Project Manager

TD Thornton

TD Thornton is a premier consulting firm specializing in project management and project controls solutions. We provide strong onboarding and ongoing support to help our people succeed. We welcome applicants from engineering, construction management, project management, business analytics, scheduling, and anyone who thrives in a collaborative environment.
Job Overview

Title: Project Manager
Sector: Transmission & Substation
Seniority: Mid-Senior
Location: Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Hybrid

As a Project Manager, you will lead the planning, engineering, construction, and commissioning of high-voltage transmission and substation capital projects across California. Working as an owner's representative, you will oversee projects from initial scope development through energization and closeout, ensuring they are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with utility standards.

This role requires experience managing electric utility infrastructure projects, coordinating engineering and construction teams, and driving project execution across multiple stakeholders. You'll play a key role in delivering critical transmission and substation improvements that enhance grid reliability and support long-term infrastructure investment.
Your Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead the execution of transmission line, substation, switchyard, and high-voltage utility infrastructure projects ranging from approximately $500K-$25M.
• Manage projects through the full lifecycle, including planning, engineering, permitting, procurement, construction, commissioning, energization, and project closeout.
• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules, identifying critical path activities, dependencies, and project milestones.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cash flow, and cost performance while identifying risks and implementing corrective actions.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including engineering, environmental, real estate, construction management, project controls, and field operations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and utility partners.
• Lead project meetings and communicate schedule, budget, risk, and status updates to senior leadership.
• Review engineering deliverables, construction progress, change orders, contracts, and contractor performance.
• Support permitting activities, environmental compliance, land rights, and agency coordination as needed.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain safe, reliable project execution.
• Mentor junior project managers and support continuous improvement initiatives across the project organization.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of project management experience supporting electric utility transmission and/or substation capital projects.
• Experience managing projects involving high-voltage substations, transmission lines, switchyards, or other T&D infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of utility project lifecycle management, including engineering, construction, commissioning, and energization.
• Experience developing and managing detailed project schedules.
• Working knowledge of project budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, and integrated schedule management.
• Experience managing contractors, engineering consultants, and multiple project stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to provide updates to senior leadership.
• Proven experience managing projects from initiation through closeout.

You'll Stand Out If You Have

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience working as an Owner's Representative on utility capital projects.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, SAP, or similar project controls tools.
• Familiarity with transmission planning, relay protection, substation equipment, commissioning, and energization activities.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

Compensation & Benefits

• $130,000-$165,000 annual salary
• Paid holiday, sick, and vacation time
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Annual Bonus
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)