One of our clients, a major oil and gas company has tasked us with sourcing a Lead Electrical Designer to support ongoing engineering activities for projects based in Calgary, Alberta. This position is offered as an open?ended contract and will follow a 5/40 work schedule. The role will be performed onsite within the client’s Calgary office, where the successful candidate will provide day?to?day leadership, oversight, and technical coordination for electrical design deliverables across small to medium?sized projects and multidisciplinary work packages.
Position Overview
The Lead Electrical Designer will be responsible for providing technical direction and hands?on design expertise while overseeing the quality, consistency, and timely delivery of electrical design outputs. Working closely with Electrical Engineers, designers from other disciplines, project leadership, and client stakeholders, the Lead Electrical Designer will guide a small team, ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, and support constructible, safe, and cost?effective design solutions for industrial projects across the energy, chemicals, mining, and infrastructure sectors.
Key Responsibilities
Technical & Design Leadership
- Lead the preparation and delivery of electrical design packages, including:
- Electrical layouts, routing, and installation drawings
- Cable tray and conduit layouts
- Equipment location plans
- Lighting, grounding, and earthing layouts
- Hazardous area plans (as applicable)
- Provide technical guidance, coaching, and oversight to Electrical Designers and Design Technologists.
- Review, check, and validate design deliverables for accuracy, constructability, and compliance with project requirements.
- Ensure all electrical designs satisfy relevant codes and standards (CSA, NEC, IEC, client specifications).
- Translate engineering inputs into detailed drawings and 3D model updates in collaboration with Electrical Engineers.
Project & Team Leadership
- Coordinate and lead day?to?day design activities for a small electrical design team.
- Assign tasks, monitor progress, and support schedule and budget adherence.
- Act as the primary contact for all electrical design matters within assigned projects or scopes.
- Participate in planning sessions, design reviews, model reviews, and interdisciplinary coordination meetings.
- Support construction, procurement, and commissioning teams by providing guidance related to installation, constructability, and execution planning.
Coordination & Collaboration
- Work closely with piping, mechanical, civil/structural, instrumentation, and process design teams to ensure integrated and clash?free designs.
- Support multidisciplinary 3D model reviews and interface management.
- Incorporate client feedback and manage design changes in accordance with project change control procedures.
Quality, Safety & Continuous Improvement
- Promote a proactive safety culture by incorporating safe access, maintenance, and constructability considerations into all design activities.
- Contribute to improving electrical design standards, templates, tools, and workflows.
- Mentor junior designers through hands?on support, coaching, and knowledge sharing.
Qualifications & Experience
Education & Training
- Diploma or degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Electrical Design, or a related discipline.
Experience
- Extensive background in electrical design within engineering, EPC/EPCM, or industrial project environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading small electrical design teams or acting as a discipline design lead.
- Strong exposure to industrial facilities such as oil and gas, chemicals, mining, power, or heavy infrastructure.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency with industry design tools (AutoCAD, SmartPlant, AVEVA E3D, Revit, or similar platforms).
- Strong understanding of electrical systems layout and installation, including cable management, grounding/earthing, lighting, and equipment layouts.
- Familiarity with relevant electrical codes and standards (CSA, NEC, IEC).
- Ability to interpret engineering documents, datasheets, vendor drawings, and technical specifications.
Leadership & Interpersonal Skills
- Proven capability to lead, mentor, and coordinate designers in a project environment.
- Clear and effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and with project leadership.
- Highly organized, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast?paced environment.