Managing Director: Physical Design Engineer

ICF•Kansas City, MO

1d•$174,701 - $296,992•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Department Manager, Substation Physical Engineering to lead and grow our substation engineering practice. In this leadership role, you will be responsible for the operational management, technical oversight, staff development, financial performance, and strategic growth of a department delivering substation physical engineering services to utility clients nationwide. You will provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team of substation physical engineers, designers, and technical specialists while ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality engineering solutions. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in substation engineering with proven people leadership, business acumen, and client relationship management skills. Our team is passionate about re-engineering how electric utilities solve their toughest challenges. We combine innovation, technical rigor, and a client-first mindset to deliver exceptional engineering solutions across planning, design, analysis, modernization, and construction support services.

Requirements

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.
12+ years of experience in substation engineering, design, analysis, or related power delivery services.
12+ years of experience working with electric utilities, EPC firms, or engineering consulting organizations.
Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Demonstrated experience managing project portfolios, resource planning, and financial performance.
Strong knowledge of substation physical design principles, including station layout, grounding, lightning protection, AC station service, conduit systems, equipment selection, and constructability considerations.
Experience leading engineering projects ranging from distribution substations through transmission voltage levels up to 765kV.
Ability to travel for client presentations, field visits, industry conferences, and project reviews.

Nice To Haves

Proven success recruiting, developing, and retaining engineering talent.
Experience with business development, client relationship management, and proposal development.
Experience establishing engineering standards, QA/QC programs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Strong understanding of consulting business operations, including utilization management, revenue forecasting, backlog management, and departmental financial performance.
Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering efforts involving protection & controls, civil, structural, relay, communications, permitting, environmental, procurement, and construction stakeholders.
Working knowledge of IEEE, NESC, NEC, ANSI, NERC, and utility-specific design standards.
Proficiency with AutoCAD, MicroStation, Autodesk Inventor, Vault, or other substation design platforms.
Experience with substation grounding studies and software tools such as CDEGS.
Experience with illumination analysis software such as AGi32.
Experience supporting construction, commissioning, field engineering, and outage planning activities.
Experience developing and writing client proposals, including scope development, staffing plans, schedules, fee estimates, risk assessments, and contract negotiations.
Experience leading large-scale substation expansion, greenfield, modernization, and grid resiliency programs for utility clients.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of substation physical engineers, designers, and technical specialists, establishing performance expectations, supporting career development, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Manage department staffing, recruiting, hiring, workload forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure successful project execution and achievement of business objectives.
Oversee the delivery of substation engineering projects, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with company quality standards and client expectations.
Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for complex substation projects ranging from distribution through EHV transmission voltage levels, serving as a senior technical resource for staff and clients while promoting engineering best practices and innovation.
Establish, maintain, and improve engineering standards, QA/QC processes, design procedures, and operational workflows to drive technical excellence, consistency, and efficiency across the department.
Own department operational performance, including utilization, backlog management, staffing forecasts, revenue targets, profitability, and overall financial performance.
Partner with project managers and business leaders to monitor project performance, manage risks, resolve resource constraints, and proactively address schedule, budget, and quality concerns.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with utility clients, contractors, equipment vendors, and industry partners while supporting project pursuits, proposal development, scope definition, contract negotiations, and client satisfaction initiatives.
Identify and execute opportunities for business growth, service expansion, and market development while supporting strategic planning and contributing to the long-term success of the substation engineering practice.
Champion company safety, quality, compliance, and professional development programs while ensuring adherence to applicable industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory obligations.
Provide executive oversight of engineering activities including substation physical design, grounding, lightning protection, AC station service, equipment selection, major equipment specifications, constructability reviews, and engineering studies.
Support the development and adoption of advanced engineering technologies, digital design workflows, 3D modeling, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance project quality and delivery efficiency.