Design Engineering Manager

SJE Career•Ashland, OH

17h•Onsite

About The Position

We are Proud to be SJE! At SJE , we are more than a company — we are a family of brands with a shared vision and mission to provide industry-leading, innovative, and reliable control and monitoring solutions that improve efficiencies, protect the environment, and deliver dependable solutions to our valued customers. We are looking for a Design Engineering Manager to support our OEC, CSI and Primex brands. This role will work out of our Ashland, OH location. Our OEC (Ohio Electric Control) brand is a leading provider of engineered electrical control panels for the water and wastewater industries, as well as drip irrigation systems and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Through our CSI brand, we deliver industry-leading liquid level control solutions, including panels, alarms, floats, and related accessories. Our Primex brand specializes in advanced control solutions for municipal and wastewater applications, offering pump control panels, full-featured web-hosted SCADA systems, and highly complex system integration projects. Together, our brands provide innovative, reliable solutions that help communities and industries manage water safely and efficiently. Check us out at sjeinc.com ! As our Design Engineering Manager , you will lead our Design Engineering and CAD teams in the development and delivery of automated water and wastewater control systems. In this role, you will provide strong, positive leadership to ensure high-quality designs that meet customer specifications, electrical codes, and company standards. You will oversee the successful design and delivery of engineered control panels and automation systems by organizing and delegating work, developing team members, and maintaining accountability for performance and results. This includes managing onboarding, training, coaching, and performance reviews while ensuring policies and procedures are consistently followed. You will collaborate across departments and locations to balance workloads, improve processes, and drive operational excellence. By championing Lean principles and continuous improvement initiatives, you will help enhance efficiency, quality, and team effectiveness. Additionally, you will support sales efforts through accurate labor estimating and provide project sign-offs to ensure technical integrity and customer satisfaction. The skills, education, and experience you need: To succeed in this role, you must have: Proven experience leading, developing, and mentoring engineering and CAD teams A strong technical foundation in electrical engineering principles and automation controls Experience with AutoCAD Electrical and the review/approval of engineered drawings Knowledge of UL 508A, NEC, and applicable electrical codes and compliance standards Experience designing control panels and automated systems for water and wastewater applications Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA systems, and system integration concepts The ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment Experience with labor estimating and an understanding of project cost drivers A commitment to quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement Experience implementing Lean principles or process improvement initiatives Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills A 4-year degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field and a minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience, including leadership responsibilities, are preferred. Answering your questions: When you are considering a new job, it is normal to have a ton of questions. Here are a few questions we are asked all the time. What are the hours? Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. What is your Paid Time Off and holiday policy? Up to 120 hours of Paid Time Off in your first year plus 8 paid holidays. What benefits do you offer? We offer a robust benefits package including health, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance as well as dental and vision programs you need to take care of your family, along with other benefit options. Check out our full benefits package ! What is my commute? Plug this address into Google Maps: 2221 Ford Drive, Ashland, OH 44805. We will answer more of your questions during the first interview. Expect to hear about the next steps if you meet the job requirements. Why Work With Us At SJE, we believe in empowering our employees to grow professionally while making a real impact. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, and a collaborative culture that encourages creativity and problem-solving. Join us and become a part of something bigger. Join a company where you’re not just working—you’re building a legacy! Learn more and apply on-line at www.sjeinc.com . SJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Proven experience leading, developing, and mentoring engineering and CAD teams
A strong technical foundation in electrical engineering principles and automation controls
Experience with AutoCAD Electrical and the review/approval of engineered drawings
Knowledge of UL 508A, NEC, and applicable electrical codes and compliance standards
Experience designing control panels and automated systems for water and wastewater applications
Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA systems, and system integration concepts
The ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Experience with labor estimating and an understanding of project cost drivers
A commitment to quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement
Experience implementing Lean principles or process improvement initiatives
Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
A 4-year degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field and a minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience, including leadership responsibilities, are preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead our Design Engineering and CAD teams in the development and delivery of automated water and wastewater control systems.
Provide strong, positive leadership to ensure high-quality designs that meet customer specifications, electrical codes, and company standards.
Oversee the successful design and delivery of engineered control panels and automation systems by organizing and delegating work, developing team members, and maintaining accountability for performance and results.
Manage onboarding, training, coaching, and performance reviews while ensuring policies and procedures are consistently followed.
Collaborate across departments and locations to balance workloads, improve processes, and drive operational excellence.
Champion Lean principles and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and team effectiveness.
Support sales efforts through accurate labor estimating and provide project sign-offs to ensure technical integrity and customer satisfaction.