Lead Transmission Line Engineer

Leidos•Seattle, WA

About The Position

Leidos is seeking a Lead Transmission Line Engineer to lead collaborative engineering teams and serve as Lead Engineer and Technical Project Manager for overhead and underground high-voltage electric transmission line design projects. Projects range from 34.5 kV to 765 kV and include capital and maintenance work for major and regional utilities. The role applies NESC, ASCE, ACI, NEC, and other applicable standards across project planning, engineering, environmental, permitting, and construction management phases. Engineering work includes analyses, PLS-CADD modeling, structure loading calculations, foundation design, structure framing and hardware assemblies, plans and specifications, bills of materials, and procurement documents. This senior leadership role has primary responsibilities in client relations, staff management, proposal development, scope creation and change management, project execution, and business development for the team’s portfolio. The Lead Engineer will direct multiple design teams and projects, develop staff through coaching and mentoring, manage performance, delegate work, plan workloads, support recruiting, and oversee quality control and schedule compliance. The role also promotes continuous improvement and the use of AI, automation, and digital design platforms to improve grid modernization and design efficiency. The position offers flexible work hours and work arrangements. Working onsite in a Leidos or client office is possible, and periodic travel may be required. The ideal location is Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington; candidates elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest may be considered for remote work. Relocation assistance to Portland may be available for qualified candidates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering; Civil Engineering is preferred.
At least 8 years of relevant electric utility transmission systems design experience with a bachelor’s degree, or at least 6 years with a master’s degree.
Expertise in PLS-CADD and PLS-POLE.
Engineer in Training (EIT) certification.
Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.
Strong communication skills and ability to serve as the primary point of contact for existing and prospective clients.
Business acumen and a track record of understanding and meeting key project performance metrics.
Ability and interest in developing staff through mentoring.
Ability to work onsite in a Leidos or client office if needed and undertake periodic travel.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of staff supervision experience.
Master’s degree in Structural Engineering.
Experience with TOWER.
Professional Engineer (P.E.) certification, or ability to obtain P.E. certification within six months.
Experience with LPILE or MFAD, Mathcad, AutoCAD or MicroStation, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Location in Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington; other Pacific Northwest locations may be considered for remote work.

Responsibilities

Lead multiple design teams simultaneously executing transmission projects and programs for multiple clients.
Serve as Lead Engineer and Technical Project Manager on overhead and underground electric transmission line design projects.
Direct engineering analyses, PLS-CADD modeling, structure loading calculations, foundation design, structure framing and hardware design, and preparation of plans, specifications, bills of materials, and procurement documents.
Apply applicable engineering standards, including NESC, ASCE, ACI, and NEC.
Manage client relationships, serve as a primary point of contact, and support long-term relationship building and business development.
Develop proposals and define scopes of work in response to client RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs.
Manage staff performance, approve timesheets, conduct annual performance reviews, and train, coach, and mentor engineers.
Delegate work, forecast and plan future workload, and conduct recruiting activities to support growth goals.
Drive quality control and ensure high-quality project deliverables.
Manage portfolio health through Project Managers who monitor and drive scope, schedule, and budget.
Support schedule compliance and project performance metrics.
Promote continuous improvement, innovation, automation, and streamlined departmental tools and processes.
Apply AI, automation, and digital design platforms to improve grid modernization and design efficiency.
Participate proactively as a member of the Transmission Line Section leadership team.