Lead Electrical Designer - KOE

Job Description

Job Description

Title : Lead Electrical Designer – Oil, Gas & Chemical

Location : Houston, TX

Hire Type : Contract-to-Hire

Compensation: $60.00 - $70.00/hour (DOE)

Benefits: As a contract employee of Sterling, you are eligible to receive a Full Employee Benefits Package that includes paid time off, paid holidays, 3 medical plans to choose from, dental & vision plans, 401(k), and an Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) plan.

About the Opportunity:

Sterling Engineering is seeking a Lead Electrical Designer to support Kiewit's Oil, Gas & Chemical (KOE) Group in Houston, TX. This role is ideal for an experienced electrical designer with a strong background in refining or petrochemical facilities, SmartPlant 3D (SP3D), one-line diagrams, schematics, cable tray, and duct bank design. The selected candidate will lead design efforts, provide technical guidance to junior designers, support field activities, and develop high-quality electrical designs for complex industrial projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead electrical design activities for refining and petrochemical projects.
• Develop and review one-line diagrams, schematics, grounding plans, interconnect drawings, cable schedules, and power layouts.
• Design cable tray systems, duct banks, and electrical equipment layouts.
• Create and modify electrical drawings using SmartPlant 3D (SP3D) and AutoCAD.
• Perform 3D electrical modeling and ensure designs comply with company and industry standards.
• Serve as a field resource by supporting site walkdowns, construction activities, and resolving field design issues.
• Review vendor documentation, RFIs, engineering changes, and as-built drawings.
• Lead and mentor a small team of designers while coordinating with engineers, project teams, and construction personnel.
• Analyze, inspect, and construct electrical designs while maintaining quality, schedule, and project objectives. 

Qualifications:

• Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology or High School Diploma with a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience.
• 10–20+ years of electrical design experience in the refining or petrochemical industry.
• Experience leading small design teams and mentoring junior designers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience performing electrical equipment layouts within electrical buildings.
• Knowledge of electrical quality standards and industrial design practices. 

Software:

• SmartPlant 3D (SP3D) – Preferred
• AutoCAD (Advanced)
• MicroStation (Preferred)
• Navisworks
• Microsoft Office Suite

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.