Distribution Designer Lead

Job Summary

A hands-on working lead who carries a personal workload of the most complex design and permitting assignments while owning the design team's technical capability and product quality — the standards the team follows, the quality of every package that leaves the door, and the professional growth of each designer. Reports to the Engineering Lead and serves as the team's technical authority.

Key Responsibilities

Working Design (approx. 60% of time)

• Design the most complex overhead distribution pole structures using pole loading software (DDS, O-Calc Pro, PoleForeman, SPIDAcalc) from field data packages (Katapult Pro or similar), staying current in tools and client standards.
• Perform advanced pole loading and clearance analysis per NESC and client requirements; serve as the team's final authority on code interpretation.
• Develop make ready designs and permit packages for flagship or high-risk projects; resolve the team's escalated permit rejections and contested pole owner comments.

Product Quality (approx. 15% of time)

• Own the team's QC program: define self-QC and peer-review checklists, acceptance criteria, and review workflows; audit outgoing work prints, BOMs, estimates, and permit packages.
• Track first-pass permit approval rates, rework, and rejection trends; root-cause recurring quality issues (field data, training, standards interpretation, tooling) and drive corrective action at the source.
• Act as final quality gate on high-stakes submittals and final technical authority on design disputes.

Team Technical Capability (approx. 15% of time)

• Assess each designer's skills against the Designer I/II/III competency ladder; build individual development plans and recommend promotions.
• Deliver structured training on pole loading software, NESC updates, client standards onboarding, and lessons learned from rejected permits.
• Maintain and improve internal design standards, templates, and reference materials as client requirements evolve; evaluate and lead adoption of new tools and workflows.

Coordination (approx. 10% of time)

• Work with project managers to assign and balance workload across the team against skill levels, development needs, and client turnaround and throughput commitments.
• Coordinate with fielding leadership on data quality standards; interface with client engineering standards teams and represent the design team in kickoff and standards meetings.
• Advise the Project Manager on capacity, hiring needs, and technical risk.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Expert proficiency in multiple pole loading analysis tools (DDS, O-Calc Pro, PoleForeman, SPIDAcalc); DDS experience strongly preferred.
• Mastery of single-phase and three-phase overhead systems, transformers, conductors, framing, and pole configurations.
• Expert command of NESC clearance and strength/loading requirements; strong familiarity with IEEE standards and multiple utilities' construction standards.
• Extensive joint-use/pole attachment permitting experience, including pole owner negotiation and rejected-permit resolution; proficiency with NJUNS or Alden One.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD and GIS tools (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS) preferred.
• Strong understanding of right-of-way and easement considerations.
• Demonstrated mentoring, training, or QC leadership experience; excellent attention to detail and written/verbal communication with clients, pole owners, and internal teams.

Education and Experience

• Associate or bachelor's degree in electrical design, engineering technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7 years in overhead distribution design or make ready engineering, including senior-level and mentoring responsibility.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional