Sr Lead Electrical Designer - QDC

Quanta Infrastructure Solutions Group, LLC•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Lead Electrical Designer is a senior member of the QDC Engineering team responsible for the layout, arrangement, completeness and buildability of electrical scope on fast-track, advanced technology projects: the utility interconnect and substation interface, medium-voltage distribution, generator and paralleling switchgear yards, transformers, switchgear, UPS and critical power distribution, electrical rooms, duct banks, cable tray and raceway, and grounding. Working across the client, Quanta engineering and construction OpCos, equipment vendors and third parties, this position makes sure the electrical scope is complete, constructable, procurable and compatible with the rest of the project scope before it is issued for construction (IFC). The Senior Lead Electrical Designer reports to the (Sr) Engineering Project Manager, QDC, supports all projects in the division, and serves as an electrical design point of contact between Engineering, Procurement, Field Operations and the client from proposal and early engineering through detail design, construction, startup and commissioning. As the QDC Engineering team grows, this position is expected to serve as lead designer for electrical scope, planning, assigning and checking the work of QDC and OpCo designers and drafters.

Requirements

Candidates from industrial, power and EPC electrical design backgrounds (petrochemical, power generation, utilities, heavy industrial) with strong medium-voltage distribution, duct bank and raceway, and equipment layout experience are encouraged to apply.
A power-distribution-led background with working knowledge of low-voltage building systems coordination is the expected profile; data center experience is preferred but not required.
High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate degree or technical certificate in Drafting & Design, Electrical Design Technology, Engineering Technology or a related field preferred
Minimum 10 years of electrical design experience on large commercial, industrial, power, mission critical or EPC projects, including at least 5 years in a senior or lead designer role
Demonstrated experience developing medium- and low-voltage power distribution layouts, duct bank and raceway routing, and electrical equipment arrangements in 3D with minimal supervision, and coordinating those designs across multiple disciplines and entities
Proficiency in AutoCAD and in at least one 3D design and coordination platform used for electrical layout, including clash detection and conduit, tray or raceway extraction; Autodesk Revit (MEP) with Navisworks is preferred, and SP3D/E3D, MicroStation, AutoCAD Plant 3D or an equivalent platform is acceptable
Working knowledge of the codes and standards that govern electrical layout (for example NEC/NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, NFPA 110, IEEE and ANSI standards, and NESC where applicable) and the ability to apply them to equipment arrangements, clearances and raceway design
Ability to read and interpret one-line diagrams, schematics, load lists, cable and conduit schedules, equipment and vendor drawings for switchgear, transformers, generators and UPS, specifications, and civil, structural and mechanical drawings
Practical understanding of how duct banks, conduit, cable tray, cable pulls and terminations, grounding, and switchgear, transformer and generator setting and energization are built in the field
A builder's mindset: motivated to help establish a new team and its standards, comfortable working without a fully defined playbook, and eager to create processes rather than only follow them
Experience supporting construction RFIs, redlines, field verification and as-builts in a fast-paced environment
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Bluebeam or similar markup tools, and project document management systems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable collaborating with multiple disciplines and companies and explaining and defending layouts to engineers, field leadership and the client in design reviews and coordination meetings
Detail-oriented and organized; able to deal with ambiguity, work independently, manage multiple projects and set priorities in a complex, multi-party environment

Nice To Haves

Data center or other mission critical facility experience (hyperscale, colocation or enterprise), including medium-voltage distribution, generator and paralleling switchgear yards, UPS and battery rooms, PDU and busway distribution and redundant (N+1, 2N) topologies
Utility interconnect, substation or switchyard interface experience, including medium- and high-voltage terminations, utility metering and energization coordination
Experience on multi-company, design-build or EPC projects where scope was split among several contractors and engineering firms
Experience with Autodesk Construction Cloud/BIM 360, Procore, and BIM coordination workflows (LOD 300-400 models, conduit, tray and equipment shop drawing review)
Working proficiency in both Revit/Navisworks and an industrial platform (SP3D/E3D, MicroStation or equivalent)
Familiarity with electrical study inputs and outputs (e.g., SKM or ETAP short circuit, arc-flash, voltage drop and cable ampacity results; AGi32 lighting calculations) and how they translate into layouts and clearances
Field or trade background (electrician, electrical contractor BIM/VDC coordinator or field engineer) on large industrial or commercial projects
Experience developing drafting standards, standard details, design checklists and lessons learned programs

