Electrical Power Engineer

Job description

Lake Superior Consulting is seeking an Electrical Power Engineer to join our growing team! This is a power-focused engineering role: you will design, analyze, and upgrade medium- and low-voltage power distribution and generation systems for industrial energy clients, and carry that work from concept through detailed design, procurement, construction, and commissioning. Typical assignments include industrial facility electrical upgrades, switchgear and motor control center replacements, transformer and generator additions, protection and coordination studies, grounding system design, and generation facility interconnections. You will serve as the electrical lead on moderate to large projects, set the technical direction of the electrical scope, and mentor less experienced engineers and designers. We are flexible on location for this role to be either hybrid (if near an LSC office location) or remote. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Power System Analysis and Studies Build and maintain power system models from field data and record drawings, and perform load flow, short-circuit, protective device coordination, arc flash (IEEE 1584-2018), motor starting, harmonic (IEEE 519), and cable ampacity studies. Develop protective relay settings and coordination for feeder, transformer, motor, generator, and bus protection; produce settings files, coordination curves, and functional test plans. Design and evaluate grounding systems per IEEE 80 and IEEE 81, including soil resistivity interpretation, ground grid modeling, touch and step potential evaluation, and fall-of-potential field verification. Size and rate equipment and conductors — transformers, cables, buses, breakers, fuses, and switches — and verify momentary, interrupting, and short-time withstand duty. Perform hazardous area classification per NEC Articles 500–505 and API RP 500 where applicable, and specify equipment suitable for the classified area. Review and quality-check studies, calculations, and reports prepared by others, including third-party consultants. Design and Documentation Develop and review electrical design deliverables: one-line and three-line diagrams, protection and metering diagrams, AC and DC schematics, wiring and interconnection diagrams, communications architecture, plans, sections, details, and design markups. Design and upgrade medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems and equipment, including switchgear, unit substations, motor control centers, variable frequency drives, service entrances, station batteries and DC systems, UPS, standby and emergency power, and lighting. Produce the supporting engineering basis: load lists, load flow and voltage drop calculations, cable and conduit schedules, panel schedules, and design basis documents. Ensure designs comply with the NEC, NFPA 70E, NESC, applicable IEEE and ANSI standards, and client engineering specifications. Equipment Specification and Procurement Write technical specifications and datasheets for medium- and low-voltage switchgear, power and station service transformers, motor control centers, protective relays, generators, and related equipment. Evaluate vendor proposals technically, prepare bid tabulations, and support procurement decisions. Review vendor submittals and shop drawings, issue and resolve comments, and maintain the technical requirements through fabrication. Support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and commissioning of new and modified electrical equipment. Field and Construction Support Conduct field investigations and existing-condition surveys; document as-found equipment configuration, nameplate data, protection schemes, and constraints, and translate findings into scope and design recommendations. Support construction through responses to RFIs, field change resolution, design clarification, and site visits. Review field and factory test data — insulation resistance, power factor and Doble testing, CT and PT ratio and polarity, relay functional testing — and confirm the installed system matches the design intent. Support energization, startup, and commissioning activities, including switching and outage planning with the client. Project and Technical Leadership Lead the electrical scope on moderate to large projects, including scope definition, hour estimates, schedule input, and change management. Coordinate electrical work with mechanical, civil/structural, controls, and process disciplines, and manage electrical workflow to meet project milestones. Provide technical direction, review, and mentorship to less experienced engineers and designers. Interface directly with clients, contractors, and vendors; participate in design reviews, model reviews, safety reviews, and client meetings. Identify technical and project risks early and work with project leadership to develop contingency plans. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program. Minimum of 3 years of electrical power systems engineering experience in an industrial, utility, or consulting environment. Demonstrated experience designing or modifying medium-voltage (1 kV to 38 kV) and low-voltage power distribution systems. Hands-on modeling and study experience in SKM Power*Tools, ETAP, EasyPower, or equivalent — including building models from field data and interpreting and defending the results. Working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70E, and the IEEE standards applicable to industrial power systems (IEEE 1584, the IEEE 3000 / Color Book series, IEEE 80, and the C37 and C57 series). Ability to read and interpret one-line diagrams, protection and control schematics, relay logic, and vendor drawings, and to identify errors and omissions in them. Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to produce clear study reports, field reports, and specifications for both technical and client audiences. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities against project schedules. Willingness and ability to travel to project sites for field investigations and construction support (approximately 10%). PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Professional Engineer (PE) license, or EIT/FE with the experience required to sit for the PE exam. Direct experience with substation, power plant, generation facility, or microgrid / islanded generation design. Experience developing protective relay settings and configuration files using SEL AcSELerator, GE Multilin, ABB, or similar platforms. Experience with brownfield electrical equipment upgrades and modifications in operating facilities, including tie-in and phased cutover planning. Experience with arc-resistant medium-voltage switchgear and arc flash mitigation techniques. Experience with generator sizing, paralleling and load sharing controls, transfer schemes, or battery energy storage systems. Industry experience in natural gas transmission and midstream, oil and gas, power generation, or data center facilities. Experience with hazardous (classified) area design and equipment selection. Field testing and commissioning experience, including grounding measurements and acceptance testing per NETA standards. Working familiarity with instrumentation and controls interfaces to the power system, including SCADA, PLC-based control, control panel design, and network architecture. Experience directing or mentoring engineers, designers, and other project personnel. PERSONAL COMPETENCIES Takes ownership of the electrical scope and drives it from concept through energization. Exercises sound engineering judgment, and knows when a result needs to be questioned rather than accepted. Communicates clearly and directly with clients, contractors, vendors, and internal teams, and follows through on commitments. Organizes and prioritizes work for self and others in a dynamic, project-driven environment. Works safely and holds design decisions to the standard that people will operate and maintain the equipment. Self-motivated and committed to delivering high-quality, technically defensible electrical designs. Be Part of Something Bigger – Join the Team at Lake Superior Consulting! At LSC, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with top-tier talent and take on meaningful projects in industries including Liquids and Natural Gas, Power, Mining, Water and Wastewater, Renewables, and Manufacturing. If you’re driven, curious, and ready to grow your career while making a difference, we want to hear from you. Lake Superior Consulting offers a competitive compensation package. The actual starting salary will be determined based on a variety of factors, including your skills, experience, and office/market location. The anticipated salary range for this position is $80,000 to $115,000 per year. Our benefits include: • Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance • Flexible work options • 401K/Profit Sharing (6% company match) • Company paid life, AD&D, and short/long term disability • Paid time off (PTO) • Paid holidays (twelve per year) • Tuition reimbursement Bias-Free Hiring Practices: Lake Superior Consulting is proud to be an Equal Employment employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.