Design Manager - Modeling and CAD

MYR Group • Santa Fe Springs, CA

15h

About The Position

The Design Manager provides overall leadership for the modeling and CAD teams and is accountable for organizational performance, employee engagement and development, resource planning, budgeting, strategic initiatives, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration. The role ensures the department supports design, engineering, estimating, business development, operations, and construction through high-quality design development, modeling, drafting, and technical software expertise.

The manager oversees preliminary design and modeling delivery across a portfolio of distributed-generation and utility-scale solar PV and battery energy storage system projects. The position establishes department standards, templates, procedures, and quality processes; monitors performance and project delivery; manages department staffing and software platforms; and supports project teams through permitting, reviews, and construction. The role works closely with estimating, operations, construction, and commissioning to improve design quality, address project risks, and support business objectives.

This position is primarily office-based, with periodic field assignments and travel to project, vendor, or client sites. It may involve outdoor work, varying weather, industrial noise, proximity to high-voltage electrical systems, and occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals. Travel may be required up to 30%. The position is classified as exempt.

CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc. (CSI Electric), a subsidiary of MYR Group Inc., provides electrical construction, technology solutions, and alternative energy services across commercial, industrial, and specialized sectors. The company has operated since 1990.

Requirements

• 12 or more years of experience in electrical or renewable engineering, preferably utility-scale, with progressive leadership responsibility.
• At least 2 years managing multi-team engineering organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related engineering technology field preferred; substantial directly related experience may substitute for formal education. An ABET-accredited engineering curriculum is preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of distributed-generation and utility-scale solar, BESS, and hybrid systems; low- and medium-voltage distribution; protection and coordination; and constructability.
• Solid understanding of electrical design principles, AHJ requirements, and renewable energy project development.
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office.
• Understanding of NEC, utility interconnection requirements, and industry best practices.
• Expert communication, stakeholder-management, and conflict-resolution skills, including executive-ready presentation skills.
• Strong program and people leadership, with the ability to run multi-project portfolios and deliver complex work to scope, schedule, and budget.
• Strong analytical, organizational, time-management, written communication, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to research engineering and design issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and present recommendations.
• Strong collaboration skills with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, resolve conflicts, and make operational decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior staff.
• Ability to travel up to 30% to project, vendor, or client sites.
• Ability to perform duties involving outdoor work on uneven surfaces; prolonged sitting or standing; and occasional stooping, bending, crouching, or navigation of construction environments.

Nice To Haves

• EPC/design-build and project pursuit experience.
• Customer-facing leadership and utility/AHJ engagement experience.
• Experience developing and implementing standards, procedures, and quality programs.
• Familiarity with ETAP/SKM, PVFarm, and PVSyst.
• Revit/Navisworks experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from a school of engineering with at least one ABET-accredited professional engineering curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performing team of designers and drafters, set goals, and conduct performance reviews.
• Manage capacity planning, staffing, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, training, professional development, career paths, and succession planning.
• Set departmental priorities, resolve resource conflicts, allocate leads, and balance workloads across projects.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Own preliminary design and modeling delivery across a portfolio of projects, including distributed-generation and utility-scale PV and BESS projects.
• Support strategic business initiatives and growth objectives while ensuring effective utilization of department software platforms.
• Set and monitor KPIs for schedule adherence, quality, rework, field issue rates, and budget conformance.
• Partner with estimating on proposals, value-engineering strategies, and technical narratives.
• Collaborate with estimating, operations, construction, and commissioning to de-risk preliminary design and support root-cause analyses and lessons learned.
• Chair preliminary design, modeling, and gate reviews; approve non-standard solutions and technical deviations.
• Establish and maintain standards, templates, standard operating procedures, and QA/QC processes, and ensure consistent application.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, including NEC/CEC, IEEE, NFPA, UL/IEC, and Title 24, and operationalize updates.
• Ensure projects meet departmental schedules and quality standards while improving productivity.
• Manage project-team support during permitting, AHJ review, utility review, and construction.
• Evaluate and standardize technology and vendor platforms; sponsor pilots and tool upgrades for CAD, power system analysis, and document control.
• Ensure compliance with company drafting standards, quality procedures, and document-management practices.
• Promote consistent modeling methodologies and quality standards.
• Support development and maintenance of CAD standards, templates, workflows, and best practices, and drive continuous improvement.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve design quality, efficiency, standardization, and automation.
• Assist the Senior Design Manager with departmental initiatives and strategic planning.
• Oversee departmental use of specialized software, including AutoCAD, Bluebeam, HelioScope, PVsyst, and PVFarm.

Benefits

• Annual paid time off starting at 15 days, plus 9 paid holidays.
• 401(k) plan with 100% match up to 6%, immediate vesting, and potential annual profit sharing.
• Company-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).
• Voluntary short- and long-term disability, supplemental vision, accident, hospital, critical illness, and additional life insurance plans for employees and dependents.
• Company medical and dental insurance for employees and their families; CSI pays 100% of the employee premium and 75% of dependent coverage premiums for selected plans.
• Weekly pay.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager