Prin Electrical Engineer
Date: Oct 16, 2025
Location: MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, MI, US
Company: Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.
Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and may be assigned to any Consumers Energy Service Center located throughout Michigan's lower Peninsula. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).
General Summary of Job Responsibilities
The Principal Electric Engineer serves as a departmental subject matter expert (SME) in electrical engineering. This role is responsible for the engineering and design of large, complex projects that support the sustainable operation of distribution, generation, and storage systems. The engineer collaborates with internal teams and external stakeholders to lead technical initiatives and ensure successful implementation of electrical utility systems and products.
Additionally, this position acts as the SME for joint use of poles and conduit by third parties, supporting agreements with attachers, and contributing to policy and standards development. The role works closely with regulators and legal teams on infrastructure attachment policies and applies engineering expertise and Lean principles to resolve process issues. Responsibilities include forecasting workload, budget, material usage, and resources, supporting attachment surveying, and overseeing reimbursement for pole attachment activities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with specifications, codes, and customer requirements by directing or coordinating installation, manufacturing, construction, maintenance, documentation, support, and testing activities
- Write reports and compile data on existing and potential electrical engineering projects; provide technical support to other departments as needed
- Prepare specifications for electrical equipment and materials; estimate material, labor, and construction costs for budgeting
- Design, control, and implement electrical systems and products; serve as the primary point of contact for clients on electrical engineering matters
- Manage the development and implementation of electrical systems
- Perform engineering tasks using computer-assisted design (CAD) and engineering software
- Design, maintain, implement, and improve electrical instruments, facilities, components, equipment, and systems for industrial, commercial, or domestic use
- Prepare contract documents, including specifications, drawings, and addenda
- Collaborate with customers, coworkers, and stakeholders to discuss engineering projects; monitor progress and budget; prepare reports for upper management
- Investigate and resolve project issues promptly
- Establish construction, manufacturing, or installation standards through detailed calculations
- Oversee and manage the installation of electrical equipment and components
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Continued
- Interpret and apply Consumers Energy and National Electric Safety Code (NESC) standards
- Act as SME and mentor for Infrastructure Department Joint Use Coordinators
- Support the CE Way and implement Lean strategies within the CE Playbook
- Manage, execute, and negotiate Joint Use Agreements (JUAs)
- Provide technical review and evaluation of complex projects
- Support resolution of high-profile governmental and legislative customer escalations
- Participate in cross-functional process improvement initiatives using the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology
- Coordinate Make Ready work and build work plans to support departmental processes
- Perform disaster recovery assignments, including overtime for storms and electric emergencies
- Communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including senior leadership (Directors, Executives, VPs) and external partners, using electronic, written, verbal, and public speaking formats
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- In-depth knowledge of applicable codes related to electrical engineering
- Proficiency in design and calculation software
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Expertise in electric utility distribution planning, construction, operation, and maintenance
- Working knowledge of electric utility operations, including generation, transmission, and distribution of three-phase alternating current power
- Familiarity with distribution planning principles is a plus
Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited program with seven (7) or more years of experience in electrical engineering
- [OR] Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from a non-ABET accredited program plus a Professional Engineering license with seven (7) or more years of experience in electrical engineering
Why should you join our team?
At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.
What we offer:
- Competitive compensation packages
- Medical, Dental and Vision
- 401k with company match
- Paid parental leave
- Up to 13 paid Holidays
- Paid time off
- Educational Assistance Program
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
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Electrical Engineering, Construction, Engineer, Electrical, Testing, Engineering, Technology