Lead Distribution Engineer

Sargent & Lundy•Northville Charter Township, MI

1d•$118,023 - $180,313•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the direction of the project manager, this position will offer you the opportunity to work in a project team environment with other engineers and designers using extensive knowledge of engineering and design practice to oversee construction sketches and details for overhead and underground network services (4 KV through 34 KV), structural analyses, short circuit and voltage drop calculations, Bill of Material, Cost Estimates, Permits, and Traffic control plans. This role involves designing overhead URD and underground network services (4 KV through 34 KV), analyzing and designing priority feeds, and planning modifications to the distribution system. The position also includes designing and overseeing complex engineering tasks, developing work packages, following the performance of the work, providing oversight to entry-level engineers, and performing QA/QC on Issue for Construction job packages. Additionally, the role requires coordinating and leading meetings with clients and other internal disciplines and team members. In this role, people are expected to be willing or able to lead others who use modern tools, taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs. Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked. Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, is valued but not required. Additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows, is also valued.

Requirements

This position requires a degree from an engineering program.
Ten or more years of experience with electric utility distribution or relevant experience.
Five or more years of experience in physical distribution design methods and their application.
Knowledgeable in applicable codes, standards, and distribution type software programs including AutoCAD, ArcGIS, PoleForeman, etc.
Familiarity with design codes and standards such as NESC, NEC, ANSI, IEEE, GIS/GWD.
Experience with complex overhead and underground distribution projects (120/208V through 34 kV).
Experience serving as firm/client liaison in a support or lead engineering role.
Strong communication skills.

Nice To Haves

PE License, a plus
Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, is valued but not required.
Additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows, is also valued.

Responsibilities

Oversee construction sketches and details for overhead and underground network services (4 KV through 34 KV)
Oversee structural analyses
Oversee short circuit and voltage drop calculations
Oversee Bill of Material
Oversee Cost Estimates
Oversee Permits
Oversee Traffic control plans
Designs overhead URD and underground network services (4 KV through 34 KV)
Analyzes and designs priority feeds
Plan modifications to the distribution system
Design and oversee complex engineering tasks
Develop work packages and follow the performance of the work
Provide oversight to entry level engineers
Perform QA/QC on Issue for Construction job packages
Coordinate and lead meetings with clients as well as other internal disciplines and team members
Lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs
Direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked
Oversee engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs