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Principal Electrical Engineer - Power & Utilities

Burns Engineering, Inc.
Philadelphia, PA Full Time
POSTED ON 9/17/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/20/2026
About Burns

Burns Engineering provides professional engineering design and project management services for transportation, facilities, and infrastructure projects. We help our clients attain their strategic goals and initiatives through successful large-scale infrastructure projects. Burns’ full-service capabilities include mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation, and energy consulting engineering.

Recently voted a Top Workplace by Philly.com, we credit our strength as an organization to our talented, driven, vibrant team. Burns is an ENR Top 500 Firm, and has been named an MEP Giant by Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine, as well as a Hot Firm by Zweig. We are industry experts, proven leaders, innovative thinkers, and team players. We put our clients’ successes and best interests first, because their success is our success. We have fun at work because we love making a difference in the world. We are looking for high-energy, bright, collaborative individuals who want the opportunity to “write their own story” with us.

We are currently seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to join our Power & Utilities Team in Austin, TX or Philadelphia, PA.

Position Summary

The incumbent performs technical oversight of identified engineering projects within a specific specialization or market sector with high levels of complexity. Formulates and guides the attempt to solve problems consisting of a high level of difficulty and marked importance to the organization. They may be responsible for the development of a niche technical service. Is aware of the Company’s goals and uses this knowledge to identify ways to advance the Company’s ability to produce successful projects. Their primary focus may be inclusive of high-profile clients or projects.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

  • Coordinate project work with all engineering staff and consultants.
  • Troubleshoot and provide design and/or construction solutions.
  • Applies advanced engineering techniques and analyses.
  • Utilize thorough knowledge of current technology to select and apply appropriate engineering software for use on projects.
  • Perform complex engineering tasks and particularly important engineering work efficiently and accurately.
  • Assist in recruiting, retaining and developing top industry talent.
  • Establish and maintain cooperative and productive relationships with all employees, clients, and other stakeholders.
  • Individual investigations into complex technical problems.
  • Quality control through project review at various stages throughout project design.
  • Provides subject matter expertise to company clients on technical issues.
  • Represents firm at technical conferences.
  • Represents firm at client meetings.
  • Assists in the performance management process by providing feedback to the Project Manager for performance evaluations.
  • Works with the Project Manager to determine technical staffing needs for the group.
  • Assures financial and technical project success and maintains a high level of client satisfaction

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • Informal task supervision of CAD Operators, Designers, Junior Associates, Engineers, Engineer IIs, Senior Engineers, and Principal Engineers at the direction of the Project Manager.

Key Requirements/Qualifications

  • Bachelor's (BS) Degree in Electrical Engineering
  • A minimum 15 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Substation and power experience; P&C experience is a plus; electrical system modeling
  • PE is required at this level.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities: This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

California Privacy Notice: If you are a California resident, please review our California Applicant Privacy Notice to learn how we collect, use, and disclose personal information during the recruiting process: click here

Salary.com Estimation for Principal Electrical Engineer - Power & Utilities in Philadelphia, PA
$118,932 to $139,406
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