Logo
M.C. Dean, Inc.

M.C. Dean, Inc. is hiring: Recruiting Manager, Engineering & Construction in Vie

M.C. Dean, Inc., Vienna, VA, US, 22184

Save Job

Overview

M.C. Dean is a leading integrator of complex electrical systems for mission-critical, secure, and infrastructure-intensive projects -often in sectors such as government high voltage construction, healthcare, data centers, transportation, and defense electrical high voltage construction projects . The Recruiting Manager plays a pivotal role in identifying and acquiring talent that can operate in this highly technical, deadline-driven, and compliance-intensive environment.

M.C. Dean is seeking an experienced Recruiting Manager, Engineering & Construction to lead technical recruitment efforts for high-impact engineering and electrical construction projects across mission-critical, secure, and infrastructure-intensive environments. This individual will oversee the primary recruiting for Senior Engineering Leaders, and Senior Project Leaders.

Additionally, this individual will lead full-cycle recruitment, manage a team of recruiters, and partner directly with operational leaders to meet aggressive project staffing demands-especially for engineering, project management, and physical design professionals.

This role is ideal for a proactive leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and understands the complexities of electrical construction, systems integration, in the critical infrastructure commercial sector.

Responsibilities

The Recruiting Manager's role is not just to fill positions-but to build high-performing project teams capable of executing complex, schedule-driven, and security-sensitive electrical infrastructure. A deep understanding of the roles of engineers and physical designers, their required technical proficiencies, and the dynamic project environment is essential for successful recruitment and workforce planning .

To succeed in this role, the Recruiting Manager must go beyond generic recruitment and become a strategic partner to project delivery teams. They need to understand the demands of field operations, design standards, client expectations, and workforce logistics -and adapt recruitment approaches to attract and retain top-tier talent who thrive in the fast-paced, technically complex world of engineering & electrical construction.

Strategic Talent Acquisition

  • Understanding Office Positions: Develop and execute targeted recruiting strategies for engineering leaders, project leaders, and also electrical engineers, power systems specialists, commissioning engineers, BIM modelers, and superintendents.

  • Direct Recruiting Experience: Has direct self-recruited experience for engineering leaders, project leaders, and also electrical engineers, power systems specialists, commissioning engineers, BIM modelers, and superintendents.

  • Partner with Engineering, Construction, and Project Delivery leaders to understand staffing needs across ongoing and upcoming projects.

  • Anticipate hiring surges tied to project ramp-ups and align talent pipelines accordingly.

Stakeholder Collaboration

  • Serve as a strategic advisor to executive and senior leadership, hiring managers on labor market trends, role scoping, and job description development.

  • Partnership with Senior Leaders: Relationship development and nurture of a broad range of personalities, SVP, VPs, and many Directors.

  • Work with all hiring managers to ensure that in advance of the candidate's start date the right assets are ordered (eg laptop, iPad, vehicle, etc.) as well as clearance applications.

  • Participate in resource planning meetings and weekly staffing huddles for major programs (e.g., commercial, federal, data center, hospitals, and airport projects).

  • Maintain strong cross-functional relationships with the SBU SVP, Vice Presidents, Engineering Leaders, Project Leaders, Field HR, Project Controls, and Operations.

Team Leadership

  • Manage and mentor a team of recruiters and sourcing specialists assigned to technical disciplines.

  • Monitor workload, performance metrics, and candidate experience KPIs.

  • Provide regular training on recruiting best practices and compliance in federal contracting environments.

Full-Cycle Recruitment Execution

  • Oversee job postings, resume screening, technical assessments, interview coordination, and offer negotiations.

  • Ensure candidate pipelines align with role requirements including software proficiency (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, ETAP), licenses (e.g., PE), or security clearance eligibility.

  • Leverage ATS (e.g., Workday or iCIMS) to track requisitions, candidate stages, and time-to-fill benchmarks.

Talent Pipeline Development

  • Drive initiatives focused on hiring critical infrastructure electrical construction leadership professional roles such as project leaders, engineering leaders, project engineers, project managers all levels, design engineers.

  • Manages the usage of external recruitment firms and advises hiring managers and HR management on where such services are best utilized and how to effectively manage costs and qualitative delivery.

  • Establish sourcing channels through Niche engineering and project management channels that include associations, social media, job boards, and any method that yields senior engineering leaders and senior project leaders.

  • Represent M.C. Dean at career fairs, hiring events, and campus recruiting engagements as required.

Compliance and Reporting

  • Ensure adherence to OFCCP, EEO, and internal corporate policies.

  • Generate recruiting dashboards and reports, presenting data-driven insights to executive leadership.

  • Oversee audit readiness for OFCCP, EEOC.

Qualifications

  • Education: Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.

  • Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in recruiting or talent acquisition, with at least 3 years managing technical hiring for engineering or construction roles. Experience hiring in engineering & construction industry for large-scale high-voltage electrical construction environment in critical infrastructure industry (data centers, hospitals, airports).

  • Prior experience hiring in adjacent industries such as Power Generation and Energy Infrastructure, Industrial & Process facilities for large-scale high-voltage electrical construction environment preferred.

Technical & Functional Skills

  • Deep expertise with roles recruiting for Senior Engineering Leaders, Senior Project Leaders.

  • Deep understanding of Electrical Engineers, Power Systems Engineer, Physical Designer, BIM Coordinator, and Electrical Superintendent.

  • Strong command of recruiting tools and systems (ATS, LinkedIn Recruiter, Requisition Analytics).

  • Deep understanding of talent market dynamics in electrical construction, engineering, and manufacturing.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and team-building abilities.

