Utility Operations Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

Wunderlich-Malec’s Electrical Testing Group (ETG) is expanding — and we’re seeking an entrepreneurial Operations Manager to lead our newest regional location from the ground up. This position combines operational leadership with entrepreneurial drive — serving as both Integrator and Builder of a new ETG Business Unit. You’ll take ownership of day-to-day execution, lead a growing technical team, manage P&L objectives, and work side-by-side with ETG leadership to bring our proven business model to a new region. This is a rare opportunity to see a business evolve from Infancy → Growth → Maturity — with your leadership at the center of that transformation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Operational Leadership & Execution

• Faithfully execute the ETG business plan — achieving or exceeding P&L, revenue, and performance goals
• Lead all regional operations including scheduling, resource planning, quality assurance, safety, and project delivery
• Implement and maintain ETG’s operating systems, testing standards, and documentation processes
• Manage field operations for protective relaying, SCADA, and IEC 61850 systems commissioning
• Ensure alignment between technical execution and business objectives — balancing efficiency, quality, and profitability

2. Integration & Team Alignment

• Integrate all major functions of the local ETG operation — ensuring everyone is rowing in the same direction
• Lead, manage, and hold team members accountable for results and commitments
• Build and nurture a healthy, functional, and cohesive leadership team under the EOS framework
• Resolve issues effectively: identify root causes, address conflict constructively, and drive solutions to completion

3. Business Unit Development

• Build the BU from the ground up — recruiting, training, and developing a skilled team of field engineers and technicians
• Establish vendor partnerships and client relationships within the region
• Drive growth through operational excellence, local market development, and client satisfaction
• Create and maintain structure and process as the BU transitions from startup to sustainable operation

4. Vision & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the ETG Visionary and National Leadership Team to ensure clear direction and alignment
• Translate vision into actionable, measurable goals
• Maintain a strong, respectful partnership with ETG leadership — ensuring ideas are filtered, prioritized, and implemented effectively
• Ensure that key messages and decisions are properly cascaded across the team so that everyone is informed, aligned, and focused

5. Systems, Structure, and Process

• Operate within ETG’s EOS framework: own the scorecard, lead local L10s, and manage to defined KPIs
• Ensure consistency in how core processes are followed, documented, and improved
• Demonstrate strong project management discipline and operational consistency
• Uphold ETG’s values of safety, integrity, quality, and innovation in every aspect of operations

What Success Looks Like
First 6–12 Months

• Establish the foundation: hire key staff, build client relationships, deliver first projects successfully, and drive the BU toward break-even

12–24 Months

• Transition into the Growth Phase: solid team structure, sustainable backlog, and strong client confidence
• Local L10s running consistently, scorecard metrics trending upward, and P&L tracking toward profitability by month 12

Beyond 24 Months

• The BU is Mature: operating as a profitable, independently functioning unit within the national ETG network, recognized for its technical quality and reliability

Qualifications

• 7+ years in power systems testing, commissioning, or utility operations
• Proven leadership experience managing people, budgets, and project delivery
• Strong understanding of protective relaying, automation, and SCADA systems
• Entrepreneurial mindset — thrives in building structure from scratch
• Excellent communication, organization, and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience with EOS or similar operating systems preferred
• Willingness to travel regionally and work in a dynamic field environment

Why This Role is Exciting
You’ll lead one of the most exciting phases of ETG’s national expansion — bringing our brand of technical excellence and culture of accountability to a new region. You’ll have the chance to build a business with your own imprint while being part of a nationwide team of leaders doing the same.
This role offers the energy of a startup with the stability and support of a 40-year engineering powerhouse — and the satisfaction of watching a blank slate become a thriving, mature operation under your leadership.

*Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job.  They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Wunderlich-Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee-owner benefit package. Full-time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: Medical • Dental • Vision • Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D • Long Term Disability • Voluntary Short Term Disability • Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account • Paid Time Off (PTO) • Paid Holidays • Tuition Reimbursement • Referral Bonus Program • 401(k)/Profit Sharing • 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) • Employee Assistance Program • Will Preparation Resources • Worldwide Travel Assistance 

Salary Range The expected salary range is $160,000 - $190,000 annually depending on qualifications plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.

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