Electrical Test Engineering Manager
Location: Fontana, CA (Onsite)
Compensation: $105,000-$130,000/year + 10% bonus
Position Summary
The Electrical Test Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all electrical testing activities for substation control house and enclosure-based power distribution projects. Reporting to the Director of Design & Engineering, this role manages the test engineering and technician team, ensuring testing is executed safely, accurately, on schedule, and within budget.
This is a hands-on leadership role ideal for someone with a strong background in power equipment and switchgear testing who can balance technical execution with team leadership and continuous process improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage the electrical testing team responsible for testing all components within power and control enclosures (E-Houses).
Own the testing schedule and coordinate closely with Engineering and Production to align with overall project timelines.
Monitor daily testing progress, provide technical guidance, and troubleshoot critical issues as they arise.
Review project specifications, drawings, and schematics to ensure testing procedures meet all customer and regulatory requirements.
Review and approve test plans, test reports, and testing schematics for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with internal standards.
Ensure all completed test documentation is properly maintained, both physically and electronically, within project folders.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve testing procedures, work instructions, and testing forms.
Oversee testing equipment inventory and ensure proper calibration, availability, and safe usage.
Lead root cause analysis and quality improvement initiatives to reduce test cycle time and improve overall efficiency.
Enforce electrical safety standards, testing protocols, and housekeeping requirements across all test areas.
Perform and support hands-on electrical testing as needed, including functional and power testing.
Testing Scope Includes
Medium-voltage switchgear and breakers
Protective relays and relay panels
Power distribution components within enclosures
Communication systems and HMIs
Panelboards and automatic transfer switches
Fire alarm and auxiliary systems
HVAC and supporting electrical systems within the enclosure
Qualifications
Technical degree or equivalent experience in an electrical or power-related field.
5+ years of experience in electrical or power equipment testing, ideally within substations, switchgear, or enclosure-based systems.
Strong hands-on experience with AC/DC functional testing of protective relays, MV switchgear, breakers, and arc-flash related systems.
Previous experience leading or managing test technicians or engineering teams.
Solid knowledge of electrical safety practices, NEC, IEEE standards, and applicable testing codes.
Experience producing and reviewing multiple detailed test reports per project (typically 8–10).
NETA certification is a plus.
Work Environment
Fully onsite role based in Fontana, CA
Hands-on shop and production testing environment
Close collaboration with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams
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Sterling Engineering, Inc.
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
500 to 999 employees
Staffing/Employment Agencies
http://www.sterling-engineering.com