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Senior Electrical Engineer

HNTB · Chicago, IL · $121,423–$189,919 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you solved a design problem creatively with the project manager.

What they are checking: Whether they partner with project leadership to solve problems, as the posting describes.

Are you a licensed PE, and how have you handled sealing work you were responsible for?

What they are checking: Whether they take professional responsibility for design seriously at the senior level.

What would you do

A mechanical engineer adds large equipment late in design. How do you handle the impact on your electrical design?

What they are checking: Whether they manage cross-discipline changes calmly and communicate the cost and schedule effects.

How do you check a junior engineer's calculations before they go into a deliverable?

What they are checking: Whether they review work carefully and use it to teach, as a senior engineer should.

About the work

Walk me through how you develop a one-line diagram for a new facility from the load list up.

What they are checking: Whether they can build a power distribution design from first principles with sound judgment.

How do you size a feeder and its overcurrent protection, and what factors change the answer?

What they are checking: Whether they handle NEC sizing, derating and voltage drop correctly in real designs.

Tell me about a short-circuit and protective device coordination study you performed. What did you find?

What they are checking: Whether they have done system studies themselves and can act on the results.

What goes into an arc-flash analysis, and how do you use the results to reduce hazard?

What they are checking: Whether they see arc-flash studies as a safety tool, not just a label requirement.

How does designing power for a data center differ from a transportation facility or a water plant?

What they are checking: Whether they understand redundancy, reliability and load differences across the sectors the posting names.

How do you approach grounding design for a facility with sensitive electronics?

What they are checking: Whether they understand grounding for safety and for equipment performance.

Tell me about a lighting design you did. What drove your fixture and control choices?

What they are checking: Whether they balance light levels, energy codes and maintenance in practical lighting design.

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The full job description

As published by HNTB.

What We're Looking For At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. This opportunity entails being responsible for the production and modification of electrical engineering, technical reports, engineering plans and specifications for assigned projects. The Senior Project Engineer will support the design and delivery of electrical, MEP, and lighting systems for transportation, mission critical, water/wastewater, data center, and other complex infrastructure and facility projects. This position consults with the project manager to perform research, development, calculations, design and delivery. Applies engineering techniques, procedures and design criteria for complex and cross-discipline projects. Responsibilities may include power distribution, lighting, grounding, equipment and feeder sizing, one-line development and review, and electrical system studies including short-circuit, protective device coordination, and arc-flash analyses. Leverages technical knowledge and experience to address design related issues or concerns, working closely with the project manager through creative problem solving, interactions with clients and by completing tasks to meet the project schedule. Develops conceptual and detailed designs and calculations to support the project completion using current drawing and technical tools, programs and software. The position requires the ability to independently progress electrical designs, coordinate with other engineering and architectural disciplines, and provide technical guidance throughout project development and delivery. The Senior Project Engineer will mentor and train less experienced engineering staff, review their work, provide constructive feedback, and support the continued development of the electrical engineering team while contributing to the successful delivery of projects for HNTB’s clients. What You'll Do: • Uses senior-level technical expertise to consider broad range of engineering solutions. • Responsible for the discipline-specific planning, work distribution, and leadership and adherence to the schedule, and budget on complex or unusual engineering projects. • Assists in marketing responsibilities, including proposal generation. • Develops scope of work and level of effort and manages adherence to scope and budget on complex or unusual engineering projects within discipline. • Oversees completeness and accuracy of project team’s work within the technical discipline. • Provides technical guidance and mentoring to team members to achieve overall project objectives on complex or unusual engineering projects. • Coordinates technical aspects of the project with client counterpart and teaming partners at staff level for work within the discipline on complex or unusual engineering projects. • Leads discipline delivery on larger, multi-disciplinary projects. Works closely with other disciplines on multi-discipline projects. • Assists with coordination and planning of schedules, hours, and distribution of work for other disciplines on multi-discipline projects on complex or unusual engineering projects • Performs other duties as assigned. What You'll Need: • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 8 years of relevant experience, or • Master’s degree in Engineering and 7 years of relevant experience, or • PhD in Engineering and 6 years of relevant experience What You'll Bring: • Experience with electrical power distribution systems and MEP design for complex facilities, with experience in one or more of the following markets: mission critical facilities, water/wastewater treatment plants, data centers, transportation facilities, or similar infrastructure projects. • Experience developing electrical designs including power distribution, equipment and feeder sizing, one-line diagrams, grounding, lighting, controls, and related electrical systems. • Skilled in Microstation or Openroads. Proficiency with AutoCAD and Revit. • Familiarity with Bluebeam. • Experience performing or reviewing electrical system studies, including short-circuit, protective device coordination, and arc-flash analyses. Proficiency with industry-standard power system analysis software such as SKM Power tools, or equivalent. • Enhances action orientation by taking on tough challenges in the transportation sector with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. • Able to function independently with infrequent oversight. • Collaborates to build partnerships and work with other departments to meet shared objectives. • Develops the technical skills of less experienced staff to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals. • Understands and coordinates interdisciplinary efforts. • Independently progresses the majority of designs and tasks required of the discipline. • Manages time effectively, proactively forecasting, and communicating project development needs. What We Prefer: • Master’s degree in Engineering • 10 years of relevant experience Additional Information Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran #RN . Locations: Chicago, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . The approximate pay range for Illinois is $121,423.35 - $189,918.58. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . . . . . . . . . NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES: HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.

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