Electrical Design Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Electrical Design Manager is responsible for leading and growing the electrical engineering and design department while overseeing the design, coordination, and execution of electrical systems for multifamily, mixed-use, student housing, senior living, hospitality, and commercial construction projects. This role provides both technical and operational leadership, ensuring high-quality design deliverables while maintaining close collaboration with preconstruction, project management, VDC, and field operations teams.

The ideal candidate is a licensed Professional Engineer with a strong background in design-build electrical engineering and experience leading electrical design teams in a fast-paced construction environment. This position offers the opportunity to build and scale an electrical engineering division while playing a key leadership role in a growing MEP organization.

• Lead and manage the electrical engineering and design department, including staffing, workload planning, mentoring, and professional development.
• Oversee the design and engineering of electrical power distribution, lighting, low-voltage, emergency power, fire alarm, and building systems for commercial and residential construction projects.
• Provide technical leadership throughout project lifecycles from conceptual design through construction support and project closeout.
• Collaborate closely with project management, estimating, preconstruction, VDC, and field operations teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Review and approve electrical calculations, drawings, specifications, BIM models, and engineering deliverables.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, quality control procedures, and design best practices.
• Participate in design-build pursuits, conceptual budgeting, value engineering, and constructability reviews.
• Coordinate electrical designs with mechanical, plumbing, structural, architectural, and fire protection disciplines.
• Support field operations by resolving design issues, reviewing RFIs, and assisting with installation challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on design efficiency, standardization, and innovation.
• Ensure all electrical designs comply with applicable codes, utility requirements, energy regulations, and industry standards.
• Develop strong relationships with developers, architects, consultants, utility providers, and project stakeholders.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering talent to support continued departmental growth.

• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license required. Electrical PE strongly preferred.
• Mechanical PE with significant electrical design leadership experience will also be considered.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field required.
• 8+ years of electrical engineering and design experience.
• 3–5+ years of leadership experience managing electrical design or engineering teams.
• Proven experience leading design teams within a design-build contractor, MEP contractor, or EPC environment.
• Strong experience designing electrical systems for multifamily residential developments.
• Experience with mixed-use, student housing, senior living, hospitality, and commercial projects preferred.
• Strong understanding of California Electrical Code, Title 24 requirements, utility coordination, and electrical design standards.
• Experience coordinating directly with construction operations and field personnel.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and team-building skills.

• Extensive experience supporting large-scale multifamily and residential developments throughout California.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Navisworks, and BIM coordination platforms.
• Experience designing power distribution systems, lighting systems, emergency power systems, EV infrastructure, fire alarm systems, and low-voltage systems.
• Familiarity with utility coordination, service sizing, load calculations, and electrical system studies.
• Experience supporting prefabrication, modular construction, and design-build delivery methods.
• Strong understanding of project budgeting, scheduling, and preconstruction processes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary coordination meetings and constructability reviews.