What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cable Plant Lead Engineer position at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory?

The Berkeley Lab is hiring a Cable Plant Lead Engineer to support the Advanced Light Source (ALS) upgrade at LBNL, a cutting-edge soft x-ray facility. This role will focus on managing the complex cable plant, ensuring minimal downtime during the upgrade. Responsibilities include capacity planning, routing, conduit planning, and overseeing cable installation and removal efforts. The engineer will coordinate with subsystem leads to manage cabling needs, ensure compliance with NEC standards, and lead the design and review of AC distribution hardware.

The role also involves close collaboration with the Removal and Installation (R&I) CAM, Mechanical R&I Lead, and various ALS-U teams, including operations, facilities, and EH&S, to develop detailed installation plans. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in electrical systems, particularly high-power (RF or DC), experience managing large cable plants, and familiarity with the National Lab environment. Practical experience in overseeing large-scale installations and ensuring code compliance is preferred.

What You Will Do :

Design and plan AC distribution, cabling routing, and rack procurement for various systems, coordinating tasks with other personnel as needed.
Ensure proper documentation, including drawings, specs, and QA documents, in line with LBNL, ALS-U, and ALS standards.
Collaborate with Accelerator Engineering to integrate installation and design, optimizing efficiency and simplifying tasks.
Develop electrical installation plans using input from technical subsystems.
Oversee cable plant development, inventory, installation, and termination.
Supervise field contractors and electrical workers.
Act as the primary engineer and POC for electrical Cable Plant and R&I issues, guiding the team or contractors.
Serve as the main contact for facility and EH&S experts.
Develop and oversee LOTO and energization plans.
Coordinate with ALS operations for R&I tasks during shutdowns.
Support accelerator installation hand-off to commissioning, ensuring proper documentation.
Collaborate across technical fields to gather installation requirements.
Participate in design reviews for ALS and other projects.
Provide engineering input for easy installation and maintenance of components.
Apply analytical, computational, and experimental skills to develop detailed installation plans.
Independently solve complex problems using new technologies.
Develop and release schematics, drawings, and work instructions for removal and installation teams.
Write specifications for challenging procurements and manage technical details.
Estimate project scope, logistics, costs, and timelines.
Contribute to developing electrical safety procedures for high-voltage devices.
Ensure technical efforts meet project deliverables.

What is Required :

Cable Plant Lead Engineer Level 3 :

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or related field (or equivalent experience), with 5 years of relevant experience (more preferred).

Direct experience in planning large cable plants, with expertise in rack layouts and cabling design / documentation.

Extensive knowledge in engineering integration (mechanical and electrical), mechanical design / fabrication, and managing medium to large-scale projects.

Adaptable and eager to learn new technologies; capable of providing both high-level systems engineering perspective and detailed technical guidance. Strong technical knowledge in electrical engineering, particularly for accelerator systems (e.g., high-power PS, RF, signal processing, controls).

Ability to interact with mechanical models.

Experience managing medium to large-scale technical projects, including accurate staffing, time, and expense estimates.

Proven ability to make sound technical decisions, solve complex problems, and collaborate effectively within diverse teams.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to independently lead teams, define goals, and guide project implementation.

Experience providing engineering direction and resolving complex technical issues.

Organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and projects.

Proficient in Creo Schematics or similar cable routing software, and CAD tools like OrCAD or Mentor Graphics.

In Addition to the Above, Cable Plant Lead Engineer Level 4 :

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or related field (or equivalent experience), with 8 years of relevant experience (more preferred).

Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams of engineers and technicians.

Desired Qualifications :

M.S. or equivalent experience.

Experience with PLM systems and QA workflows.

Proven ability to lead and supervise teams effectively.

R&D and national lab experience.

Experience with large-scale electrical installations or operations / maintenance of complex facilities and experiments.

Programming and database experience.

Knowledge of electrical codes and safety (NEC, LOTO, NFPA 70E).

Mechanical CAD system experience.

Familiarity with particle accelerators.

Cable Plant Lead Engineer Level 3 :

The expected salary for this position is $132,000.00 - $162,000.00, which fits into the full salary of $117,660.00 - $198,516.00 annually depending upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities, including education, certifications, and years of experience.

Cable Plant Lead Engineer Level 4 :

The expected salary for this position is $158,000.00 - $193,000.00, which fits into the full salary of $140,676.00 - $237,408.00 annually depending upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities, including education, certifications, and years of experience.

Notes :

This is a full-time 2-year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.

This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

Work will be primarily performed at : Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit : careers.lbl.gov

Berkeley Lab is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links : Know your rights, click here for the supplement : Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.

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Salary : $117,660 - $198,516

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