Electrical Section Manager

Overview

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves:
What is our impact on the world?

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high-performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience.

We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you’re optimizing energy efficiency, integrating resilient systems, or engineering the backbone of next‑generation facilities, your contributions will help define the future of the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead innovation, engineer impact, and build a legacy of excellence.

HDR is currently seeking an Electrical Section Manager for our Building Engineering Services Business Group located in Chicago, IL. Our team is an integrated facility and infrastructure design team consisting of core services of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Structural and Site Civil Engineering. We work in a wide variety of markets including Tech/Media/Telecom, Commercial Real Estate, Healthcare, Science and Technology, Industrial, Water, Federal and Mission Critical buildings and infrastructure.

We have an industry leading focus on sustainable design and energy conservation.

• Establish client relations and be involved with marketing and client development activities.
• Manage the technical and operational activities of the electrical discipline and support the development of HDR technical design.
• Prepare/review project budgets and scopes for the electrical discipline and monitor financial performance.
• Establish work priorities and project assignments for electrical staff.
• Conduct interviews in support of the hiring of new staff for the section and provide new employee mentoring.
• Establish employee goals and conduct employee performance reviews.
• Schedule and conduct section meetings to discuss productivity, workload and quality control issues.
• Advance the skill level of personnel through training, education, experience, etc.
• Coordinate with the electrical discipline managers of other business group locations to review workload, project status, and staffing requirements.
• Prepare/review electrical engineering scope of work and fees for proposals.
• Monitor changes in codes, regulations and client standards and keep staff up to date on current industry practices.
• Perform quality control reviews.
• Serve as a Project Manager and/or Task Lead when applicable.
• Facilitate and encourage coordination with other discipline groups.
• Perform project engineer duties when required.

• A minimum of 5 years management experience.
• 15+ years of experience with an architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm.
• Ability to manage, lead and mentor other team members.
• Preference given to local candidates.
• Experience designing complex and large-scale healthcare, laboratory, and/or mission critical data center facilities.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 10 years experience.
• Professional registration, license or certification may be required based on role.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments.
• Good leadership and organizational skills.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a…