Design QA/QC Lead

(Note: Must be US Citizen)

Design QA/QC Lead

Location: Detroit, MI

Position Summary

The Design QA/QC Lead – Overhead Distribution will serve as an independent technical reviewer for overhead distribution and conversion design packages. The role will perform structured 30%, 60%, and 90% design reviews to ensure designs meet utility standards, are constructible, accurate, and ready for scheduling and construction.

The position will also engage during the 0–30% design phase to help establish project scope and design criteria. This is an individual contributor role with no supervisory responsibility and reports to the QA/QC Engineering Supervisor.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform independent 30%, 60%, and 90% design reviews of overhead distribution and conversion work packages.
• Review designs for compliance with utility standards, construction details, and applicable engineering requirements.
• Verify conductor sizing, ampacity, clearances, grounding, pole class/loading, and armless vs. crossarm construction.
• Review 4.8kV to 13.2kV conversion designs, including insulation levels, arresters, cutouts, and related secondary impacts.
• Evaluate constructability, safety, tree trimming requirements, joint-use coordination, top-cut sequencing, and construction list completeness.
• Conduct field visits when required to verify existing conditions and design accuracy.
• Identify and document standards exceptions, deviations, RFIs, and design deficiencies.
• Track review findings and ensure issues are properly routed and resolved.
• Identify recurring design defects and contribute to lessons learned, checklist improvements, and reviewer training.
• Provide feedback on design service provider quality, accuracy, completeness, and rework.
• Support validation and refinement of AI-assisted design review tools.

Technical Review Areas

Candidates should be comfortable reviewing:

• Conductor loading, ampacity, and approved conductor sizes
• Voltage drop and voltage regulation
• Transformer sizing and loading
• Fuse sizing and coordination
• Vertical and horizontal clearances
• Pole loading, wind/ice loading, and pole class requirements
• Grounding and neutral continuity
• 4.8kV to 13.2kV conversion requirements
• Standards exceptions and non-standard designs
• Armless vs. crossarm construction
• Span length and sag/tension tables
• Construction and material list accuracy
• Stakeholder and permit review requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related discipline.
• Senior: 6 years of relevant experience in overhead distribution design, engineering, or construction.
• Advanced: 8 years of relevant experience with independent technical review or design QA/QC experience.
• Strong knowledge of overhead utility distribution design and engineering practices.
• Ability to independently evaluate design adequacy, not just perform checklist-based reviews.
• Strong documentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple design packages and review cycles independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with utility overhead distribution standards such as DDO or equivalent.
• Experience with 4.8kV to 13.2kV voltage conversion projects.
• Experience with 30/60/90% design review processes.
• Experience with sag/tension or pole loading analysis.
• Experience with Maximo, Documentum, and Bluebeam.
• Experience managing standards exceptions and deviations.
• PE license preferred but not required.