Lead Electrical Engineer (MEP)-2610220JC06

Ardmore Roderick•Chicago, IL

8d•$149,760 - $178,880•Hybrid

About The Position

Ardmore Roderick is seeking a Lead Electrical Engineer (MEP) to join its Buildings and Facilities team. The role is based in the Chicago office and may be hybrid depending on client, project, and team needs. The engineer leads building electrical work from concept through construction closeout, overseeing design, coordination, project delivery, construction administration, and quality processes. The position also supports client engagement, project planning and proposals, staff mentorship, and high-performance design.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.
Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Illinois, with demonstrated experience preparing, reviewing, and sealing electrical construction documents.
8+ years of experience in electrical engineering design for buildings, with demonstrated ability to independently lead projects from concept through construction.
Strong working knowledge of the Chicago Electrical Code, National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), applicable NFPA standards, and state and local building and energy codes.
Experience preparing and submitting electrical permit documents to the City of Chicago Department of Buildings and other authorities having jurisdiction.
Proficiency in Revit and AutoCAD for electrical system design and BIM modeling.
Experience performing or reviewing electrical load calculations, short-circuit analyses, selective coordination studies, voltage-drop calculations, and other electrical system studies; familiarity with ETAP, EasyPower, SKM PowerTools, or similar software.
Strong working knowledge of utility service coordination, normal and emergency power distribution, generators, uninterruptible power supplies, grounding and bonding, lighting and controls, fire alarm, and low-voltage system coordination.
Proficiency in Bluebeam Revu for markups, design reviews, and collaboration.
Experience leading QA/QC reviews of electrical drawings, specifications, calculations, and construction-phase deliverables.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with project collaboration and document management platforms.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead client discussions and coordinate across disciplines.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
Project experience across sectors such as commercial, residential, public sector, higher education, industrial, or mission-critical facilities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
Active PE licensure in one or more additional states, with ability to obtain licensure by comity in other jurisdictions as project needs require.
Permit experience outside Illinois, knowledge of regional code variations, and ability to adapt electrical designs and documentation to local requirements.
Experience serving as Engineer of Record or discipline lead for complex public-sector, higher education, industrial, mission-critical, or multi-site projects involving significant utility and stakeholder coordination.
Field experience with electrical system installation, troubleshooting, testing, commissioning, or existing-condition assessments.
Working knowledge of mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems and their electrical requirements for integrated MEP coordination.
Experience using Autodesk Construction Cloud, BIM 360, or similar platforms for multidisciplinary coordination, model sharing, and document management.
LEED AP or similar sustainability credential, or experience designing high-performance electrical systems, lighting controls, energy management, renewable energy, or building electrification strategies.

Responsibilities

Serve as electrical lead from concept through construction closeout, managing electrical scope, schedule, budget, coordination, and deliverables with minimal oversight.
Lead electrical design for building projects, including utility coordination, power distribution, lighting and controls, grounding and bonding, fire alarm, and coordination of telecommunications, lightning protection, and other low-voltage systems as applicable.
Prepare, review, and approve electrical drawings, specifications, calculations, and permit documentation; seal documents when designated as Engineer of Record in accordance with applicable state requirements.
Perform and review electrical load and voltage-drop calculations, lighting and photometric analyses, and electrical system studies such as short-circuit, selective coordination, and arc-flash analyses, as applicable.
Develop and modify electrical drawings and BIM models using Revit and AutoCAD, coordinating integration with other building systems and disciplines.
Interface with clients, architects, utilities, contractors, and authorities having jurisdiction; present design decisions, lead coordination meetings, and resolve multidisciplinary conflicts.
Conduct site visits for existing-condition assessments, installation reviews, system evaluations, and commissioning support.
Lead electrical construction administration, including submittal reviews, RFI responses, field observations, punch lists, and project closeout.
Support budgeting, cost estimating, project scheduling, and proposal development for electrical scopes, including technical content, staffing assumptions, labor-hour estimates, and fee development.
Develop and maintain electrical design standards, specifications, templates, and QA/QC processes; mentor junior staff and support the growth of the electrical and MEP team.
Support value engineering and high-performance design efforts that improve constructability, energy efficiency, sustainability, and lifecycle value while maintaining code compliance and project requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.