Discipline Lead / Group Manager, Airfield Lighting & Power Distribution

TKDA • Bloomington, MN

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

TKDA is seeking a senior electrical engineering professional to lead and develop a team of electrical engineers, designers, and technicians and grow the firm’s aviation electrical services. The Group Manager will coach and mentor team members, establish professional development plans aligned with business needs, guide complex design work, coordinate across disciplines, and assess team capacity and capabilities to support project delivery. The role oversees design quality, deliverables, schedules, and compliance with applicable codes, standards, FAA requirements, and QA/QC processes. It also guides preparation of calculations, reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents, and supports construction administration through contractor responses, submittal reviews, and site observations or inspections.

The role will advance team capabilities in airport and airfield lighting, signage, series circuits, NAVAIDs, electrical vaults and controls, power distribution, standby generation, UPS, communications, security, and related systems. In collaboration with aviation leaders and other group managers, the Group Manager will support client engagement and business development, cultivate relationships with airport owners and aviation stakeholders, track opportunities, lead proposals, deliver qualifications presentations, and implement regional and national market development strategies. As a technical expert, the role provides guidance throughout the project lifecycle and may assume project manager responsibilities for strategic or high-profile projects. The position also helps define electrical scope, assess delivery capacity, develop fee estimates, and participate in project interviews.

The position is for a qualified professional residing within regular commuting distance of TKDA’s MSP/Bloomington, Minnesota location. The firm offers a flexible hybrid arrangement of three days in the office and two remote; due to design-build assignments and seasonal construction schedules, the role may require working in the office and/or at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport five days per week from April 1 through November 15.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration in one or more states.
• Ten or more years of progressive experience in electrical engineering design and project leadership.
• Extensive experience designing power, lighting, control, communications, and signal systems for airport, commercial, industrial, institutional, utility, or transportation facilities, with ability to apply that expertise to aviation infrastructure.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of airport and airfield electrical systems, including airfield lighting and signage, series circuits, NAVAIDs, electrical vaults and controls, power distribution, standby generators, UPS, communications, and security systems.
• Experience designing electrical distribution equipment and systems, including panelboards, transformers, one-line diagrams, emergency power, lighting, fire alarm, security, data, conduit, and cable systems; experience with 208/120-volt and 480/277-volt systems.
• Thorough knowledge of the National Electrical Code and ability to interpret and apply applicable FAA Advisory Circulars, Unified Facilities Criteria, and other airport or airfield design requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, and Microsoft Office applications, and experience with applicable electrical engineering calculation and design tools.
• Demonstrated ability to lead electrical and multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate with Civil, Mechanical, Structural, and Architectural professionals.
• Experience delivering calculations, reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents.
• Experience performing construction administration and inspection or observation duties, including interpreting plans and specifications, reviewing submittals, responding to contractor questions, documenting field conditions, and verifying conformance with project requirements.
• Experience with business development, including proposal scope definition, fee estimates, client relationship development, opportunity tracking, and capabilities or qualifications presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop electrical professionals with varying competencies, qualifications, and experience.
• Strong focus on quality, including adherence to design requirements, thorough quality reviews, and continual evaluation of practices to improve accuracy and delivery.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety excellence, including training, risk assessment and mitigation, and adherence to safety policies and regulations.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical specifications and reports and lead project meetings and client consultations.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future visa sponsorship needs or requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Professional registration in multiple states.
• Active participation in professional activities, societies, and organizations associated with aviation or electrical engineering.
• Experience contributing to key client engagement and development plans, annual business plans, and strategic market development plans.
• Demonstrated track record of securing opportunities with established, emerging, and prospective airport, aviation, or public-sector clients.
• Experience designing private-owner underground or overhead medium-voltage site power distribution systems, including 13.8 kV systems.
• Experience with industrial power-system design for motor and process equipment controls and power-system analysis software such as SKM Power Tools.
• Experience supporting commercial, general aviation, or air defense facilities and coordinating requirements with airport owners, operators, the FAA, and other stakeholders.
• Portfolio of aviation or complex infrastructure projects demonstrating innovation in electrical design strategies, resilient systems, or deliverable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor, and develop electrical engineers, designers, and technicians, including establishing development plans aligned with individual growth and business needs.
• Provide guidance on electrical design practices, standards, complex design challenges, and coordination with Civil, Mechanical, Structural, and Architectural disciplines.
• Assess team capabilities and capacity, assemble project teams, delegate electrical design work, review work for compliance with applicable codes, standards, FAA requirements, and QA/QC processes, and oversee deliverables against schedules.
• Guide preparation of engineering calculations, technical reports, plans, specifications, construction cost estimates, and construction documents.
• Support construction administration through contractor question responses, submittal reviews, and site observations or inspections.
• Identify, advocate for, develop, and expand team capabilities in aviation electrical infrastructure, including airfield lighting, signage, series circuits, NAVAIDs, vaults, controls, power distribution, standby generation, UPS, communications, and security.
• Contribute to client engagement, business development, and market development plans; cultivate relationships with airport owners, aviation stakeholders, and agency partners; and track prospective opportunities.
• Lead proposals and deliver qualifications presentations, including defining electrical scope, assessing team capacity, developing fee estimates and delivery approaches, and participating in project interviews.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams and project managers throughout planning, concept development, design, and construction for aviation electrical systems.
• Assume project manager responsibilities for strategic and high-profile projects when necessary and applicable.
• Promote a culture of safety excellence through employee training, project and site risk assessment and mitigation, and adherence to safety policies, requirements, and regulations.
• Travel locally and nationally as needed for meetings, consultations, inspections, business development, conferences, and visits to TKDA offices.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance from day one.
• Eligibility for discretionary bonuses through an annual incentive plan.
• Monthly employer HSA contributions for employees who choose an HSA-eligible plan.
• Employer matching on 401(k) deferrals.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan funded entirely by company profits.
• Paid time off accrued based on professional experience.
• Eight paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

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