Technical Manager - Substation

Actalent; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Technical Manager for remote substation engineering leadership in the United States. You will lead day-to-day operations, mentor engineers, manage a portfolio over $5M, and align projects with cost, quality, and schedule goals while driving business growth.

This fully remote role requires PE, a BS in engineering, 10+ years in substations, and strong cross-functional leadership. You will oversee a team of 15+ engineers and designers, collaborate with clients, and shape

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering and PE certification.
• At least ten years of substation experience with progressive responsibilities.
• Six+ years of consulting experience with cross-functional teams.
• Proven leadership managing 15+ engineers and designers.
• Expertise in substation physical design or protection and control design.
• Strong project management with a portfolio greater than $5M in revenue.
• Experience managing business finances, including profit and loss.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office for reporting and communications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to mentor future engineering leaders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the substation department, including supervisors, engineers, technologists, designers, and drafters.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to developing leads and supervisors.
• Maintain quality control standards across all substation projects.
• Monitor project portfolio health, risks, and performance against cost/schedule.
• Keep teams on schedule by managing timelines and change orders.
• Collaborate with clients and internal teams to meet project objectives.
• Serve as primary client contact and address improvement opportunities.
• Act as liaison between clients and internal teams on project execution.
• Drive development and continuous improvement of team members.
• Support business development and operational strategy for growth.
• Lead and manage a team of 15+ engineers and designers.
• Oversee project management activities for portfolio >$5M in revenue.
• Manage substation department financials including P&L.

Skills

PE certification

Bachelors degree in Engineering

Substation experience (10+ years)

Consulting experience (6+ years)

Leadership of large teams

Substation physical design

Protection and control design

Project management

Financial management / P&L

Microsoft Office proficiency

Excellent communication

Cross-functional / virtual environment

Mentorship & team development

Tools

None

Job description

Job Title: Technical Manager (remote) Substation Job Description The Technical Manager Substation leads the day-to-day operations of a growing substation engineering department, ensuring projects meet cost, quality, and schedule expectations while driving team development and business growth. This role combines technical excellence in substation physical design or protection and control design with strategic leadership, client engagement, and operational oversight. You will mentor future engineering leaders, manage a substantial project portfolio, and play a key role in shaping business development and operational strategy for critical power infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the substation department, including supervisors, engineers, technologists, designers, and drafters, to ensure cohesive and effective operations.
• Provide strong leadership and one-on-one mentorship to developing leads and supervisors, fostering professional growth and technical excellence.
• Establish, monitor, and maintain quality control standards across all substation projects to ensure consistent, high-quality deliverables.
• Monitor and communicate project portfolio health, including status, risks, and performance against cost, quality, and timing metrics.
• Keep project teams on schedule by proactively managing timelines and quickly addressing change orders, revisions, and scope adjustments.
• Determine client needs and collaborate with clients and internal teams to ensure processes run smoothly and project objectives are clearly understood.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, proactively addressing opportunities for improvement and ensuring efficient resolution of challenges.
• Act as the liaison between clients and internal teams on issues related to project execution, resourcing, and process inefficiencies.
• Drive the development, training, and continuous improvement of team members, supporting their technical, professional, and personal growth.
• Support business development activities and contribute to operational strategy to grow the substation engineering organization.
• Lead and manage a team of 15 or more engineers and designers, aligning their efforts with organizational goals and client expectations.
• Oversee project management activities, including planning, execution, risk analysis and management, and performance tracking for a portfolio greater than $5M in revenue.
• Manage business finances related to the substation department, including profit and loss accountability, estimating, and operational management.
• Use Microsoft Office and other tools to prepare reports, track metrics, communicate status, and support decision-making.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders, building trust and long-term partnerships.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team, promoting a respectful, collaborative, and supportive work culture.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) certification.
• At least ten years of substation experience with progressive responsibilities.
• Minimum six years of consulting experience interfacing with engineering, construction, planning, and project management teams.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing large teams with diverse skill sets, including leading 15 or more engineers and designers.
• Expertise in substation physical design or protection and control design.
• Strong project management skills, including execution, risk analysis and management, and monitoring and tracking a project portfolio greater than $5M in revenue.
• High level of experience managing business finances, including profit and loss and operational management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office for communication, reporting, and project tracking.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a highly cross-functional and virtual environment.
• Strong people management skills with a focus on mentorship and team development.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with estimating and financial planning for engineering projects.
• Desire to develop self and others technically, professionally, and personally.
• High level of personal character and integrity, demonstrating trustworthiness and accountability.
• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and organizational levels.
• Comfort operating in a dynamic, rapidly expanding business environment with executive visibility.
• Strategic thinking skills to influence business growth and operational strategy.
• Ability to mentor future engineering leaders and support succession planning within the organization.

Work Environment The work environment centers on managing large, complex substation projects within a highly cross-functional and virtual setup. You will collaborate closely with diverse engineering, construction, planning, and project management teams, as well as external clients, in a dynamic and evolving power infrastructure setting. The culture emphasizes collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth, with a strong focus on quality, operational excellence, and long-term client relationships. Professional attire is expected, and you will work in an environment that offers executive visibility, significant operational impact, and opportunities to shape both team development and business strategy.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of New Albany, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $180000.00 - $210000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.