Substation Department Manager
Utilities | Lisle, Illinois | Chicago, Illinois | Remote [Work from Home]

Who We Are

We’re a people-first organization. We value knowledge and learning. We believe in the power of connection and collaboration and we seek to build relationships that mean something. We employ some of the best and brightest in the industry and we work hard to maintain a culture that our people can be proud of.

Working For Primera

Our Utilities division is a talented team of experts working together to provide solutions that are vital to energizing our future. We provide full-service electrical, civil, and structural engineering services to support electric and gas utilities nationwide. We’re also fortunate to support wind farms and renewables; transmissions systems; and university and industrial facilities.

Who You Are

  • You’re a leader in the T&S environment. Highly-motivated with at least 20 years of engineering experience, you know your discipline like the back of your hand, including work processes/methods and software tools. You’ve managed a team responsible for the planning, design and construction of large and complex multi-discipline projects.
  • Your qualifications and experience are impressive. Your expertise is the result of extensive experience providing transmission and substation engineering for electrical utilities. You have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (a masters will set you apart) and you’re a licensed professional engineer. You possess a strong knowledge of industry codes, standards and best practices, as well as AEC loss prevention measures.
  • You understand the importance of staffing. You have experience assigning staff to projects based on competency requirements and availability as well as performing group resource leveling to accommodate changes in project workload and meet project deliverable schedules. Experience assisting in recruiting and onboarding new employees is a must.
  • You’re a people person. You have a positive attitude and enjoy developing relationships with staff and clients alike. You are a skillful presenter who can persuade and communicate effectively, particularly with technical concepts/issues and non-technical audiences. You’re a motivating leader and mentor, skilled at providing effective feedback, goal setting, and coaching that continuously develops your team.
  • You’re a strategic thinker that takes continuous improvement seriously. You are analytical and decisive and have a proven ability to manage and develop growth strategies.

What You'll Do

  • You’ll lead our T&S department forward. You will be a key influencer and contribute to the strategic planning process within our Utilities division. You’ll execute Primera’s strategic goals and initiatives and identify and implement improvement actions for division processes, tools and technology. You’ll work closely with your team to promote high satisfaction and retention rates and play an important role in the development of the T&S team.
  • You’ll be focused on the department’s success. You’ll monitor client or owner satisfaction and feedback on group’s project performance and inspire your team’s conformance to quality management and project delivery policies, processes and procedures. You’ll assist division and/or project managers in the resolution of client satisfaction and loss prevention issues. And of course, you’ll be the person in charge of the group’s billability, productivity and project budget performance.
  • You’ll lead strategic, high-visibility client projects and lead or participate in discipline design on large or complex projects.
  • You’ll flex your business development chops. You’ll lead the development of key relationships with clients, partner firms, and subconsultants. Likewise, you’ll assist in the preparation and review of proposals and cost estimates and support related marketing activities.
  • You’ll connect with people within your team and across the firm to coordinate project activities. You’ll govern the group’s resource allocation and oversee project deliverables, while fostering both client and employee satisfaction. You’ll empower your team to improve performance, engagement and contributions to Primera’s goals and objectives.
  • You’ll share our passion for learning and growth. You’ll foster an environment of knowledge sharing and technical expertise. You’ll model our performance management process and aid in building a strong, healthy and engaged team. You’ll help your team with short-and-long-term training plans, identify staffing needs, and assist with recruiting efforts.
  • You’ll enjoy what you do. You’ll work with great people, continue to learn and grow yourself, and have a good time doing it.

Some of What You'll Enjoy

  •  An excellent benefits package including 401K match and employee stock ownership, gym and transit subsidies, paid volunteer time off, parental leave, continuing education reimbursement and much more
  • Flexible work scheduling in a fast-growing company
  • A fun, inclusive, and collaborative environment
  • Colleagues that appreciate differences in people, perspectives, cultures, and ideas
  • The fruits of our employee-led committees focused on offering engaging social, wellness and community service activities all year long

Starting salary is between $180,000 – $200,000 based on skills and qualifications, with the high end of the range limited to applicants based on relevant years of experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Primera is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Primera’s practices and employment decisions, including those regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation, shall not be based on any person’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, physical handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship status or other protected group as defined by law.

Related Positions

Sr. Structural Group Manager (Utilities)

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Help lead our dynamic Structural team forward as you take the next step in your own career. Charged with the overall success of the department, you’ll have your hands in strategic planning, project delivery and management, talent management, business development, and even some recruiting. Learn More

Materials Coordinator

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

The Materials Coordinator has an understanding of construction procedures and the incorporation and documentation of material into various projects. Learn More

Project Delivery Group Manager

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

The Group Manager will be responsible for overall project planning, monitoring, and control for the delivery of engineering service projects to multiple utility providers. They will have a team reporting directly to them. The Group Manager will report to the Department Manager of Project Delivery. The Group Manager will also perform as a Project Manager on designated projects, as well as assist the Department Manager with assigned management tasks. Learn More

Transmission Line Engineer

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

You have extensive knowledge of high voltage transmission line design. You'll work with a project team to create all design documents and drawings for transmission line projects. Ideally, you're a self-starter who needs little or no supervision to complete new transmission line designs, do business development, and are capable of supervising junior engineers. Learn More

Lead Structural Engineer

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Performs assignments designed to develop professional knowledge and abilities, requiring application of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria in carrying out a sequence of related structural. Learn More

Distribution Group Manager

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois

You're highly-motivated with at least 8 to 10 years of experience in above and below ground utility distribution. You have management and communication skills that enable you to effectively lead large or complex projects for investor-owned utilities, developers or campuses. You'll connect with people, continue to learn, grow professionally, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Substation Physical Designer

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois Remote [Work from Home]

This position requires a high level of expertise in quality assurance, the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and strong organizational skills for coordinating various project owners, stakeholders, and client interactions. You'll be responsible for leading large-scale design projects, from concept through to execution, ensuring exceptional design quality, consistency, and alignment with client objectives. You'll support design strategies while maintaining attention to detail in every aspect of your work. Learn More

Utility Project Manager

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home]

You’ll be responsible for leading and managing projects, directing and coordinating the activities of multiple disciplines on a project of moderate scope or a combination of smaller projects. You’ll also work with great people and have a good time doing it. Learn More

Electrical Engineer – Utilities

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois

Perform detailed design of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems, perform field walkdowns to document existing conditions, ensure adherence to client and industry standards, connect with people, learn from our resident experts, grow professionally, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Senior Structural Engineer

Utilities
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Performs assignments designed to develop professional knowledge and abilities, requiring application of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria in carrying out a sequence structural. Learn More

Substation Engineer

Utilities
Remote [Work from Home] Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Perform detailed design of new substation layouts; create design documents, technical specifications, drawings, and prepare design calculations for new substation projects including electrical plans, schematics, bills of materials, and equipment specifications. Continue to learn and grow, and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Utilities Structural Engineer

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

As a part of our growing Utilities division, you'll have the opportunity to leverage what you learned in school as you build your career as a structural engineer. You'll develop your professional knowledge and abilities and have some fun doing it. Learn More

Distribution Engineer

Utilities
Chicago, Illinois Lisle, Illinois

Execute complex designs for overhead and underground power installations; work on challenging assignments that include investigating, troubleshooting, and solving a wide variety of overhead/underground distribution engineering and constructability related issues; and lead projects. Connect with people, continue to learn and grow, and have some fun doing it. Learn More