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Lead Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineering

Oak Brook, IL 60523
$130000-185000 / year
Permanent
Permanent
Job ID: 63125140

Job Description

Title: Lead Electrical Engineer
Location: Oak Brook, IL
Hire Type: Direct
Compensation: $130K-$175K
Must have Skill Set: P.E. Licensure/ Stamping Ability 

 

Overview:
 The Senior Electrical Engineer, PE is accountable for the successful execution and coordination of complex electrical design projects supporting mission critical, commercial, and institutional facilities. This role supports all project phases, from concept and design development through construction support, while leading, mentoring, and developing a team of engineers.

What you’ll do:
The Senior Electrical Engineer collaborates closely with project managers, designers, clients, contractors, and other internal departments to ensure designs are accurate, code-compliant, constructible, and aligned with project scope, schedule, and budget.
Opportunities exist to be based out of our Oak Brook office, supporting Chicagoland projects, with limited travel to project sites as required.
Technical Leadership:
· Serve as the technical lead for electrical system design, ensuring quality, accuracy, constructability, and code compliance across all project phases.
· Develop and review electrical designs including:
o Low- and medium-voltage power distribution
o Generator and UPS systems
o Lighting and lighting control systems
o Fire alarm and life safety systems
o Grounding and bonding systems
· Perform and oversee electrical engineering analyses including:
o Short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies
o Load calculations
o Cable ampacity and fault current analysis
· Produce and review design deliverables such as one-line diagrams, specifications, equipment schedules, floor plans, and BIM/Revit models.
Project & Team Leadership:
· Lead, mentor, and develop a small team electrical engineers, providing technical guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
· Delegate tasks, establish priorities, and monitor progress to ensure adherence to schedules, budgets, and quality standards.
· Support resource planning and workload forecasting across active projects.
· Conduct internal QA/QC reviews and enforce engineering standards and best practices.
Client & Stakeholder Collaboration:
· Maintain strong working relationships with clients, internal project teams, and external partners.
· Attend and lead design meetings; clearly communicate technical concepts and design intent.
· Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless integration of electrical systems into overall project delivery.
· Support proposal development, scope definition, and technical input during preconstruction and pursuit phases.
Construction Support:
· Conduct site surveys to assess existing conditions and verify installation progress. (5 – 10% local travel).
· Respond to RFIs, review submittals, and support construction administration activities.
· Provide field and engineering support during commissioning, testing, and startup phases.
Continuous Improvement:
· Stay current with emerging technologies, industry trends, and code updates.
· Contribute to the development of standard design tools, templates, and calculation methods.
· Support initiatives that improve efficiency, consistency, and engineering quality across the organization. 

 

Qualifications: 


· Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field with a focus on building electrical systems.
· Minimum 7–10+ years of experience in electrical engineering design for commercial, institutional, or mission critical facilities; data center experience strongly preferred.
· Professional Engineer (PE) license required or ability to obtain within 12 months.
· Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and coordinating multi-discipline projects.
· Proficiency in:
o Revit and AutoCAD
o SKM, ETAP, or similar electrical modeling software
o Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Teams)
· Strong working knowledge of NEC, Chicago Electrical Code, NFPA, IBC, IECC, and related standards.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Superior organizational, prioritization, and time-management abilities.
· Strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills.
· Demonstrated leadership, influence, and collaborative mindset.
· Ability to travel to project and construction sites as required.


Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Meet Your Recruiter

Mason Curtis
Mason Curtis
Mason Curtis

Senior Recruiter

Mason Curtis is an Energy, Infrastructure & Construction Specialist at Sterling Engineering with more than seven years of recruiting experience, including one year with Sterling. He focuses on connecting skilled candidates with opportunities across energy, infrastructure, and construction, helping clients build strong teams while supporting candidates through meaningful career moves.

Mason is committed to understanding each candidate’s experience, goals, and potential, then advocating for opportunities where they can succeed long-term. His approach is rooted in persistence, communication, and a genuine desire to help people move forward in their careers.

That commitment is reflected in the feedback he receives from candidates. One candidate shared that Mason went above and beyond to help them earn an interview opportunity, even when they were up against individuals with more experience. Mason’s advocacy helped open the door to a role where the candidate now feels valued, supported, and grateful to be part of a company they respect.

For Mason, recruiting is about more than filling positions. It is about creating opportunities that can have a lasting impact on people’s lives, careers, and futures.

mcurtis@sterling-engineering.com Connect on LinkedIn
mcurtis@sterling-engineering.com
Connect on LinkedIn

About Oak Brook, IL

Discover exciting job opportunities in the vibrant Oak Brook, Illinois area today! Situated west of Chicago, Oak Brook offers a perfect blend of big-city amenities and suburban charm. Known for its upscale shopping at Oakbrook Center, delectable restaurants serving renowned deep-dish pizza, and close proximity to the iconic Morton Arboretum, this region presents a myriad of growth opportunities for job seekers. With nearby attractions like the Drury Lane Theatre, Brookfield Zoo, and the beautiful Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook provides a cultural and recreational haven for individuals looking to advance their careers in a thriving community. Start your job search here and embrace all that Oak Brook has to offer!

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. 

 As one of the most respected names in engineering staffing, Sterling has hundreds of opportunities with top employers. If you’ve got a friend or colleague seeking their next move in engineering, we could have their next opportunity. We offer a referral bonus for every referral that we place. Submit referral now. 

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