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Principal Electrical Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

$70K - $100K/yr

Principal Accountabilities * Collaborate with global field support staff over e-mail and conference ... Electrical Engineering from an accredited 4 year institution is required * 1 to 3 years of ...

Senior Electrical Engineer

Chattanooga, TN · On-site +1

$92K - $120K/yr

The Senior Electrical Engineer is responsible for leading and executing complex electrical ... Principal Engineer Location: Chattanooga, TN (preferred) - Remote (U.S.) considered Collaborates ...

Senior Electrical Engineer

Chattanooga, TN · On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

The Senior Electrical Engineer is responsible for leading and executing complex electrical ... Principal Engineer Location: Chattanooga, TN (preferred) - Remote (U.S.) considered Collaborates ...

Senior Electrical Engineer

Alamo, TN · On-site

$101K - $132K/yr

No The Senior Electrical Engineer is responsible for developing, introducing, and applying ... Act as principal investigator or lead a group of engineers investigating problems, developing ...

Senior Electrical Engineer

Alamo, TN · On-site

$101K - $132K/yr

No The Senior Electrical Engineer is responsible for developing, introducing, and applying ... Act as principal investigator or lead a group of engineers investigating problems, developing ...

Principal Project Engineer The Principal Project Engineer will be a project manager for the larger ... Building, Infrastructure, Civil, Utilities, Process, Packaging, Electrical and Construction. * In ...

... Principal Consultants, and Directors of the Power Systems Engineering team * Minimum of 12 hours in Power Systems Engineering Coursework * Minimum of a Bachelors degree in electrical engineering with ...

Responsibilities We are looking for a Principal Engineer who will contribute to and direct the RDMA ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Hardware Engineering or related field.

Solutions Engineer

Chattanooga, TN · On-site

$89K - $165K/yr

Design electrical and mechanical systems including one-line diagrams, interconnects, wire sizing ... Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis.

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Electrical Engineer information

See Tennessee salary details

$89.4K

$140.5K

$186.1K

How much do principal electrical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal electrical engineer in Tennessee is $140,520.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $126,200.00 and $154,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a principal electrical engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during large-scale projects?

As a Principal Electrical Engineer, you will frequently work with multidisciplinary teams including mechanical, civil, and software engineers, as well as project managers and clients. Your role often involves leading technical discussions, providing guidance on electrical design solutions, and ensuring that electrical systems integrate seamlessly with other engineering disciplines. Effective communication and coordination are key, as you may also mentor junior engineers and facilitate design reviews to align project goals. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and ensures that complex projects are delivered efficiently and safely.

What does a principal electrical engineer do?

A principal electrical engineer leads the design, development, and testing of electrical systems and components, often overseeing projects and providing technical guidance. They typically have advanced knowledge of circuit design, power systems, and industry standards, and may hold certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE). Their role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and ensuring compliance with safety and quality regulations.

How much does a principal electrical engineer earn?

A principal electrical engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior-level roles often require advanced skills in circuit design, project management, and relevant certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer).

What is a principal electrical engineer?

A principal electrical engineer serves as a project manager for electrical-related building or construction projects. In this role, your job duties may include designing electrical devices, ensuring proper installation, inspecting completed electrical work, and providing work estimates. You may also supervise a staff of junior engineers, overseeing their work, and ensure that the project is completed within the allotted timeframe and budget. Principal electrical engineers are often the liaison between the engineering team and upper management. You must create reports and communicate regular updates on the status of each project to ensure each stage is meeting deadline expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal electrical engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Electrical Engineer, you need advanced expertise in electrical engineering principles, project management, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Mastery of design software (such as AutoCAD and MATLAB), familiarity with industry standards (like IEEE), and experience with simulation and analysis tools are essential. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills enable effective team management and cross-functional collaboration. These skills ensure successful project delivery, innovation, and compliance with regulatory and safety standards in complex engineering environments.

What is the difference between Principal Electrical Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Electrical EngineerElectrical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; often advanced certifications or extensive experienceBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; entry to mid-level certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, oversee projects, lead teams in industries like manufacturing, power, or electronicsDesign, develop, test electrical systems, often under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large corporations, consulting firms, and project leadership rolesCommon in engineering firms, manufacturing, and construction projects

The Principal Electrical Engineer typically holds more experience, leadership responsibilities, and advanced certifications compared to an Electrical Engineer. They focus on project oversight, strategic planning, and team leadership, while Electrical Engineers are more involved in technical design and development tasks.

What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Principal Electrical Engineer jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Principal Electrical Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Electrical Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,520 per year, or $67.6 per hour.

