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Interstates

Electrical, automation, and OT solutions provider

Virtual Design Construction Planner

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/24/2026Deadline 11/30/26
$70k - $88k+ Performance bonus
Mid, Senior
Bachelor's, Associate's
Omaha, NE, USA
In PersonTravel required, varying by business needs, up to 35%.
Architecture & Civil EngineeringConstruction Management

About the job

Requirements
  • An associate degree and substantial experience in electrical planning or construction may be considered; a bachelor's degree in electrical construction management or a related technical field is preferred.
  • A journeyman's license and 3–5 years of experience in electrical planning, design, or construction coordination are sought.
  • Hands-on involvement in electrical systems such as power distribution, lighting, and low-voltage installations is needed.
  • A strong understanding of the National Electrical Code and other relevant industry standards is essential.
  • Experience in project planning, including material takeoffs and resource scheduling, is needed.
  • Strong computer skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to prioritize work and deal with stress, and ability to work cooperatively with others are required.
  • A basic understanding of internal controls is required.
  • Ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality of critical issues is required.
  • Ability to meet the work schedule and attendance policies is required.
  • A strong understanding of construction processes, project management principles, and building codes is required.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment are required.
Responsibilities
  • Assist with VDC coordination for subcontractors by offering basic guidance and support.
  • Collaborate with clients and project teams onsite or to review project scope, schedules, and prefabrication opportunities for small to medium projects.
  • Define the VDC scope of work by planning construction activities and setting deliverable schedules to match project timelines.
  • Recommend electrical installation practices by reviewing past projects, electrical codes, and best practices.
  • Promote planning and layout standards and drive technology adoption that benefits Interstates and its clients.
  • Collect project information and communicate changes to impacted team members.
  • Mentor team members in design best practices by reviewing work, collaborating on projects, and delegating designs for BIM modelling.
  • Resolve field issues by collaborating with field leaders to identify challenges and propose solutions.
  • Assess project risks and mitigation strategies through review of project documentation.
  • Provide feedback to technicians and designers by reviewing deliverables and communicating necessary adjustments.
  • Identify and implement process improvements in VDC workflows by applying lessons learned to enhance efficiency and drive continuous improvement.
  • Travel as required by business needs, not exceeding 35% of the time.

About the company

Interstates provides electrical, automation, and operational technology services for industrial facilities. They design, install, and integrate electrical systems, control-and-automation solutions, and OT services to optimize manufacturing and processing operations. Their approach is an integrated, one-stop solution with engineering, project management, and field services delivered by a team treated like family, emphasizing safety, education, and career growth. They leverage a long history (over 65 years) to offer national and global reach with a focus on collaboration and trust across industries like food & beverage, consumer goods, energy & chemical, mining, and water/wastewater. The goal is to help industrial customers build reliable, efficient, and compliant facilities by providing end-to-end electrical, automation, and OT capabilities through a trusted partner relationship.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Sioux Center, Iowa

Founded

1953

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Interstates completed Hull Coop's 2025 mill retrofit, proving complex brownfield execution.
  • Its 2025 Utah Flour Mill project won integrated electrical and automation work.
  • Interstates Engineering acquired TerraSite Design, widening survey, planning, and municipal project reach.

What critics are saying

  • Interstates depends on industrial capex clients like food and manufacturing through 2026.
  • Sioux Falls expansion started April 2026; underutilized space would pressure margins.
  • Competitors like Burns and McDonnell can undercut turnkey bids, shrinking Interstates into commodity labor.

What makes Interstates unique

  • Interstates pairs electrical construction, engineering, and automation under one Integrated Project Delivery model.
  • Its 2026 Sioux Falls expansion adds training, innovation, and collaboration capacity.
  • Its 2026 digital newsletter shift signals disciplined internal communications and brand continuity.

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Benefits

  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off
  • Vacation
  • Flexible Schedule
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Family Planning Benefits
  • Fertility Treatment Support
  • Conference Attendance Budget
  • Professional Development Budget

Company News

Veracity Industrial Networks
Oct 12th, 2023
Many Colors of Cybersecurity Protections

To further improve its cyber-awareness and protections, Interstates has also worked with Veracity Industrial Networks (veracity.io) for several years, and participated in developing its OT Network Controller software, which intuitively manages an SDN-capable switch from Dynics Inc. ( www.dynics.com ),and uses zero-trust and deny-by-default methods to improve network visibility and security.

Interstates
Aug 15th, 2023
Lending a Helping Hand

To be intentional with making a difference in its communities, Interstates Engineering Inc launched a company-wide program called Engage in 2021.

Interstates
Aug 1st, 2023
Proven Integrity for 30 Years

Over the past 30 years, Interstates has received numerous state and national ABC Excellence in Construction Awards.

Interstates
Apr 18th, 2023
Texas Project Receives ABC Of Iowa Award | Interstates

Interstates was recognized with the Award of Excellence in the Electrical – Industrial: $1M - $5M category, as well as the overall Project of the Year at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa Excellence in Construction Awards Gala on April 14 in Des Moines.

VentureBeat
Apr 13th, 2023
Case Study: How Interstates Rehauled Its Aging Data Center Infrastructure

This article is part of a VB special issue. Read the full series here: Data centers in 2023: How to do more with less. Cloud adoption is growing, but data centers still remain the driving force for most enterprises worldwide. The reason is obvious: You get more control and flexibility over the servers and associated components (like networking equipment and storage). But, when you have a lean IT team at the helm, keeping such infrastructure ready for complex and modern workloads can also be quite a task. Case in point: Iowa-based Interstates, a 60-year-old provider of electrical, construction and engineering solutions, faced the challenge of frequently upgrading data center hardware to meet its business needs. We dive into its digital transformation storyInterstates’ VM-heavy workloadInterstates focuses on design-build electrical projects, plant floor automation and operational technology support for manufacturing and industrial environments