Power Engineering Director

DLB Associates

2d•$210,000 - $260,000•Remote

About The Position

DLB is establishing its Power Engineering practice and is seeking a Power Engineering Director to lead and grow this service line from the ground up. This is a practice-building hire — the person who executes the strategic direction, makes the hires, builds technical credibility and positions DLB as a credible provider of utility-scale substation, BESS, microgrid, and grid integration engineering services across utility, renewable energy, data center, and industrial markets. The Power Engineering Director will serve as the senior technical and operational leader for the practice, partnering with executive leadership to set strategy, develop engineering standards, drive business development, and build the team and capabilities necessary to scale. The Power Engineering Director operates with a high degree of autonomy, receiving strategic direction from executive leadership. This role is responsible for leading engineering teams, driving strategic initiatives, supporting organizational planning, and developing the people, processes, and technical capabilities necessary to scale the practice. As the practice matures, the Director may also be called upon to support executive leadership in evaluating strategic M&A or partnership opportunities that could accelerate Power Solutions growth, expand delivery capabilities, or add technical depth to the team. The Power Engineering Director will communicate and operate in line with organizational goals and values, as well as departmental objectives. The power engineering director will report into the Design Department Executive Director.

Requirements

Advanced level for all the following
Knowledge of organizational objectives and how they relate to company policies
Demonstrated ability to lead organizational initiatives, develop engineering standards, and influence strategic business decisions
Experience leading practice growth through hiring, mentoring, client development, and operational planning
Deep knowledge of utility-scale power engineering including substation design (AIS/GIS), BESS/IBR interconnection, protection & control, and grid integration across medium- and high-voltage systems
Demonstrated experience managing engineering teams and leading multi-disciplinary power systems projects from concept through commissioning
Strong business development skills including client relationship management, proposal leadership, and engineering services market development
Strong working knowledge of NESC, NEC, NFPA, ANSI, IEEE (1547, 2800, 80, 1584, 519), and utility interconnection standards
Knowledge of power systems analysis tools (ETAP, SKM, ASPEN) and working familiarity with EMT/transient simulation methodologies
Proven track record managing engineering practice P&L, team performance, and multi-project portfolios
Skilled at using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams), along with exceptional organizational skills for file management
Highly organized with strong attention to detail, able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines under pressure
Ability to work successfully in a remote environment through effective communication and organizational skills, self-motivation, proactiveness and resourcefulness in a distraction free workspace
Ability to follow company and site safety requirements
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences and serve as a client-facing point of contact
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Professional Engineer (PE) license in Electrical Engineering.
15+ years of progressive power engineering experience with demonstrated leadership of substation, BESS, or grid integration projects.
Minimum 5 years in an engineering management, practice leadership, or department director role.
Proven track record as engineer of record on medium- to high-voltage utility electrical projects (substation, generation interconnection, or equivalent).
Experience leading, managing, and growing engineering teams of 5 or more engineers.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or Business Administration (MBA).
Existing relationships with utility-scale developers, utilities, data center owners, or hyperscale clients in the power systems space
Direct experience establishing or formalizing a new engineering service line, including defining scope, building technical standards, and staffing from near-zero.
Direct, hands-on project experience with substation, BESS, microgrid, or inverter-based resource (IBR) interconnection from interconnection application through protection design and commissioning.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and develop the power engineering team including Lead Engineers, Senior Engineers, and supporting staff across substation, BESS, and grid integration disciplines
Lead strategic planning for the Power Engineering practice in partnership with executive leadership
Provide technical direction, mentorship, and quality oversight across all power engineering projects and deliverables
Serve as the senior technical authority for substation design, BESS/IBR interconnection, protection & control, and grid integration engineering
Establish, implement, and maintain engineering standards, design criteria, QA/QC processes, and quality management systems for the power engineering practice
