Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Electrical Engineer

3M HEALTHCARE; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Paid time off

Parental leave

Stock purchase plan

Tax-saving options

Disability and life insurance

Pet insurance

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a highly experienced SME Electrical Engineer to lead planning, design, and field execution of underground power distribution systems. The role emphasizes acting as the technical authority, guiding teams, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Responsibilities include design leadership, field support during construction and commissioning, and mentoring engineers while coordinating with utilities and regulators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• 15+ years in electrical engineering with power distribution/underground utilities.
• Field oversight including construction, testing, commissioning.
• Deep knowledge of 5kV–35kV systems, switchgear, transformers.
• PE license strongly preferred and CAD/drawing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design/review of underground power distribution including duct banks and cable systems.
• Provide field engineering support during construction, energization, and commissioning.
• Develop calculations, specifications, drawings, and technical reports.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide training across project teams.
• Interface with utilities, municipalities, and regulators to resolve issues.
• Ensure designs comply with NEC/NESC/IEEE standards and safety protocols.
• Conduct root-cause analyses for outages and coordinate corrective actions.
• Review submittals, RFIs, and change orders for technical accuracy.

Skills

Technical leadership

Field problem-solving

Power distribution

Underground utilities

NEC/NESC/IEEE knowledge

Engineering software (ETAP/SKM/CYME)

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

ETAP

SKM

CYME

Job description

Role Overview

The SME Electrical Engineer provides advanced technical leadership for the planning, design, analysis, and field execution of medium‑ and low‑voltage power distribution systems, with a strong emphasis on underground utility infrastructure. This role serves as the organization’s top technical authority, guiding engineering teams, supporting field operations, and ensuring compliance with industry standards, safety requirements, and project objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering design and review of underground power distribution systems, including duct banks, manholes, vaults, cable systems, grounding, and protective devices.
• Serve as the primary technical expert for utility coordination, system modeling, load studies, and reliability improvements.
• Provide field engineering support during construction, commissioning, troubleshooting, and energization of electrical distribution equipment.
• Develop and validate engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, and technical reports.
• Oversee and mentor junior and mid‑level engineers; provide technical training across project teams.
• Interface with utilities, municipalities, contractors, and regulatory agencies to resolve complex technical issues.
• Conduct site assessments, field investigations, and constructability reviews for underground utility installations.
• Ensure all designs comply with NEC, NESC, IEEE, NFPA, and utility-specific standards.
• Lead root‑cause analyses for equipment failures, outages, or construction issues.
• Support project managers with scope development, risk identification, cost estimating, and schedule planning.
• Review contractor submittals, RFIs, and change orders for technical accuracy and alignment with project requirements.
• Champion safety best practices and ensure field activities adhere to electrical safety protocols.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering; Master’s preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in electrical engineering with a focus on power distribution and underground utilities.
• Extensive field experience, including construction oversight, equipment installation, testing, and commissioning.
• Deep knowledge of medium‑voltage distribution (5kV–35kV), underground cable systems, switchgear, transformers, and protective relaying.
• Proven ability to interpret and develop engineering drawings, one‑lines, schematics, and civil/utility plans.
• Strong understanding of utility coordination, permitting, and right‑of‑way processes.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with engineering software such as ETAP, SKM, CYME, or similar tools.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with public utilities, EPC firms, or large infrastructure programs.
• Background in urban underground utility corridors or campus‑style distribution networks.
• Familiarity with trenchless installation methods (HDD, microtunneling).
• Experience developing standards, templates, and best‑practice guidelines for electrical infrastructure projects.

Core Competencies

• Technical leadership and decision‑making
• Field problem‑solving and troubleshooting
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Stakeholder communication and coordination
• Quality assurance and attention to detail

Compensation

USD 155,000 – 175,000per year (range depends on experience and qualifications)

Benefits Overview

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax‑saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Equal Opportunity Employer

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related thereto), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low‑income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.