Discipline Lead / Group Manager, Airfield Lighting & Power Distribution

Job Description

Job Description

Our employee-owned and integrated team of multi-discipline engineering and design professionals has an exciting opportunity available for a senior electrical engineer who combines deep technical expertise in airport and airfield electrical infrastructure with a passion for guiding and developing a collective team of experts and emerging professionals and a desire to lead the growth of our aviation electrical services.

As a Group Manager (GM), your primary responsibility will be to coach, mentor, and develop a talented group of electrical engineers, designers, and technicians. With insight on our strategic and annual business plan, you will outline development plans that further each team member’s professional growth and align with business needs to advance our capabilities in airfield lighting, NAVAIDs, airport power distribution, controls, communications, security systems, and related aviation infrastructure. Through recurring discussions, you will coach on electrical design practices and standards, provide guidance on complex design challenges, assist in navigating coordination with Civil, Mechanical, Structural, and Architectural disciplines, and encourage team members to take on more autonomous responsibilities and stretch assignments. 

Additionally, you will assess team capabilities and capacity against project scope and delivery commitments to assemble project teams, delegate electrical design tasks, review work in accordance with applicable codes, standards, FAA requirements, and QA/QC processes, and oversee deliverable progress in relation to submittal schedules. You will guide the preparation of engineering calculations, technical reports, plans, specifications, and construction cost estimates and support construction administration through responses to contractor questions, submittal reviews, and site observations or inspections. In alignment with current practices and emerging trends, you will also identify, advocate for, develop, and expand the collective team’s capabilities in airport and airfield lighting, signage, series circuits, NAVAIDs, electrical vaults and controls, power distribution, standby generation, uninterruptible power supplies, communications, security, and related systems.

In collaboration with other group managers and aviation leaders, you will be responsible for advancing our aviation electrical services and enhancing our reputation by contributing to client engagement and development plans, cultivating and maintaining relationships with airport owners, aviation stakeholders, and agency partners, tracking prospective opportunities, leading proposals, and delivering qualifications presentations. In addition, you will partner with representatives throughout TKDA to outline and implement market development strategies that generate or enhance awareness of our airfield lighting, power distribution, controls, NAVAIDs, communications, and related electrical capabilities across current, emerging, and target locations regionally and nationally.

From a design capacity, you will be recognized as a technical expert and will provide guidance and insight to project teams and project managers throughout the full project lifecycle—from planning and concept development through final design and construction. Your technical oversight will encompass electrical systems supporting commercial and general aviation facilities, including airfield lighting and signage, NAVAIDs, power distribution, control systems, emergency and standby generation, electrical vaults, communications, security, and associated infrastructure. As necessary and applicable, you will assume project manager responsibilities for strategic and high-profile projects. You will also assist with project pursuits by defining electrical scope, evaluating team capabilities and capacity, developing fee estimates and delivery approaches, and participating in qualifications presentations and project interviews. Work Arrangement

