Lead Electrical Engineer

Job Title: Electrical Engineering LeadLocation: Buffalo, NY (with travel to other US project sites)Hire Type: Direct HirePay Range: $125,000 - $150,000Work Model: Hybrid/Travel as neededRecruiter Contact: Samantha Marranca | 716-256-1271 | smarranca@imaginestaffing.netNature & Scope:Positional OverviewThe Electrical Engineering Lead serves as the owner’s technical representative responsible for electrical, instrumentation, and automation oversight across large-scale industrial facility projects and existing plant operations. This role ensures that electrical and controls systems are designed, reviewed, and implemented in alignment with operational reliability, safety standards, scalability, and long-term portfolio growth.This position combines project-based engineering leadership for new facility builds with hands-on support for continuous improvement, reliability enhancements, and control system evolution at an existing manufacturing site. The role is instrumental in establishing standardized electrical and automation architectures that can be replicated across multiple future facilities.Role & Responsibility:Tasks That Will Lead To Your SuccessServe as the owner’s lead reviewer for all electrical engineering, instrumentation, and automation deliverables produced by external engineering partnersReview and approve single-line diagrams, load studies, schematics, instrumentation plans, PLC/SCADA specifications, and control strategies in accordance with NEC, IEEE, NFPA, and operational requirementsGuide detailed engineering efforts related to power distribution, motor controls, automation platforms, and energy-efficient system designEstablish standardized and scalable electrical and controls architectures to support replication across multiple facilitiesLead design reviews and coordinate with engineering partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders to protect project schedule, budget, and performanceOversee technical procurement activities, vendor evaluations, and equipment testing including FAT/SATProvide field leadership during installation, commissioning, startup, and system validationSupport ongoing electrical, controls, and reliability improvements at an existing manufacturing plant including control system upgrades, power quality improvements, instrumentation enhancements, and predictive maintenance integrationDevelop discipline standards, documentation templates, and long-term electrical engineering strategy for multi-site growthPromote safety compliance including arc flash analysis and NFPA 70E standardsContribute to utility assessments and infrastructure planning for future facility expansionSkills & ExperienceQualifications That Will Help You ThriveRequired ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline10+ years of electrical engineering experience supporting industrial or manufacturing projects ($5M+)Strong experience acting in an owner’s representative or oversight capacity with EPC or engineering partnersDeep knowledge of power systems including high, medium, and low voltage distributionExpertise with automation platforms, PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, and drive systemsExperience reviewing and developing electrical designs using tools such as ETAP, AutoCAD Electrical, or RevitStrong stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination skillsWillingness to travel between project sites and operating facilitiesPreferred ExperienceProfessional Engineer (PE) licenseExperience developing standardized electrical and controls solutions for multi-site manufacturing environmentsExperience supporting both new facility construction and existing plant system improvementsKnowledge of arc flash safety, NFPA standards, and electrical compliance best practicesExperience with common industrial automation and drive platforms