SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, Inc. is seeking a highly skilled and mission‑driven Engineering & Purchasing 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 long‑term 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 position also manages the cooperative’s purchasing and materials procurement processes, ensuring cost‑effective, timely, and compliant acquisition of equipment, supplies, and contracted services. 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
Engineering
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, technicians, and support personnel
- Direct system planning activities, including load forecasting, capacity analysis, and long‑range 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 board‑level presentations
- Serve as a technical resource for internal departments and external stakeholders
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
Purchasing & Procurement
- Manage the procurement of materials, equipment, and services required for construction, maintenance, and system operations
- Develop and maintain vendor relationships, negotiate pricing, and evaluate supplier performance
- Oversee inventory levels, material forecasting, and coordination with warehouse staff
- Ensure purchasing activities comply with cooperative policies, specifications, and audit standards
- Prepare and issue bid documents, evaluate proposals, and recommend vendor selections
- Track lead times, supply chain risks, and market trends to support project planning and budgeting
- Collaborate with engineering and operations teams to standardize materials and optimize inventory
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering preferred; however, will accept a Bachelor’s degree in Civil 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
- Proficiency with engineering software such as Milsoft, WindMil, CYME or similar modeling tools is preferred
- 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
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 The cover letter should address your skills and qualifications for success in this role. Resumes will be received until January 30, 2026. An Equal Opportunity Employer
· Salary Range $134K - $168K (Commensurate on Qualifications and Experience)
Pay: $134,000.00 - $168,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
