical engineering design for water and wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, lift stations, conveyance systems, and related infrastructure
• Strong expertise in medium-voltage and low-voltage power systems
• Experience with utility coordination, service upgrades, and interconnection requirements
• Experience performing or overseeing power system studies utilizing SKM PowerTools, ETAP, or equivalent software
• Experience delivering projects under Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CMAR, or other collaborative delivery models
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and successfully engage with clients
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

Ideally, you'll also have

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience serving as Electrical Discipline Lead or Engineer of Record on major municipal infrastructure projects
• Experience leading Design-Build or Progressive Design-Build projects exceeding $50 million in construction value
• Knowledge of SCADA power infrastructure and treatment facility controls integration
• Experience with commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities
• Familiarity with California utility providers, including SCE, PG&E, SDG&E, LADWP, and municipal utilities
• Existing relationships with municipal water and wastewater agencies within California and the western United States
• Experience supporting technical proposals, project interviews, and major project pursuits

The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target new hire salaries for the role. Actual compensation is determined based on a wide array of relevant factors including market considerations, business needs, and an individual's location, skills, level of experience, and qualifications.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $135,800.00 to $256,550.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on October 06, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.