Entry-level Electrical Designer

Location: Vista, California, United States; hybrid, with the first three months in office. Travel up to 10% for site visits, field investigations, and project meetings.

Salary: $40–45 USD per hour, plus performance-based bonuses, equity participation, and a U.S.-based benefits package.

Company

Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm founded in 1975, providing integrated engineering and consulting services across building, infrastructure, clean energy, robotics, healthcare, education, and other sectors.

What you will do

• Assist with electrical system design for commercial, educational, healthcare, hospitality, multifamily residential, military, government, and other building projects.
• Prepare electrical plans, one-line diagrams, panel schedules, and construction documents using AutoCAD and Revit.
• Perform load, voltage drop, conductor sizing, lighting, and photometric calculations under senior engineer and project manager direction.
• Support the design of power distribution, emergency generators, transfer switches, switchgear, transformers, grounding, bonding, lighting, and lighting control systems.
• Research and apply NEC, NFPA 70, California Building Code, and California Energy Code requirements while coordinating with other design disciplines.
• Participate in field investigations, specification preparation, submittal reviews, RFI responses, contractor coordination, and project documentation.

Requirements

• 2–3 years of electrical design experience in a consulting engineering, architectural/engineering, or building systems design environment.
• Experience preparing construction documents for building-related projects.
• Working knowledge of power distribution, electrical calculations, grounding and bonding, lighting design, photometrics, NEC, NFPA 70, and California code requirements.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and working knowledge of Revit and Microsoft Office.
• Strong written and verbal communication, collaboration, organization, and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a hybrid arrangement with the first three months in the Vista office and travel up to 10%.

Nice to have

• Low-voltage, fire alarm, arc flash, photovoltaic modeling, BIM coordination, or construction administration experience.
• Experience with EnergyPro, ComCheck, IECC, California Title 24, Helioscope, or similar tools.
• EIT certification or progress toward EIT certification.
• Associate's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology or a related technical field.

Culture & Benefits

• Employee-owned organization with a people-first approach and focus on sustainable, long-term solutions.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and company holidays.
• Wellness programs, employee assistance resources, and professional development support.
• Performance-based bonuses and equity participation.