For this opportunity we are seeking a qualified professional who resides within a regular commuting distance of our MSP / Bloomington, MN location. TKDA provides employees with flexible hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote) work arrangements; however, given the design-build nature of project assignments combined with seasonal construction schedules, this position may be required to work from the office and/or on-site at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport 5 days per week from April 1 - November 15. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in one or more states, with ten or more years of progressive experience in electrical engineering design and project leadership.
• Extensive experience designing power, lighting, control, communications, and signal systems for airport, commercial, industrial, institutional, utility, or transportation facilities, with demonstrated ability to apply that expertise to aviation infrastructure.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of airport and airfield electrical systems, including airfield lighting and signage, series circuits, NAVAIDs, electrical vaults and controls, power distribution, standby generators, uninterruptible power supplies, communications, and security systems.
• Experience with the layout and design of electrical distribution equipment and systems, including panelboards, transformers, one-line diagrams, emergency power, lighting, fire alarm, security, data, and associated conduit and cable systems; experience with 208/120-volt and 480/277-volt systems.
• Thorough knowledge of the National Electrical Code and the ability to interpret and apply applicable FAA Advisory Circulars, Unified Facilities Criteria, and other airport or airfield design requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, and Microsoft Office applications; experience using applicable electrical engineering calculation and design tools.
• Demonstrated ability to lead electrical and multi-discipline project teams, coordinate effectively with Civil, Mechanical, Structural, and Architectural professionals, and deliver calculations, reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents.
• Experience performing construction administration and inspection or observation duties, including interpreting plans and specifications, reviewing submittals, responding to contractor questions, documenting field conditions, and verifying conformance with project requirements.
• Prior experience engaging in business development activities, including defining electrical scope for proposals, preparing fee estimates, cultivating client relationships, tracking opportunities, and facilitating or leading capabilities and qualifications presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop a team of electrical professionals consisting of registered engineers, emerging engineers, designers, and technicians with varying competencies, knowledge, qualifications, and experience.
• Superior focus on quality demonstrated by adherence to design requirements, implementation of thorough quality review measures, and continuous evaluation of practices to improve technical accuracy and project delivery.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting and advancing a culture of safety excellence that emphasizes employee training, project and site risk assessment and mitigation, and strict adherence to internal and external safety policies, requirements, and regulations.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical specifications and reports and lead project team meetings and client consultations.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed for team meetings, client consultations, site inspections, business and market development activities, professional conferences, and visits to TKDA office locations; must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Advantageous Qualifications

• Professional registration in multiple states.
• Active participation in professional activities, societies, and organizations associated with aviation or electrical engineering.
• Previous experience contributing to key client engagement and development plans, annual business plans, and strategic market development plans.
• Demonstrated track record of securing project opportunities with established, emerging, and prospective airport, aviation, or public-sector clients.
• Experience designing private-owner underground or overhead medium-voltage site power distribution systems, including 13.8 kV systems.
• Experience with industrial power-system design for motor and process equipment controls and with power-system analysis software such as SKM Power Tools.
• Experience supporting commercial, general aviation, or air defense facilities and coordinating requirements with airport owners, operators, the FAA, and other stakeholders.
• A portfolio of aviation or complex infrastructure projects that demonstrates innovation in electrical design strategies, resilient systems, or deliverable solutions.

The listed figures represent the target base compensation range for candidates with 10 to 20 years of professional experience. Offered compensation could exceed the referenced range based on applicable experience, required and desired qualifications, and demonstrated performance in relation to primary responsibilities.

100% Employee-Owned 

At TKDA, every employee is an owner. From the front desk to the corner office, every one of our 450 professionals thrive on collaboration and holistic development. Our success is collective, and so are the rewards.

Comprehensive Benefits

• Health Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, vision, and life insurance from day one
• Annual Incentive Plan: Eligible for discretionary bonuses
• HSA Contributions: Receive monthly employer contributions if you choose an HSA-eligible plan
• 401(k) Match: Get employer matching on your 401(k) deferrals
• ESOP: Benefit from our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, funded entirely by company profits
• Paid Time Off: Accrue PTO based on your professional experience and enjoy eight paid holidays per year

Upon receiving a formal offer, you will get a personalized Total Compensation Overview (TCO) to see how everything adds up and what it looks like to be part of our community.

TKDA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status, gender identity, or any other characteristics protected by law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, all applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. 

**All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future visa sponsorship needs or requirements.** TKDA does not sponsor any type of employment visas, including but not limited to H‑1B, F‑1 OPT/CPT, TN, or other work authorization programs.

*Pre-Employment Screening*

Upon acceptance of a conditional offer of employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete a standard pre-employment background screening, which consists of Social Security verification, educational verification, review of criminal convictions, and driving history.

***Notice to Recruiters and Placement Agencies***

TKDA will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or placement agencies unless a service agreement is in place. In the event TKDA receives an unsolicited resume without a service agreement in place, TKDA will not be obligated to pay a service fee of any amount nor will TKDA be held liable to terms or conditions under any agreement of any kind that has not been authorized in writing by a TKDA officer.