Senior Electrical Design Engineer - Columbus, NE

Job Description

Senior Electrical Design Engineer - Columbus, NE

This is a permanent, full-time, exempt-level position.

Position Description:

ADM is seeking an Electrical Design Engineer who will be responsible for developing, reviewing, and issuing electrical engineering and design deliverables for ADM facilities across North America.

The Electrical Design Engineer is a pivotal technical lead with design and engineering scope across the high voltage (HV), medium voltage (MV), and low voltage (LV) power systems. The role routinely reviews engineering packages produced by EPCs and external engineering firms, ensures compliance with applicable codes/standards and project requirements, and develops Front End Loading (FEL 1 / FEL 2 / FEL 3) engineering packages to support capital project execution.

The position interfaces closely with CAPEX, Electrical Studies, Operations, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning to deliver safe, constructible, and maintainable electrical solutions.

Core Responsibilities:

EPC/ Third Party Engineering Package Review (Owner's Engineer Function):

• Review EPC and consultant deliverables for technical correctness, completeness, constructability, maintainability, and compliance with project requirements
• Perform interdisciplinary reviews (civil/structural, mechanical, process, I&C) to resolve interface issues (e.g., electrical room layouts, equipment access, hazardous area impacts, heat loads, routing, grounding interfaces)
• Verify that engineering documents are aligned to the project phase (FEL 1/2/3, IFC), design basis, and scope boundaries
• Lead comment resolution cycles: consolidate comments, chair review meetings, track closure, and verify incorporation into revised deliverables
• Ensure vendor data, assumptions, and calculations support the design (e.g., motor starting method, fault duties, grounding method, cable derating assumptions)

Electrical System Design (HV/MV/LV):

• Develop and/or review electrical design for:

• HV/MV distribution (substations, switchgear, transformers, feeders, protection and control, metering)

• LV distribution (MCCs, panelboards, switchboards, UPS, DC systems, emergency power)

• Motors and drives (across the line, soft starters, VFDs, harmonic mitigation)

• Standby and prime power generation systems, synchronizing concepts (where applicable)

• Produce and check power system calculations and engineering analyses, including:

• Load studies and load lists; demand factors and diversity

• Cable sizing and voltage drop; ampacity/derating; short circuit withstand

• Short circuit studies and equipment duty verification (in conjunction with the Electrical Studies Team)

• Protective device coordination and settings philosophy (in conjunction with Protection Engineer))

• Arc-flash risk assessment inputs and labeling requirements (in conjunction with the Electrical Studies Team)

• Grounding system design (touch/step, grid sizing concept as applicable)

• Lighting calculations and emergency lighting coverage (where in scope)

• Provide electrical equipment selection and technical justification (gear ratings, enclosure selection, environmental considerations, reliability and redundancy philosophy)

FEL 1/ FEL 2/ FEL 3 Engineering Package Development:

FEL 1 (Concept / Options)

• Establish electrical basis of design (high-level) and initial design criteria.
• Develop conceptual single line diagrams, load summaries, and preliminary equipment concepts (substations, voltage levels, starting philosophy).
• Evaluate alternatives (e.g., MV vs LV distribution, redundancy levels, starter/VFD strategy, outdoor vs indoor substations) and contribute to Class 4/5 cost and schedule inputs.

FEL 2 (FEED / Definition)

• Develop FEED level deliverables: refined SLDs, preliminary layouts, key equipment lists, design narratives, and preliminary specifications
• Identify long lead equipment and procurement strategy inputs
• Progress key calculations to support equipment selection and cost accuracy (typically Class 3 estimate support)

FEL 3 (Detailed / Execution Ready)

• Develop execution ready engineering packages suitable for detailed design / IFC development:
• Electrical equipment specifications and datasheets
• Cable schedules, termination requirements, installation details
• Raceway and routing concepts; grounding and bonding details
• Electrical room and substation layouts; duct bank and manhole concepts
• Construction work packages inputs and scope definitions

Procurement, Vendor Management, and Technical Governance

• Write and maintain equipment and installation specifications for HV/MV/LV systems (switchgear, MCCs, transformers, UPS, batteries, cable, terminations, trays, conduit, grounding)
• Prepare technical bid tabulations, evaluate vendor proposals, and recommend awards based on compliance, risk, lifecycle, and operability
• Review vendor drawings and data books; ensure integration with plant standards and project requirements
• Identify deviations, manage technical clarifications, and support contract change evaluations

Safety, Quality and Compliance

• Apply applicable safety and design practices including electrical safety principles (e.g., shock/arc hazards) and safe design requirements

• Ensure compliance with relevant codes and standards such as:

• NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, IEEE/ANSI, NEMA, etc.

• Company engineering standards and project specifications

• Maintain strong document control, QA/QC checking practices, and traceability of assumptions and decisions

• Contribute to hazard reviews relevant to electrical design (e.g., constructability reviews, operability reviews, arc flash and safe maintenance considerations)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Electrical Engineering
• 5+ years of electrical engineering/design experience in industrial environments (manufacturing, mining, utilities, O&G, chemical, food/ag, etc.)
• License Professional Engineer (P.E.) designation, or ability to obtain after hire
• Experience delivering FEL 1/2/3 packages and transitioning projects into detailed design and execution
• Experience with substations and power distribution equipment specifications, procurement support and vendor data review
• Ability to travel: Combination of office and site based work; periodic travel to operating sites, vendor shops (FAT) and construction sites (approximately 45%)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project Management Professional certification
• Comprehensive understanding of power system analysis tools (short circuit, coordination, load flow, arc flash) and interpretation of results. Knowledge and experience with SKM is a plus
• Strong competence in CAD/design review capability for electrical drawings preferably AutoCAD
• Ability to produce and check calculations with clear assumptions and defensible engineering judgment
• Strong technical writing skills for design basis documents, specifications, and engineering reports
• Owner's engineer mindset: risk based review, disciplined checking, and strong standards compliance
• Interface management: resolves scope gaps between disciplines, vendors, and EPCs
• Constructability and maintainability focus: designs that can be built, commissioned, and safely maintained
• Communication: clear technical decisions, concise comment sets, and stakeholder ready summaries

Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? Studies have shown that applicants may self "select-out" of consideration if they do not meet al posted qualifications. We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. Relocation assistance is available for this opportunity.

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