Electrical Engineer 1 (Entry Level) - Energy & Industrial
The Electrical Engineer 1 role at Confidential Client offers an entry-level opportunity to apply and expand electrical engineering knowledge in power and industrial plant projects, including new installations and retrofits. The position involves designing power distribution systems, preparing technical drawings and specifications, performing detailed electrical calculations, and collaborating with project teams and vendors. This hybrid role based in Chicago emphasizes the use of modern tools such as automation and AI to enhance engineering workflows and deliver cost-effective solutions.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Energy & Industrial (Engineering).
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
This entry-level Electrical Engineer role offers hands-on experience designing and analyzing electrical systems for power and industrial facilities. Working under a project lead within a multi-discipline project team, you will:
- Support power distribution design for new and retrofit projects, including medium- and low-voltage systems (transformers, generators, motors).
- Prepare functional design drawings: single-line diagrams, relay & metering schematics, cable block diagrams, and other schematic drawings.
- Produce technical documentation and inputs for 2D/3D drawing production and modeling.
- Perform engineering calculations such as auxiliary power studies, voltage drop, protective-relay coordination, and arc-flash analysis.
- Prepare equipment specifications, bills of material, and procurement documentation; interface with vendors to obtain data.
- Coordinate design activities with other disciplines to ensure compliance with codes, specifications, and client requirements.
- Participate in design reviews and, when required, travel to vendor or client offices and project sites for construction coordination and field verification.
- Use modern automation and data tools to streamline calculations, documentation, and design checks; validate outputs with engineering judgment.
Required Qualifications
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering (emphasis in power systems preferred).
- Familiarity with electrical system design for medium- and low-voltage distribution equipment and equipment selection.
- Ability to produce technical plans and drawings and apply standard design techniques and principles.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Eligible to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship (the client does not sponsor work authorization for this position).
- Located in or able to commute to Chicago, IL (Illinois Medical District); position follows a hybrid schedule with ~3 days in-office per week.
Preferred / Valued (Not Required)
- Degree accredited by an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission-approved program.
- Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam; Engineer-in-Training (EIT) designation.
- Experience in project-team electrical design for power plants or industrial facilities, including equipment selection, control philosophy, and preparation of calculations/specifications.
- Programming or scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate calculations or checks.
- Coursework or certificates in Computer Science, AI, or Software Engineering that support automation or AI-driven engineering workflows.
Skills & Tools
- Electrical power system analysis (voltage drop, relay coordination, arc-flash)
- Single-line drafting and schematic preparation
- Specification writing and bill-of-material development
- MS Office; familiarity with engineering calculation tools and scripting (valued)
- Vendor coordination and construction/field verification support
Location & Work Arrangement
- Job base: Illinois Medical District / Chicago, IL (60684)
- Hybrid schedule: approximately 3 days in-office per week; occasional travel to client, vendor, or plant sites may be required.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary range: $62,998 – $90,586 per year (range disclosed in source; final offer depends on experience and location).
- Eligible for discretionary annual bonus (where applicable).
- Benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life & accident insurance, disability coverage, 401(k), FSA/HSA options, tuition assistance, paid time off (vacation, holidays, parental/bereavement leave), and other employee programs.
Additional Notes for Applicants
- The client expects engineers to use data and modern tools (including automation and responsibly used AI) to improve workflows; verification and sound engineering judgment remain essential.
- The client does not provide U.S. work visa sponsorship for this role.
- This posting is for a full-time, regular position.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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