Operations Manager - Power System Testing presso Wunderlich-Malec Engineering

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

Wunderlich-Malec’s Electrical Testing Group (ETG) is expanding — and we’re looking for a hands-on Operations Manager to lead our newest regional location from its infancy into a thriving, profitable business unit.

This is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up with the full support, reputation, and resources of Wunderlich-Malec behind you. You’ll be responsible for executing ETG’s proven business model locally: recruiting and developing a team, ensuring operational excellence in field testing and commissioning, managing client relationships, and driving financial performance under ETG’s “Incubation → Growth → Mature” framework.

If you are an entrepreneurial operations leader who thrives on building teams, delivering technical excellence, and watching a business grow under your leadership — this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Manage day-to-day operations of the ETG business unit, including scheduling, field execution, quality control, and safety
• Implement ETG standards for testing, commissioning, and documentation (relays, SCADA, automation, and IEC 61850 systems)
• Oversee resource allocation, cost management, and P&L performance targets in alignment with ETG’s growth phase milestones

Team Building & Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a team of field engineers and technicians to support regional testing and commissioning projects
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence consistent with ETG’s national standards
• Partner with the ETG leadership team to establish clear career paths and training opportunities for the new market

Client & Project Management

• Serve as the local point of contact for utility, industrial, and renewable energy clients
• Ensure all projects meet client expectations, schedule, and technical specifications
• Support proposal development, cost estimation, and project scope definition

Process & Systems

• Operate within ETG’s EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework: own the scorecard, lead local L10s, and manage to key metrics.
• Drive efficiency through standardized templates, documentation, and reporting processes.
• Collaborate closely with ETG corporate operations and other BU leaders to share resources, lessons learned, and best practices.

What Success Looks Like

• First 6–12 months: The foundation is established — local vendor relationships formed, first key hires onboarded, initial projects executed with excellence, and a clear path to profitability identified
• 12–24 months: The BU enters its Growth Phase — a stable, self-sustaining operation with a strong team, healthy backlog, and increasing client base
• Long term: The ETG becomes a Mature Business Unit — recognized regionally for its technical quality, reliability, and alignment with Wunderlich-Malec’s mission and culture

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in power systems testing, commissioning, or related operations (utility, industrial, or EPC environment)
• Proven leadership experience — managing teams, budgets, and client relationships
• Strong technical understanding of protective relaying, SCADA/automation systems, and commissioning processes
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build structure in a startup environment
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel regionally as the new location scales

Why This Role is Exciting

You’ll be part of ETG’s national expansion — taking a blank slate and building a self-sustaining operation that carries your fingerprint from day one. Every milestone will reflect your leadership: the first hire, the first FAT, the first profitable month, and ultimately the transformation from an emerging location to a Mature Business Unit within one of the fastest-growing divisions at Wunderlich-Malec.

*Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job.  They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Wunderlich-Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee-owner benefit package. Full-time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: Medical • Dental • Vision • Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D • Long Term Disability • Voluntary Short Term Disability • Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account • Paid Time Off (PTO) • Paid Holidays • Tuition Reimbursement • Referral Bonus Program • 401(k)/Profit Sharing • 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) • Employee Assistance Program • Will Preparation Resources • Worldwide Travel Assistance 

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