Engineering Design Lead

Description

Engineering Design Lead
This position can be based out of our San Jose, CA office.

About ArchKey

ArchKey is one of the nation’s largest privately held specialty trade installation and integrated facility service companies. We are a leader in designing, building and maintaining electrical, technologies and specialty systems. We’re the POWER behind making the improbable possible.

We’re electrifying the nation, energizing the future and bringing communities to life like never before. What we do today shapes the vision of tomorrow. Our work impacts lives long after the building is done. This means we are committed to building in ways that are not just technologically advanced, but sustainable, scalable and equitable by all. We’re not just energizing infrastructure, we’re energizing careers, communities, and the future.

Made up of the brightest minds in the industry, our team is our greatest asset bringing knowledge, skills, and experience to every project. This is more than a call to join us, it’s an invitation to be part of a visionary journey, to grow with us as we scale.

About the position

As the Engineering Design Lead, you will provide technical and people leadership to a team of engineers and designers delivering high-quality electrical engineering drawings, 3D models, and construction documents that support complex and challenging electrical installations, in alignment with all Company policies, procedures, key objectives and regulations. This role combines advanced engineering expertise, team leadership, and construction-focused problem solving to ensure designs are safe, code-compliant, fully constructible, and aligned with project goals. The Engineering Design Lead supports projects ranging from Design/Build efforts to some of the largest hyper-scale projects in the country. In addition to leading design execution, this role reviews internal and external engineering documents to identify constructability risks and value engineering opportunities, performs advanced engineering studies, and provides hands-on field support and troubleshooting. The ideal candidate brings deep technical knowledge, strong leadership capability, and a commitment to engineering excellence and continuous improvement.

Our Ideal Candidate

• Has a growth mindset and is always looking to continually learn and grow.
• Has strong knowledge of the National Electric Code and other building codes as they relate to design.
• Can coach and mentor others with excellent listening and communication skills.

Day in the life

• Leads and manages a small team of engineers and designers, overseeing the development of detailed electrical engineering permit drawings, 3D models, and construction installation documents to support field execution.
• Develops, reviews, and approves engineering calculations, studies, and reports including arc flash, short circuit, overcurrent protective device coordination, duct bank ampacity, load, lighting, and power factor correction.
• Serves as the primary engineering authority for project teams, providing technical direction, constructability guidance, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Reviews and approves designs prepared by Electrical Engineers and Designers to ensure compliance with codes, standards, and company best practices.
• Leads technical review of outside engineering documents and supports value engineering, scope development, and constructability planning.
• Participates in electrical construction and design-related training.
• Enforces company engineering standards and maintains strict QA/QC procedures for all deliverables.
• Recommend improvements to design standards, workflows, and procedures. Responds to design questions, resolve issues, and issue plan revisions as required.
• Stays current with new electrical and safety codes, materials, technologies, and industry best practices.
• Coordinates with field electricians to support data collection and implementation as needed.
• Leads any size project from an engineering perspective, supporting estimating, scheduling, forecasting, and budget alignment.
• Monitors and guides the design activities of engineers and designers to achieve high performance in quality, productivity, and schedule adherence.
• Provides ongoing coaching, training, mentoring, and performance feedback.
• Coordinates and balances team workload across multiple projects to ensure design deliverables are completed on schedule and within scope.
• Demonstrates knowledge of local building energy codes and standards (e.g., IECC, ASHRAE 90.1, California Title 24), including developing, reviewing, and coordinating drawings for energy code compliance, evaluating lighting fixtures and control systems for compliance, utilizing energy compliance software and processes, and advising project managers on compliance strategies and solutions.
• Mentors and develops Electrical Engineers and Designers; supports licensure development and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Builds trusted relationships with customers, inspectors, vendors, and trade partners while representing the Company’s technical leadership and core values.
• Consistently make decisions in an attentive and safe manner to ensure the safety and health of self and others.
• Utilizes LEAN concepts or other continuous improvement methodologies to ensure the most efficient operations, processes, and activities.
• Promotes and models the Company mission, vision and values through exercising sound and ethical business practices, championing all elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and providing high quality services and programs as they relate to clients, subcontractors, co-workers, suppliers, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience in engineering, electrical design, or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of applicable design engineering experience or 8 years with an electrical engineering degree and Professional Engineer (PE) license and demonstrated success leading engineering teams on small to mid-size projects.
• Extensive experience in facilities power design, including lighting, receptacle layouts, circuiting, panelboard schedules, load calculations, and equipment sizing.
• Experience in healthcare, heavy industrial, and/or data center projects is highly desirable. Controls experience is a plus.
• Advanced ability to read, interpret, and apply electrical contracts, plans, drawings, and specifications, with extensive knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and applicable building codes.
• High proficiency in Revit, Autodesk tools, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office.
• Experience performing engineering studies using SKM or ETAP is preferred.
• Strong commitment to electrical construction, engineering excellence, and team leadership, with a collaborative and solution-oriented mindset.
• Proven experience supporting field electricians through all phases of construction, including troubleshooting and design clarification.
• Demonstrated experience proposing, scoping, and estimating engineering and design efforts.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment while managing competing priorities with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and systems-level problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, customer focus, and effective decision-making under pressure.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to lead teams and collaborate across disciplines.

Travel

• Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Occasional travel to job sites is required.

Salary Range

• $128,000 - $153,600 annually, based on experience and qualifications

Benefits

At ArchKey Solutions, our benefits package includes competitive health insurance options (medical, dental, and vision), a robust 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, paid time off and holidays, and access to wellness programs. Additionally, we offer professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and employee assistance programs to support your growth and well-being. We ensure that our benefits are designed to promote the health, security, and work-life balance of our employees. Additional information is available at Archkey.com.

Legal and Fraud Disclaimer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. #CA30-1

Beware of fraudulent job postings. ArchKey Solutions only communicates through official channels. All official communication will come from an @archkey.com email address and we will never ask for financial information, payments, or personal details outside of the standard hiring process. To confirm the legitimacy of a job, visit our careers page or reach out to a member of our Talent Acquisition team.