Northern Trust

Department Leader & Senior Electrical Project Engineer

Northern Trust • $135K — $160K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering required.
  • 15+ years of electrical systems design experience in a consulting engineering or A/E environment.
  • Experience leading a department, practice, or team.
  • Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
  • Demonstrated leadership on complex healthcare, laboratory, commercial, or institutional projects.
  • Advanced knowledge of California Electrical Code and sustainability standards.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and client-development skills.

Responsibilities

  • Set department direction in line with growth plans and design-quality goals.
  • Manage staffing, performance, hiring, and talent retention within the department.
  • Collaborate on quality and standards across offices and teams.
  • Lead electrical engineering for large, complex projects through all stages.
  • Establish engineering strategies, budgets, staffing, and risk management.
  • Oversee technical compliance, analyses, and construction documentation.
  • Serve as a senior resource for advanced electrical technologies and performance strategies.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to clients during technical presentations and proposals.
  • Provide mentorship to junior staff in electrical engineering and project management.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work culture with industry experts across disciplines.
  • Hybrid work model with three days in the office.
  • Opportunities for professional development and mentorship.
  • Involvement in diverse and impactful projects.
  • Engagement in a company recognized for innovative design and engineering practices.
Full Job Description
Overview

A national, award-winning interdisciplinary architecture and engineering practice is seeking a Department Leader & Senior Electrical Project Engineer in San Francisco. The firm delivers healthcare, laboratory, performing arts, workplace, higher education, government, municipal, and complex infrastructure projects through a highly integrated design model. This hybrid role works in the office three days per week.

Position Description

This senior leadership role combines department strategy, talent development, operational performance, client leadership, and hands-on technical direction. The successful candidate will lead the California electrical group, guide multidisciplinary teams, advance technical excellence and sustainable design, and remain actively engaged in complex project delivery.

Responsibilities
  • Set department direction aligned with practice priorities, growth plans, and design-quality goals.
  • Manage utilization, profitability, staffing, performance, succession, hiring, coaching, and retention.
  • Collaborate with electrical engineering leaders across offices to advance standards, protocols, quality, and knowledge sharing.
  • Lead electrical engineering scope for large, complex projects through planning, design, documentation, and construction.
  • Establish engineering approaches, design strategies, technical direction, schedules, budgets, staffing, and risk-management plans.
  • Oversee analyses, calculations, specifications, construction documentation, coordination, and code compliance.
  • Serve as a senior resource for power distribution, sustainable technologies, resiliency planning, and building performance.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to clients and lead technical presentations, design reviews, pursuits, interviews, and proposals.
  • Mentor electrical engineers, project engineers, EITs, and design professionals.
  • Advance engineering standards, tools, methodologies, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.
  • Provide senior construction-administration support for RFIs, submittals, change requests, field conditions, and complex issue resolution.

Skills & Requirements
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering required.
  • 15+ years of electrical systems design experience in a consulting engineering or A/E environment.
  • Experience leading a department, practice, or team.
  • Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
  • Demonstrated leadership on large, complex healthcare, HCAI/OSHPD, laboratory, commercial, government, municipal, or institutional projects.
  • Advanced knowledge of the California Electrical Code, NFPA standards, HCAI requirements, Title 24, energy codes, sustainability standards, and related regulations.
  • Extensive multidisciplinary project-delivery and complex building-systems experience.
  • Strong leadership, communication, mentoring, client-development, and relationship-management skills.

Join a collaborative practice where architects, engineers, and planners work together from project conception through completion-and where senior leaders can develop people, influence outcomes, and advance the future of electrical engineering. Apply today with your resume.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust is a global leader in delivering innovative investment management, asset and fund administration, and fiduciary and banking solutions to corporations, institutions, and affluent individuals. They have evolved with the changing needs of their clients and their world.

Northern Trust Careers

Joining Northern Trust means becoming part of a global financial services institution that is dedicated to providing expert guidance and innovative solutions to its clients. At Northern Trust, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of leadership, diversity, and innovation, which makes us a premier destination for career growth in the financial industry.

Work You’ll Do

At Northern Trust, you will collaborate with some of the most talented professionals in the financial sector. Our team is committed to excellence and equipped with a diverse range of skills that contribute to our dynamic environment. Here, you will have the opportunity to lead projects that transform our services and drive significant value for our clients across the globe.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you are starting your career or looking to make a significant impact in the financial industry, Northern Trust offers a variety of job opportunities and internships that will help you achieve your professional goals. From entry-level positions to leadership roles, our company is actively hiring individuals who are passionate, curious, and driven to excel.

Innovative Work

Northern Trust is at the forefront of financial innovation. Our employees are encouraged to think creatively and leverage cutting-edge technologies to solve complex problems. By joining our team, you will work on pioneering solutions that redefine the standards of financial services.

Be Part of a Great Team

Our team at Northern Trust is more than just a group of employees – we are a community. We value collaboration, and our culture is built on mutual respect and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Working with us, you will experience a supportive network that is passionate about sharing knowledge and ideas.

Future-Proof Your Career

Northern Trust is dedicated to your professional development. We offer comprehensive benefits, diversity training, and numerous resources to help you grow your career. With our support, you can expand your skills, gain valuable experience, and achieve professional certifications that will enhance your career trajectory.

Stay Connected

Join Our Team

Discover the perfect role for you at Northern Trust by exploring our current job openings that match your skills and interests. We are looking for professionals who are solution-driven and eager to contribute to our legacy of financial excellence.

Keep Up to Date

Stay informed with the latest career tips, industry insights, and professional growth opportunities—all available through our careers blog. At Northern Trust, we ensure that our team members are always ahead in the industry.

Job Alert Emails

Customize your experience by subscribing to job alerts and insider tips tailored to your preferences. At Northern Trust, exciting and rewarding opportunities are always on the horizon, and we are eager to see where your talents can take us. Join Northern Trust today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and a diverse and inclusive workplace. Here, every position is a chance to contribute to something bigger and to turn your job into a meaningful career.
Learn more about Northern Trust
Size
21,100 employees
Market Cap
$18.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1.2 billion
Founded
1889
5 Year Trend
+4.9%
Revenue
$6.1 billion
NASDAQ

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