Senior Engineering Manager

Mesainc; Knoxville, Chattanooga, Madison (TN, TN, AL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesa Associates, Inc. seeks a Senior Engineering Manager – Physical Substation Design to lead a multi-disciplinary team delivering transmission and distribution substation projects from concept through construction support.

The role emphasizes engineering excellence, profitability, client satisfaction, and compliance with IEEE/ANSI/NESC/NEC standards. This hybrid position is based in Mesa's Tennessee or Alabama offices with opportunities across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• PE license or ability to obtain within 12 months.
• 10+ years in electric utility substation design and 4+ years in leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Develop goals, plans, staffing strategies and performance objectives.
• Ensure designs meet client specs and industry standards (IEEE, ANSI, NESC, NEC, OSHA).
• Oversee project delivery, schedules, budgets, and profitability.
• Foster safety, quality, and continuous improvement culture.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Executive communication

Team collaboration

Decision making under pressure

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

3D modeling platforms

GIS

Job description

This position is not eligible for recruiting or sourcing by outside parties.

Disclaimer

Be cautious and only respond to emails from our “mesainc.com” domain. We will never ask for sensitive information, such as bank account details, SSN, etc., via email. If you receive any communication asking for such information, it is not from Mesa. For any concerns, or to verify the authenticity of a message, please contact us through our official channels.

We have the power to energize YOUR career and spark YOUR Work/Life Balance through professional development and exceptional benefits. Don’t delay, plug in today for an inclusive meaningful career in power, distribution, transmission, engineering, design, technology, or innovation at Mesa Associates, Inc.

Position Summary

The Senior Engineering Manager – Physical Substation Design is responsible for providing strategic leadership, technical oversight, and operational management for the Physical Substation Engineering department. This role leads a team of engineering managers, engineers, designers, and technical specialists responsible for the planning, design, and execution of transmission and distribution substation projects ranging from distribution voltage levels through EHV (500 kV+).

The Senior Engineering Manager ensures engineering excellence, project profitability, client satisfaction, employee development, and compliance with all applicable industry standards while supporting the company’s long-term strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Management:

• Provide leadership, mentoring, and direction to Engineering Managers, Lead Engineers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.


• Develop department goals, annual business plans, staffing strategies, and performance objectives.


• Foster a culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.


• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing engineering professionals.


• Build leadership succession plans and technical career development programs.


• Provide executive oversight for physical substation engineering projects from conceptual design through construction support.


• Ensure designs comply with client specifications, utility standards, IEEE, ANSI, NESC, NEC, ASCE, OSHA, and applicable regulatory requirements.


• Establish engineering standards, best practices, quality procedures, and design workflows.


• Oversee engineering reviews and technical risk assessments.


• Support complex technical problem-solving and provide expert guidance on challenging engineering issues.

Project Delivery:

• Monitor engineering schedules, budgets, staffing utilization, and project profitability.


• Collaborate with Project Managers to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.


• Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies.


• Support proposal development, project planning, and resource forecasting.


• Drive continuous improvements in engineering execution and project delivery processes.

Client Relations:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with utility clients, EPC partners, and key stakeholders.


• Serve as an executive-level technical representative during client meetings.


• Participate in project pursuits, interviews, presentations, and business development activities.


• Support contract negotiations and strategic client initiatives.

Operational Excellence:

• Develop departmental KPIs and monitor performance metrics.


• Implement process improvements that enhance productivity, consistency, and quality.


• Drive adoption of engineering technologies, digital workflows, and automation tools.


• Support enterprise initiatives related to quality management and operational efficiency.


• Manage departmental budgets and labor utilization.


• Support revenue forecasting and financial planning.


• Improve engineering efficiency while maintaining quality and client satisfaction.


• Participate in strategic planning and annual budgeting activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Protection & Control, Civil/Structural, Transmission Line, Construction, Procurement, and Project Management teams.


• Coordinate engineering resources across multiple offices and business units.


• Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across engineering disciplines.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or related discipline) from an accredited university.


• Professional Engineer (PE) license (or ability to attain within 12 months) required.


• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in electric utility substation engineering.


• Minimum 4 years of engineering leadership or management experience.


• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.


• Extensive knowledge of physical substation design for transmission and distribution systems.


• Strong understanding of utility engineering standards and design practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or Business Administration (MBA).


• Experience supporting investor-owned utilities, municipalities, or cooperatives.


• Knowledge of digital design and 3D modeling platforms.


• Experience implementing engineering quality management systems.


• PMP certification is a plus.

Technical Knowledge

• AIS and GIS substations


• Equipment layouts and yard design


• Bus arrangements


• Grounding systems


• Conduit and cable trench design


• Raceway systems


• Structural coordination


• Foundation coordination


• Material specifications


• Construction support


• Engineering quality assurance


• Strategic thinking


• Executive communication
• Decision-making under pressure


• Organizational leadership


• Change management

This opportunity is a hybrid arrangement located in either of Mesa's Madison AL, Chattanooga TN or Knoxville TN offices.

Notice to External Search Firms

Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.

Behaviors

Required

Detail Oriented : Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Team Player : Works well as a member of a group

Leader : Inspires teammates to follow them

Motivations

Preferred

Work-Life Balance : Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work

Growth Opportunities : Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility

Ability to Make an Impact : Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Electrical Engineering or related field.

Bachelors or better in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Experience

Required

10-15 years: Experience in the design of substation physical design deliverables

Licenses & Certifications

Required

Prof Engineering (PE)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.