Responsibilities

Develop 2D and 3D electrical layouts and models for advanced technology facility sites, including the substation and utility interconnect interface, medium-voltage switchgear, transformers and feeders, generator and paralleling switchgear yards, electrical room and equipment arrangements (switchgear, UPS and battery systems, PDUs and busway), duct banks and manholes, cable tray, conduit racks and raceway routing, and grounding and lightning protection; review and coordinate the low-voltage building systems (lighting, receptacles, fire alarm and telecommunications pathways) prepared by the engineer of record or OpCo so they fit the power distribution and equipment layout
Produce and check design deliverables such as electrical site plans, one-line diagrams drafted from the engineer's design, equipment room plans and elevations, duct bank plans and sections, cable tray and conduit routing plans, conduit and cable schedules, raceway fill and pull calculations, grounding plans, equipment arrangement and anchoring details, and bills of material
Develop layouts that maintain NEC working clearances, arc-flash boundaries, equipment maintenance and replacement paths, cable bending radii and pull distances; design in capacity for change and growth where the added cost is low (space, dirt, concrete and steel), such as spare duct bank conduits, tray capacity, spare equipment positions and oversized pads, to protect the schedule from late equipment changes
Lead interference and clash detection for electrical scope in the 3D model, with particular attention to duct banks against foundations and underground piping and to cable tray and conduit against mechanical and piping scope; resolve or escalate clashes before they reach the field
Review vendor and equipment drawings for switchgear, transformers, generators, UPS and PDUs for footprints, weights, termination and cable landing locations, conduit entries, clearances and shipping splits, and incorporate vendor data into the model and drawings
Apply applicable codes and standards (for example NEC/NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, NFPA 110, IEEE and ANSI standards, and NESC where the utility interface requires it) and client design criteria to layouts and details; flag deviations and requirements versus preferences
Review OpCo and third-party deliverables for scope completeness, constructability and procure-ability; identify missing, conflicting or unbuildable scope and drive it to resolution
Confirm scope compatibility with other advanced technology scope, systems and stakeholders. Raise questions early, discuss and explore alternatives with engineers, the client and the field
Participate in and help lead constructability, model (30/60/90 percent) and IFC readiness reviews; document review comments and verify their incorporation
Support procurement with quantity take-offs (cable, conduit, tray, duct bank), requisition inputs for switchgear, transformers, generators, UPS and other major electrical equipment, bid evaluation inputs and vendor drawing review; flag long-lead equipment and layouts that are waiting on vendor data
Perform quality reviews of drawings and models for inaccuracies, omissions, code compliance and adherence to QDC and client standards, and provide recommendations
Facilitate communication, coordination and document flow for electrical scope among the client, Quanta engineering OpCos, field execution teams and third parties
Identify and remedy gaps between Engineering and Construction and between Engineering and Procurement; remove hurdles and resolve issues
Coordinate equipment locations, duct bank routing, conduit stub-ups and foundation penetrations, cable tray routing and grounding with the civil-structural and mechanical-piping disciplines and with the field
Coordinate the utility interconnect and substation interface with the utility, the substation or transmission design team and the OpCos, including feeder routing, terminations, metering and energization sequencing
Collaborate with the Senior Lead Electrical Engineer, other discipline engineers, and other discipline designers on technical completeness and compatibility, providing designer input on how the scope will actually be built
Support the Engineering Project Manager with proposal inputs, early engineering, scope definition, deliverable lists and schedules for electrical scope
Review and respond to construction RFIs, field change requests and redlines for electrical scope as assigned by the project team; implement redlines with precision and confirm accuracy before drawings are finalized
Provide design input on the layout, equipment, material and schedule impacts of proposed changes so the project team can run them through the formal QDC change process rather than by informal agreement
Keep electrical design documentation current in the project document management system (e.g., Procore), including drawing and model revision control, as-built records and inputs to the project issue, RFI and decision logs
Document assumptions, decisions and handoffs in writing so alignment is created by documentation rather than by meetings alone
Serve as lead designer for electrical scope as the QDC Engineering team grows: plan and assign design work, check drawings and models, and be accountable for the quality and schedule of the electrical design package
Mentor designers and drafters (QDC or OpCo), review their work, and help build the QDC design standards as the team grows
Capture lessons learned during the project; contribute to root-cause reviews of RFIs, rework and design gaps and record the methods that saved time or money
Contribute to developing and refining QDC electrical best practices, standard details, design criteria, checklists, templates and drafting standards, and help roll them out to OpCos and project teams
Identify scope, design, procurement and change risks early and raise them to the Engineering Project Manager with proposed mitigations, in support of the Project Risk Wheel and project risk register
Travel to project sites to walk down installations, verify field conditions, duct bank and stub-up as-builts and equipment placement, resolve interferences, interpret drawings and support cable installation, terminations and energization
Present layouts, alternatives and recommendations in front of the client, OpCos and field leadership; represent QDC professionally in design reviews, coordination meetings and site meetings
Be willing to speak up and ask questions; bring potential project-related problems and possible solutions to the attention of the responsible party
Take personal responsibility for the quality and accuracy of his or her work; perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

Competitive Compensation
Comprehensive Health Coverage - Multiple Medical, dental & vision plans with 100% preventive care
24/7 telehealth (Teladoc)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company-funded HSA and pre-tax savings options
401(k) Retirement Plan
No-cost Short- and Long-term Disability
Employer-paid basic Life & AD&D Insurance
Paid Time off (PTO) and 10 Paid Holidays
Paid Parental leave
Education Reimbursement and Professional Development
Employee discount program and optional insurance offerings: Identity Theft Protection, Accident Insurance, Voluntary Life (spouse and child), Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance