Director Transformer Engineering Jobs in Illinois

Who we are

For more than 40 years, Reworld has been a leader in sustainable waste solutions, providing our customers with innovative solutions that help them achieve carbon-negative outcomes.

Our Vision

Reworld is leading the charge to a carbon-negative future through revolutionary sustainable materials management solutions that reduce, reuse, recycle and reimagine waste for the benefit of society and the environment.

Our Business

Reworld partners with businesses by offering cutting-edge engineering and innovative solutions, to help customers reduce, reuse, recycle and recover value from waste streams and meet or exceed their sustainability goals.

Our Value

Reworld's differentiator comes from our ecosystem of technology, facilities and partnerships, trusted by the world’s largest organizations to reimagine waste management for a smarter, more sustainable world.

All that we’re missing is you.

About The Role Scope of Role

The Director of Electrical Engineering leads the Electrical Design Engineering team and is accountable for all electrical design activities supporting the Energy-from-Waste process across more than 30 facilities across North America. This role provides design leadership for electrical infrastructure across high-voltage (26 kV to 230 kV), medium-voltage (5 kV to 13.8 kV), and low-voltage systems, including high-voltage breakers, step-up transformers, turbine generators, balance-of-plant equipment, medium-voltage switchgear, motor control centers (MCCs), fans and motors, protective relaying, and short-circuit and arc-flash studies.

The Electrical Design Engineering team also supports a broad range of plant systems and disciplines, including steam generation boilers and auxiliaries, feedwater pumps, deaerator systems, turbine generators, condensers, air pollution control equipment, ash handling and conveying equipment, and metals recovery systems. This position leads a team of electrical subject matter experts (SMEs) supporting key growth initiatives, including routine capital projects, major plant expansions, and feasibility studies for new facilities. Annual capital and maintenance reinvestment at Reworld exceeds $300 million and supports long-term assets planning. While this is a corporate engineering role, it requires extensive collaboration with site/regional teams; approximately 30% of travel is expected.

Reporting to the Vice President of Engineering, this role also supports talent development, goal settings, budgeting, resource planning, feasibility studies, and project prioritizations. The Director Electrical Engineering, partners closely with cross-functional leaders, including Plant Support Engineering, Sourcing, PMO, Operations, Electrical Field Services, and Regional Engineering, to ensure discipline needs are met. The position may also support business development efforts by providing technical expertise and resourcing input.

Technical Key Responsibilities

• Discipline/Design Engineering: Manage, prioritize, and assign work across the Electrical Engineering team and SMEs.
• Capital Projects: Lead electrical infrastructure design engineering for capital projects.
• Technical Programs: Lead technical programs of strategic importance to the company.
• Technical Standards: Develop, maintain, and continuously improve Reworld’s Electrical specifications/design standards library.
• Operations Support: Provide engineering support to operations, including evaluation and implementation of technology upgrades aligned with the business needs.
• External Engineering Partners: Engage and manage outside engineering firms to deliver technically sound, business-feasible electrical designs.
• Front-End Loading (FEL): Lead front-end design activities for capital projects in alignment with FEL processes and tools.
• Coaching and Mentoring: Mentor, coach, and develop SMEs, including training on FEL tools and best practices.
• Feasibility Studies: Lead feasibility studies for new or retrofit designs, evaluating total cost of ownership (Capital and O&M) and recommending solutions that balance technical and economic considerations.

Continuous Improvement And EHS

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Problem Solving: Lead RCAs and coach SMEs in problem-solving methodologies to implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Lessons Learned: Drive the lessons learned program, incorporate site feedback, and update standards and specifications to improve future designs.
• Productivity and Unscheduled Downtime: Lead improvement initiatives to reduce downtime and deliver operational savings across facilities.
• Technical Risk Assessment: Lead technical risk assessments for electrical designs and retrofits, including SEOLDS, arc-flash studies, and protective relaying scheme reviews.
• Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA): Lead FMEA activities to support critical troubleshooting and reliability improvements at site locations.
• Low-Cost Country Sourcing: Perform Technical Due Diligence and provide recommendations for Projects involving Equipment sourcing from Low-cost countries.

Leadership

• Talent Management: Attract, develop, and retain talent; lead performance management processes for internal teams.
• Professional Development: Provide guidance and support for talent development of Engineering SMEs.

Requirements Education

• Bachelor of Engineering/Science (Electrical Engineering) from an accredited institution.

Experience

• 15–20 years of experience in an electrical engineering role, including at least five years of leadership experience.
• Prior electrical design engineering experience in one or more of the following (or similar) industries:
• Architectural Engineering firms
• Data centers
• Power generating plants
• Large industrial facilities (Chemical, paper, co-generation or similar industries)
• Experience with MV and HV systems (e.g., switchgear, motor control centers, protective relaying, transformers).
• Demonstrated experience managing technical teams is required.
• Experience across the project execution lifecycle preferred: concept design, construction, commissioning, and start-ups.
• Experience supporting facility operations and/or maintenance is preferred.
• Technical due diligence experience for equipment sourcing from Low-cost countries (e.g. in Asia) will be a plus.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze data and identify trends.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with key stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with minimal direction while providing guidance and support to a technical team of direct and indirect reports.

Certifications (preferred)

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in the United States is highly desired.
• Six Sigma certification (minimum Green Belt) is highly desired.

In addition to salary, this role is eligible for benefits. The benefits would include medical, prescription drug, vision, and dental plans; 401(k) plan; paid parental leave; paid time off; and paid holidays.

Additional details are available at https://www.reworldwaste.com/careers/benefits.

For additional information, refer to the Pay Transparency section below.

All Reworld positions require a candidate's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the role while upholding Reworld's Values, including (but not limited to) contributing to a safe and inclusive workplace, delivering results through trust, and building breakthrough capabilities.

Please note that Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Pay Transparency

Reworld is committed to paying its staff equitably, and we strive to provide competitive compensation and benefits packages. The range below reflects Reworld’s reasonable estimate of base pay for this role based on primary posting location. It is expected that most qualified candidates in this location will fall within the posting range. The final salary offered for this role will be determined based on factors including, but not limited to: experience, education, geographic location, skills and competencies, travel requirements and/or union contracts (if applicable). Pay ranges are reviewed from time to time and may be modified in the future.

The pay range for the primary location of this position is: $157,000.00 - $224,400.00 USD per annum

Reworld provides an industry-leading benefits package that supports the whole person—and their families—through a balanced approach to mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. Regular full-time employees based in the USA have access to comprehensive medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision coverage, FSA, HSA, short- and long-term disability benefits. Our 401(k) plan is industry-leading, with an up to 7% company match. Additional benefits include Company-paid life and AD&DD insurance, EAP, paid parental leave, and educational assistance. For more information regarding these offerings, please visit the Reworld Careers Benefits Page. Reworld reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate any benefit plan, in whole or in part, at any time.

Our DEI Commitment

Reworld is an Equal Opportunity Employer, has developed an Affineative Action Program (AAP), and will not discriminate against any qualified applicants because of race, color, religion, sex