Lead Distribution Engineer (Underground)

At Leidos, the opportunities are boundless. We challenge our staff with interesting assignments that provide them with an opportunity to thrive, professionally and personally. For us, helping you grow your career is good business.

Leidos is seeking a Lead Distribution Engineer (Underground) in Oahu, HI who is passionate about electric utility design engineering. We’re looking for someone who is dedicated to ensuring that every project, no matter how simple or complex, is of exceptional quality. You'll be working directly with clients to make sure that Leidos' reputation for high-quality work is always maintained.

If you join us in this role, you'll continue to gain experience in a variety of underground distribution/subtransmission areas, including underground residential/commercial development (URD/UCD) design, building vault redesigns, conventional underground switch replacement, and underground asset replacement. Overhead design including Structural Pole Modeling, Overhead reconductoring, and road widening will be required as part of the overall support for these projects.

Location & Relocation

This position is based on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, supporting our local utility customers, projects, and team. We welcome qualified candidates who are already located on Oahu, as well as candidates from across the United States who are interested in relocating. A competitive relocation package is available to eligible hires to assist with their transition to Oahu.

As a Lead Distribution Underground Engineer, you can expect to:

• Developing the design of work packages for URD/UCD, UG Cable replacements, UG Switchgear projects, Handhole and Manhole revisions, Vault Network UG, Pad-mount transformers. OH to UG Conversions, redline/review of existing drawings, and typical OH design. using customer GIS and WMS systems such as SAP and/or Bentley Expert Designer. 
• Review work provided by Client and assess requirements of scopes
• Will be comfortable in both a field and office setting and trained in customer engineering and construction standards. 
• Support pole structural analysis, guying calcs, cable pulling calcs, coordination of protective devices, calculations of electric demand and fault currents.
• Developing estimated costs for projects and development of Bill of Material (BOM)
• Coordination of conflicting utilities, and other field engineering design requirements, the assessment and development of design big packages for complex cable/conduit projects in dense urban environments, work permit development, easements and ROW applications, and the design of mainline vault medium voltage switchgear, network system design and distribution system protection and coordination.
• The design of mainline vault medium voltage switchgear, network system design and distribution system protection and coordination.
• Perform QA/QC reviews of work by other engineers for submittal to Clients.
• Comply with Leidos and Client Safety requirements as well as design and quality expectations
• Customer/job related travel is anticipated and will be reimbursed at IRS approved rates. Overnight travel may be required.
• Overnight travel may be required (15-20% travel)
• Ability to utilize personal vehicle 

What Sets You Apart (Background Requirements):

• 4+ years of prior relevant experience is required
• Bachelor’s Degree (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or Industrial preferred); additional relevant experience/certifications may be considered in lieu of bachelor's degree
• Experience with UG distribution design, UG network projects, Major Underground Projects, OH framing and design, Conductor replacements, Voltage Conversion projects, Road Widening Projects, and OH to UG conversions
• Experience with MH/Duct System requirements
• Experience in designing within building and street transformer vaults
• Experience with NESC Standards
• Experience with AutoCAD and/or Microstation for Electrical Distribution design
• Excellent verbal and written communication

Preferred Qualifications:

• EIT/FE credentials or PE license
• Experience with design tools such as Pole Foreman, OCalc, and Spida-Calc.
• Experience with Hawaiian Electric design standards 

At Leidos, we pride ourselves on being a trusted and technology-focused solutions provider. Our Power Delivery Services Team is the go-to for utilities and mobile operators who need reliable power and telecommunication expertise. We've worked with over 50 investor-owned utilities, over 160 municipals/cooperatives, and we're continuing to expand our reach. Plus, we've got an amazing group of industry-leading construction partners who help us deliver meaningful Energy Delivery Solutions. Our recognition as an industry leader has been confirmed time and time again. Engineering News-Record (ENR) has ranked Leidos among the Top 10 T&D Firms and Top 10 Power Firms.

As a valued team member, you can look forward to a fast paced, diverse work environment and flexible work hours/work arrangements, as well as managers who will encourage career development and growth opportunities, including Professional Engineer License (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), Leadership training, Formal Mentorship Programs, Management opportunities.

PDSDLINE

PowerDelivery

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 26, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $73,450.00 - $132,775.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.