Description

SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, Inc. is seeking a highly skilled and missiondriven Engineering Manager to lead our engineering department and support the safe, reliable, and innovative delivery of electric service to our members. This is a key leadership role responsible for system planning, engineering design, technical oversight, and longterm infrastructure strategy.

Position Overview

The Engineering Manager oversees all engineering functions related to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the cooperative’s electric distribution system.  This role provides technical leadership, supervises engineering staff, manages major capital projects, and ensures compliance with industry standards, regulations, and cooperative policies. The ideal candidate combines strong engineering expertise with proven leadership and a commitment to cooperative values.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, technicians, and support personnel
Direct system planning activities, including load forecasting, capacity analysis, and longrange work plans
Oversee the design and construction of distribution lines, substations, protective devices, and system upgrades
Manage engineering budgets, capital project schedules, and contractor performance
Ensure compliance with RUS specifications, NESC requirements, state and federal regulations, and cooperative standards
Maintain and improve system modeling, GIS, AMI, and other engineering technologies
Coordinate with Operations on switching, outage analysis, reliability improvements, and system maintenance
Support grid modernization initiatives, including automation, distributed energy resources, and resiliency planning
Prepare engineering reports, cost estimates, technical studies, and boardlevel presentations
Serve as a technical resource for internal departments and external stakeholders
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering 
Minimum 5 years of electric utility engineering experience, preferably in distribution systems
Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience
Strong knowledge of distribution system design, protection, construction standards, and reliability metrics
Preferred proficiency with engineering software such as Milsoft, WindMil, CYME or similar modeling tools 
Excellent communication, analytical, and project management skills
Knowledge of GIS, OMS, AMI, and system automation technologies preferred
Understanding of distributed generation interconnection and renewable energy impacts preferred
 

About Our Area

A career is about more than where you work—it's about where you live. Southern Illinois offers a unique opportunity to grow professionally while enjoying a lifestyle that's increasingly difficult to find.

Imagine spending less time in traffic and more time with family. Imagine owning a home with room to grow instead of stretching your budget for a small apartment. Southern Illinois offers a significantly lower cost of living than many metropolitan areas, allowing your income to go further. Whether you're purchasing your first home, raising a family, saving for retirement, or paying off student loans, the region provides financial flexibility that can be difficult to achieve elsewhere.

Southern Illinois is home to some of the Midwest's most breathtaking natural landscapes. Weekends can be spent hiking in the Shawnee National Forest, exploring Garden of the Gods, kayaking on local rivers, boating or fishing on beautiful lakes, cycling scenic backroads, or enjoying hundreds of miles of trails throughout the region.  The region offers much more than beautiful scenery. Southern Illinois features award-winning wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, locally owned breweries, performing arts, live music, collegiate athletics, unique dining experiences, seasonal festivals, and family-friendly attractions throughout the year.

Southern Illinois is home to numerous public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that are committed to student success. Families can choose from a variety of school districts that offer:

Small class sizes and personalized learning environments.
Dedicated teachers and administrators who know their students by name.
Competitive academic, athletic, fine arts, and career and technical education programs.
Dual-credit, Advanced Placement (AP), and early college opportunities.
Strong partnerships between local schools, community colleges, and universities that help prepare students for college and careers.
While Southern Illinois offers a relaxed pace of life, it remains strategically located within driving distance of major metropolitan areas including St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, Indianapolis, and Louisville. Residents enjoy access to major airports, interstate highways, and regional transportation networks while returning home each day to less congestion, lower costs, and a more balanced lifestyle.

What We Offer

        Health Insurance

        Health Savings Account

        Group Term Life Insurance

        401k Matching

        Defined Benefit Retirement Plan

        Paid Time Off Includes Vacation, Sick Time and Family Sick Time

        Eleven Paid Holidays 

        AirEvac Membership

        Gym Membership – Conditional

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please email your cover letter, resume and at least 3 professional references or letters of recommendation to: stefanietripp@seiec.com  by September 25, 2026. The cover letter should address your skills and qualifications for success in this role.     An Equal Opportunity Employer

Salary Range $145K - $175K (Commensurate on Qualifications and Experience)

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• Minimum 5 years of electric utility engineering experience, preferably in distribution systems
• Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience
• Strong knowledge of distribution system design, protection, construction standards, and reliability metrics
• Preferred proficiency with engineering software such as Milsoft, WindMil, CYME or similar modeling tools 
• Excellent communication, analytical, and project management skills
• Knowledge of GIS, OMS, AMI, and system automation technologies preferred
• Understanding of distributed generation interconnection and renewable energy impacts preferred