Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Principal I&C Design Engineer

Pay: $80/hr - $85/hr

Location: Aiken, SC (100% On-site)

Contract: 1-year base with two (2) 1-year option periods

Work Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 6:45 AM–5:15 PM EST

Clearance: DOE “Q” required

About the Role

We are recruiting on behalf of a federal client supporting Savannah River Site for two (2) Principal Engineers (I&C Design Engineer). This role provides design engineering staff augmentation support, defining the scope of technical programs and developing effective, quality solutions to challenges involving unique or complex problems.

Primary responsibilities include engineering analysis, walkdowns, design development, and the generation of design output documents — including P&IDs, control logics, loop diagrams, instrument indices, setpoint lists, instrument and control valve specifications, DCS and PLC design, instrument location and installation design, panel layouts, and vendor document review. Engineering services are provided using site processes and procedures, with programmatic guidance provided on-site.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the scope of technical programs and develop effective, quality, cost-effective solutions to complex problems involving unique or controversial issues.
• Apply technical experience in a field of specialization, or broad-based experience across multiple technical fields, to resolve complex problems.
• Incorporate advanced technical practices and complex features — including complicated technical requirements, new or special materials and processes, and difficult coordination or oversight requirements — into problem solving and program planning.
• Provide leadership in determining solutions to complex problems and serve as a recognized expert within a functional area of technical expertise.
• Provide direction and position responsibility, inside and outside department lines, on programs seeking new approaches and new applications of existing engineering or scientific principles.
• Evaluate program results and prepare reports and recommendations based on those evaluations.
• Identify and recommend improvements where established technology and methodology are inadequate.
• Prepare plans, schedules, budgets, and personnel requirements for assigned technical tasks; monitor progress, expenditures, and quality of work performed.
• Communicate results and objectives verbally and in written form to customers, colleagues, and management; occasionally prepare reports for external publication.
• Provide quality guidance and assistance to less senior professionals on related tasks.

Required Education & Experience

Ph.D. degree in an applicable science or engineering discipline and 5 years of experience; OR an MS with 8 years of experience; OR a BS with 10 years of experience or more. The degree must be in one of the following disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or I&C Engineering — or current registration as a Professional Engineer in one of the above disciplines.

Top Skills & Requirements

• Candidate must demonstrate ten (10) years of direct I&C design experience (within the last 15 years) in the nuclear or process chemical industry.
• Candidate must demonstrate design experience with process control instrumentation, PLCs, and distributed control systems.
• Proficiency in using MicroStation 2D Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) software is required.
• Candidate must be able to perform weekly field walkdowns of the job site for the engineering work being performed. These walkdowns may involve construction sites with uneven surfaces and work in progress, walking distances of over half a mile, climbing ladders to access remote areas, and dressing out in protective clothing.

Security Clearance

A DOE “Q” clearance is required for this position. The candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE “Q” security clearance. An active DOE clearance is not initially required to perform assigned duties; after award, the selected candidate will be notified when to apply for a clearance based on specific work assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates who have possessed an active DOE clearance (L or Q) within the past two (2) years are preferred.

Contract Details

Duration: 1-year base contract with the option to extend for two (2) additional 1-year option periods. Option periods are not guaranteed and are executed at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Estimated Hours: 2,080 straight time 800 overtime per year.

Work Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 6:45 AM–5:15 PM EST.

Travel

Travel may be required and, when applicable, is reimbursed per the terms of the applicable travel compensation schedule.

Interview Process

Interviews are conducted via telephone call.

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

We strive to provide careers, not just jobs, for our employees. We invest in and serve the communities where we work and live. We provide best-in-class administrative, professional, and technical services to solve complex problems to meet customer mission-critical objectives.

For over 30 years, Compa has been a trusted partner in progress. We combine decades of technical expertise with a forward-thinking spirit, tackling intricate challenges in nuclear facilities alongside the brightest minds in science and engineering. Join us, and don’t just build your career, build the future, with competitive compensation, a collaborative culture, and the chance to make a real difference for national security and beyond.

COMPA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected status.