Oversee engineering deliverables for technical accuracy, constructability, code compliance, and EOR accountability
Partner with DLB executive leadership on practice growth strategy, service line development, and resource planning
Build and maintain DLB's reputation as a qualified power engineering firm with clients, utilities, developers, and industry partners
Develop and execute initiatives that support the long-term growth of the practice, including staffing strategy, technical capabilities, and new service offerings
Identify and develop strategic industry partnerships with specialty engineering firms, electrical contractors, testing companies, and construction partners to support larger and more complex Power Solutions engagements and to extend field execution capability where required.
Serve as the senior technical authority and primary engineering point of contact for Power Solutions client engagements, converting ecosystem-sourced opportunities into scoped, contracted work.
Lead technical proposal development, statements of qualification, and RFP responses for power engineering services; provide the engineering credibility that supports DLB’s go-to-market positioning.
Serve as primary client relationship manager for key Power Solutions accounts in the utility, renewable energy, and data center markets once engagements are established.
Activate and expand DLB’s existing client relationships within the Power Solutions scope, identifying engineering service opportunities within accounts the firm already serves.
Support Accenture, Galtra, 2AI-DC, and other ecosystem partners by providing technical input, scoping support, and engineering authority for joint pursuits and shared client opportunities.
Represent DLB at industry conferences, utility meetings, interconnection forums, and technical events as the recognized expert for the Power Solutions practice.
Provide market intelligence to executive leadership on client needs, competitive dynamics, and emerging service opportunities within the utility-scale power engineering space.
Provide technical oversight and EOR review for power engineering projects across the team, ensuring quality, compliance, and liability management
Review and approve major engineering deliverables, study reports, and stamped documents produced by the team
Manage resource allocation, scheduling, and workload distribution across the power engineering team
Oversee resource forecasting, staffing plans, workload balancing, and utilization across the practice to support sustainable growth
Identify and resolve technical, contractual, and client issues escalated from the project team
Ensure compliance with NESC, NEC, NFPA, ANSI, IEEE, and applicable utility standards across all project deliverables
Support project financial performance including fee management, scope control, and practice profitability
Represent DLB in negotiations and technical discussions with utilities, developers, and AHJs
Report weekly to the Executive Directors and President on practice KPIs, revenue pipeline, headcount status, and financial performance against growth targets; maintain a standing executive dashboard for the Power Engineering practice.
Own practice P&L reporting and budget management; track and communicate variances, utilization rates, and margin performance on a regular cadence.
Maintain and report on the business development pipeline for the Power Engineering practice; provide regular pipeline updates to executive leadership including qualified opportunities, proposal activity, and win/loss trends.
Own the practice hiring roadmap; report regularly on recruiting progress, open requisitions, offer activity, and team capacity relative to project demand.
Monitor and communicate engineering quality, delivery performance, and client satisfaction metrics across the practice portfolio; escalate risks and issues to executive leadership with recommended corrective actions.
Identify opportunities and leverage technology, digital platforms, and AI-enabled tools to enhance efficiency through workflow automation, reduced manual effort, and improved accuracy in forecasting, documentation, reporting, and quality processes.
Support adoption of emerging technologies -- including advanced analytics, data visualization tools, and digital construction management platforms -- to strengthen readiness, quality assurance, and project controls.
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure technology solutions align with DLB standards for data security, privacy, and operational integrity.
Support a culture that embraces innovation, continuous improvement, and the strategic use of technology to optimize performance and scalability.
Completion of Assigned Tasks and Deliverables on Time and on Budget
Performs Other Related Duties as Assigned

Benefits

Choice of comprehensive medical plans (including two PPO-style plans and a HDHP w/ HSA option)
Flex spending accounts (FSA)
Dental and vision plans
Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits extended to spouse / domestic partner and dependent children up to age 26
401k with company match and self-directed brokerage account option
PTO including additional paid time off during the last week of the year
Company paid life insurance coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
Short and long-term disability, AD&D coverage
Professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement and professional licensing assistance
Paid parental leave after one year of employment