Electrical Subject Matter Expert - Principal Engineer

Dewberry

Nashville, TN • On-site

$134K - $164K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Dewberry rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Electrical Subject Matter Expert/Principal Engineer

 

Step into a pivotal role at Dewberry - where your expertise will drive groundbreaking design solutions for a sustainable tomorrow!

  

Dewberry’s Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Structural (MEPS) team includes many offices & staff organized into a MEPS service line focused on nationwide clients in specialized facility types and specialized MEPS design services. Our experience includes high-performance buildings, hospitals, net zero/renewable energy technologies, microgrid and energy resilience design, and a broad set of other MEPS services. Our service line contains subject matter experts (SME), many of whom are in leadership roles in international professional organizations.  Our repeat clients include universities, healthcare systems, state, local, and federal government agencies, and large global industrial manufacturers, among others. Our service line is currently ranked #35 nationally among MEP Giants.

Key Required Skills:
  • Accomplished electrical engineer/PE with 20+ years of progressive technical experience in the design of electrical systems, infrastructure and renewable energy technologies. 

Because our backlog continues to grow and energy market transformation is accelerating demand for our engineering expertise, we are seeking an Electrical SME/Principal Engineer to join our Nashville, TN office. As an Electrical SME/Principal Engineer, you will be responsible for providing operational and technical guidance and training/mentoring of our design resources in all areas of work we do associated with Electrical engineering.

Additional areas of focus in this role:

  • Assist both the Business Unit Manager and the overall MEPS Service Line Leader in the development and implementation of growth strategies. 
  • Assist Project/Client Managers by providing technical guidance to help meet the client’s desires and budget.
  • Work with a team of engineers on a variety of private, public, and federal projects.
  • In addition to working with electrical engineers, you will team with architectural, mechanical, structural, and other disciplines to provide full-range services to our local, regional, and national clients.  In short, you will provide business leadership and technical guidance associated with electrical engineering to accomplish our project commitments and growth objectives. This role reports to the MEPS Service Line Chief Engineer.

The Electrical SME/Principal Engineer will be responsible for growing, mentoring, and developing the electrical staff in a way that allows each individual and our collective MEPS team to achieve maximum potential. More specifically:

  • Technical Management: Ensure Electrical discipline managers are providing timely and adequate guidance and quality oversight, including code review, of all project work involving electrical engineering.
  • Technical interface with code officials and contractors.
  • Technical training and development of staff related to electrical engineering.
  • Engineer of Record on select projects as needed.
  • Staff Development Oversight: Ensure Electrical discipline managers are providing adequate technical training and development of staff by providing guidance and mentoring of managers.
  • Standards Development Oversight: Ensure Electrical discipline managers are establishing and improving standards, practices, guidelines, and specifications for their Electrical discipline area.  Principals shall lead the development of their office Electrical standards and coordinate those standards through the Chief Engineer across offices.
  • Quality Management: Ensure Electrical discipline managers are consistently applying and complying with corporate quality management processes and procedures.
  • Active member/leader of local and national technical organizations; present at conferences – industry thought leader.
  • Recruitment and development of technical staff and project managers to deliver on project commitments.
  • Provide “on-the-spot” advice and decisions – technical and cost estimates.  The principal engineer is the top electrical engineer in an office.
  • Consultation with clients related to their project goals, design concepts and solutions, and project economics.
  • Evaluation of project opportunities and Go/No Go determination based on technical qualifications, staff availability, and alignment with business strategy and portfolio.
  • Coordinates with client/project managers and department managers within an office to resolve Electrical engineering conflicts.
  • Consultation with senior leadership on development and implementation of growth strategies.
  • Office Organizational Management: Assist the Office/Business Unit Manager to ensure successful office operations, including advice on staff organizational structure and office procedures.
  • Office Operations: Supervise all Electrical discipline managers within an office or business unit for successful intra-office operations, by actively helping those department managers that report to you smoothly run their departments
  • Service Line Operations: Assist the Chief Engineer in leading MEPS Service Line’s Electrical community of practice to ensure successful inter-office electrical operations, by actively participating in the community of practice events and performing delegated tasks from the Chief.

  • Accomplished electrical engineer/PE with 20+ years of progressive technical experience in the design of electrical systems, infrastructure and renewable energy technologies.
  • Experience should include technical oversight of multiple projects with proven success in meeting contract specifications and achieving high performance and growth of a team.
  • Self-motivated with highly developed verbal, written and interpersonal skills.  

Do not meet every single requirement? At Dewberry we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for our employees. So, if you are excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

 

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

Notice to Third Party Recruiters:  Dewberry only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid Dewberry-approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Dewberry does not compensate third party recruiters for unsolicited job placement candidate information.

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