Lead Electrical Commissioning Engineer -- Steel Mill Startup

Job Description

Job Description

Build, Energize, and Launch a New Steel Mill

Step into a senior electrical role on a greenfield steel mill in Apple Grove, West Virginia. As the site moves from construction and equipment installation into commissioning and full production, you will be the go-to technical leader guiding power systems, controls, and automation through checkout, energization, and startup.

A day in the field

Morning walkdowns with contractors. Midday reviews of single-line diagrams and vendor submittals. Afternoon functional tests, loop checks, and energizations with operations and maintenance at your side. Along the way, you’ll troubleshoot equipment and integration issues, drive punch-list closure, and make practical decisions that keep schedule and safety on track.

What you will own

• Lead installation support, testing, commissioning, and startup of electrical and production systems.
• Oversee high- and low-voltage power distribution across substations, switchgear, transformers, MCCs, and motors.
• Diagnose issues across electrical, controls, instrumentation, and OEM interfaces during commissioning.
• Scrutinize electrical drawings, single-lines, schematics, specs, cable schedules, and vendor documentation.
• Coordinate electrical contractors, equipment suppliers, OEMs, and systems integrators to align scope and schedule.
• Support PLC-controlled equipment, VFDs, motor controls, instrumentation, and Level 1 automation systems.
• Confirm installations meet drawings, specifications, codes, and site standards prior to energization.
• Conduct equipment checkout, loop checks, functional testing, energization, startup, and operational turnover.
• Identify field clashes early and drive practical resolutions to maintain construction and commissioning momentum.
• Contribute to punch-list creation, issue tracking, documentation, and final acceptance.
• Partner with operations and maintenance to ensure safety, reliability, and maintainability.
• Mentor entry-level and early-career engineers, modeling sound engineering judgment.
• Champion safe work practices throughout construction, commissioning, and startup.

Who you are

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or closely related field).
• 10+ years of experience in steel, metals, manufacturing, or comparable heavy industry.
• Deep knowledge of industrial high- and low-voltage distribution systems.
• Comfortable with MCCs, motors, VFDs, motor controls, PLCs, instrumentation, and industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with installation support, commissioning, startup, and field troubleshooting.
• Fluent in interpreting drawings, specs, schematics, and vendor submittals.
• Proven ability to coordinate contractors, OEMs, consultants, and systems integrators.
• Decisive, independent field decision-maker with strong communication and leadership skills.
• On-site presence in Apple Grove, West Virginia.

What this role is not

This is not a pure PLC programming job. Success here requires a broad blend of industrial power, controls, automation, project execution, and commissioning expertise.

Ideal profile

You move effortlessly between reviewing drawings in the office and solving problems on the deck plate. You balance power distribution, controls, instrumentation, automation, contractor coordination, and commissioning—all while keeping safety, schedule, quality, and reliability front and center. You’ll be a senior technical pillar for a growing team, guiding critical systems from installation through startup and turnover.

Core proficiencies

• Project Management
• Industrial Electrical Experience