Senior Electrical Engineer / PE
Building & Federal Power Systems | Irvine, CA
Are you an Electrical PE who wants to stay hands-on technically rather than move into a purely managerial role?
Were supporting a growing multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firm seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer / PE to take technical ownership of sophisticated building and infrastructure projects. This is an opportunity to work on electrical systems that go well beyond routine commercial design, including medium-voltage distribution, 12kV systems, switchgear, generators, utility coordination, and complex federal/public facilities.
The ideal engineer can take a project from the initial site investigation through calculations, system design, construction documents, multidisciplinary coordination, and construction administration.
What You'll Work On
Youll support a diverse portfolio of federal, military, public-sector, institutional, industrial, and complex facility projects, with opportunities to work on electrical systems that present genuinely different technical challenges.
Responsibilities include:
- Design building and site electrical power-distribution systems
- Perform electrical calculations and technical analysis
- Design and evaluate medium-voltage and 12kV distribution systems
- Specify and coordinate transformers, switchgear, generators, and associated electrical equipment
- Develop one-lines, drawings, specifications, and construction documents
- Perform site investigations and evaluate existing electrical conditions
- Support utility coordination and electrical service design
- Review electrical calculations, drawings, and specifications for technical accuracy and constructability
- Coordinate closely with architectural, mechanical, structural, and civil disciplines
- Interface with consultants and contractors throughout project delivery
- Provide construction administration and field support
- Mentor less-experienced engineers and designers while remaining an active technical contributor
What We're Looking ForRequired
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
- Active Professional Engineer (PE) license
- California PE or ability to obtain California reciprocity within approximately 6 months
- Strong consulting/AEC electrical engineering background
- Hands-on experience designing building and facility electrical systems
- Strong knowledge of power distribution and electrical calculations
- Ability to independently make and defend technical design decisions
- Experience developing construction documents and specifications
- AutoCAD/CADD proficiency
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary designs
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- U.S. citizenship and ability to meet access/ background requirements associated with military facilities
Highly Valued Experience
You do not need every item below, but several would make you especially competitive:
- Federal or DoD facilities
- NAVFAC or USACE projects
- Public-sector/institutional projects
- 12kV / medium-voltage distribution
- Utility-to-building or campus power distribution
- Switchgear and transformers
- Emergency/standby generators
- SKM Power*Tools or comparable electrical-analysis software
- Load flow, short-circuit, coordination, or arc-flash studies
- Revit
- Industrial facilities
- Healthcare, laboratory, infrastructure, or other technically demanding facilities
- Construction administration and field experience
The Profile We're Really Looking For
Years of experience matter, but technical depth matters more.
We're particularly interested in engineers who can confidently explain:
How did power get from the incoming utility service through transformers and switchgear to the final building distribution, and what did you personally calculate, size, select, and design?
This is not a drafting-only or BIM-production position.
We want an engineer who understands the engineering behind the drawings and can independently work through complex power-system decisions.
Senior engineers with approximately 1020+ years of relevant experience may be considered depending on project diversity, technical depth, and level of responsibility.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Interesting technical work
You'll have exposure to federal and specialized facilities where the electrical requirements can be substantially more complex than conventional office, retail, or residential projects.
Real ownership
This role goes beyond production. You'll participate in investigations, calculations, system decisions, documentation, coordination, constructability, and construction support.
Stay technical
If you're a Senior PE who still enjoys engineering but doesn't want your career to become purely administrative, this role offers the opportunity to remain close to the design.
Variety
The project portfolio spans multiple facility and client types, giving you the opportunity to solve different engineering problems rather than repeatedly designing the same building systems.
Collaborative environment
You'll work directly alongside architecture, mechanical, structural, and civil professionals in a smaller, highly collaborative engineering environment.
Work Environment
- Location: Irvine, CA
- Primarily onsite during the initial onboarding period
- Potential hybrid flexibility after approximately 90 days
- Flexible office environment
- Occasional field/site investigations
- Multidisciplinary AEC project teams
Compensation
$62.50 to $76.92/hour, depending on experience, licensure, technical background , and overall fit.
Candidates with particularly strong federal, medium-voltage, or complex-facility experience are encouraged to apply.
Interview Process
The process is intentionally streamlined, with a one-step Teams interview focused primarily on your actual project experience and technical responsibilities.
Come prepared to discuss:
- A project you personally owned or significantly designed
- Your experience with building power distribution
- Medium-voltage or 12kV systems
- SKM or comparable electrical-analysis tools
- Electrical calculations and equipment selection
- Government, federal, public, or complex commercial/industrial projects
- Your actual level of AutoCAD/Revit involvement
- How you've supported projects through construction
Interested in doing more than marking up someone else's electrical drawings?Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Irvine, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $62.50 - $76.92/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Irvine, CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Irvine,CA.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