  • Consultative approach to hiring and workforce planning.

  • Ability to navigate ambiguity and deliver results in a matrixed organization.

Preferred Certifications (Nice to Have)

  • AIRS or SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential

  • PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP

  • Clearance eligibility or current Secret clearance

We offer an excellent benefits package including:

  • A competitive salary

  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance

  • Paid time off

  • Tuition reimbursement

  • 401k Retirement Plan

  • Military Reserve pay offset

  • Paid maternity leave

Abilities

  • Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.

  • Sitting for extended periods of time.

  • Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.

  • Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.

  • Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Identify and understand the speech of another person.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Understanding the Electrical Construction Environment at M.C. Dean

1. Nature of Electrical Construction Projects

Electrical construction at M.C. Dean typically involves:

  • Large-scale infrastructure development , such as data centers, military bases, and utility-scale facilities.

  • High-voltage systems , power distribution, grounding, lighting, and building automation.

  • Deployment of design-build and design-assist services that include prefabrication and modular construction from off-site manufacturing facilities.

  • Coordination with Building Information Modeling (BIM) , CAD, and digital twins for precise execution.

2. Key Roles the Recruiting Manager Needs to Staff

A. Project Leaders

These individuals manage field execution, budget, scope, and customer interfacing:

  • Project Managers (PMs): Oversee the end-to-end delivery of electrical scopes.

  • Superintendents : Lead day-to-day site operations, enforce safety and quality control.

  • Assistant PMs and Field Engineers : Support project execution, submittals, change orders, and coordination.

B. Electrical Engineers

Technical experts responsible for system design, commissioning, and compliance:

  • Power Systems Engineers : Design and analyze electrical power systems for reliability and efficiency.

  • Controls Engineers : Focus on automation, PLCs, SCADA, and integration of building systems.

  • Design Engineers : Use software like AutoCAD, Revit, and ETAP to produce construction documents.

  • Commissioning Engineers : Validate and test electrical systems for operational readiness.

3. Field Environment Realities

The Recruiting Manager must consider:

  • Jobsite variability : Candidates must be mobile and adaptable to project sites across the U.S. or internationally.

  • Security clearance : Many roles require U.S. citizenship and eligibility for Secret or TS clearance, especially on federal contracts.

  • Union vs. Non-Union labor : Understanding workforce structures and agreements where applicable.

  • Safety culture : Knowledge of OSHA requirements and commitment to zero-injury policies is crucial.

  • Schedule pressures : Projects often operate under aggressive deadlines and must meet strict commissioning windows.

4. Candidate Attributes for Success in Electrical Construction

  • Technical competence : Deep understanding of electrical codes (e.g., NEC), construction sequencing, and systems integration.

  • Resilience and flexibility : Willingness to work in physically demanding and sometimes austere environments.

  • Communication skills : Must coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, subcontractors, and clients.

  • Leadership potential : Especially for field-based leaders who need to manage crews and drive performance.

5. Recruiting Challenges Unique to Electrical Construction

  • High competition for engineers and electricians .

  • Location-based hiring limitations (e.g., remote sites, travel-heavy roles).

  • Project ramp-up timing : Requires forecasting and just-in-time hiring.

  • Diversity in skillsets : Need to source both degreed engineers and licensed trades professionals.

Electrical Construction Environment: Engineering & Physical Design Talent Needs

The Recruiting Manager at M.C. Dean is tasked with staffing a highly technical and performance-driven environment. Electrical construction spans design, preconstruction, installation, integration, and commissioning of complex systems-requiring a multidisciplinary approach and a high-caliber technical workforce.

1. Expanded Scope of Electrical Construction Projects

These projects often include:

  • Data centers, healthcare facilities, federal buildings, transit hubs, airports , and military installations

  • Integration of medium- and low-voltage power systems , life safety systems , lighting controls , and security infrastructure

  • Reliance on modular construction , prefabrication , and digital modeling for improved schedule and quality control

  • A design-build or design-assist delivery model , which integrates engineering early in the construction process

2. Key Roles: Engineers and Physical Designers

A. Engineers

These professionals form the backbone of the design, integration, and validation of electrical systems:

  • Electrical Engineers

  • Design power distribution systems (LV/MV), grounding, lighting, and branch circuitry

  • Ensure NEC and NFPA code compliance, perform load calculations, and coordinate with architects and MEP teams

  • Systems Engineers

  • Integrate building systems such as fire alarm, security, telecommunications, and automation

  • Ensure interoperability between electrical and controls systems

  • Power Systems Engineers

  • Analyze and model electrical infrastructure using ETAP or SKM

  • Evaluate short-circuit, arc flash, and protective device coordination for high-reliability power systems

  • Controls & Automation Engineers

  • Develop PLC, SCADA, and DDC solutions for intelligent building and industrial controls

  • Configure control panels, instrumentation, and HMI interfaces

  • Commissioning Engineers

  • Lead field validation and testing of electrical systems

  • Work closely with QA/QC, site teams, and clients to ensure readiness for energization and handover

  • Design Engineers (Multi-disciplinary)

  • Collaborate across structural, mechanical, and civil interfaces to ensure coordinated and clash-free designs

  • Work within integrated BIM environments (e.g., Revit, Navisworks)

B. Physical Designers (CAD, BIM, and Layout Professionals)

Physical design specialists translate engineering intent into constructible, clash-free documentation:

  • Electrical Designers

  • Produce power, lighting, grounding, and conduit layouts

  • Develop panel schedules, one-line diagrams, and riser diagrams using AutoCAD, Revit, or MicroStation

  • Physical Layout Designers

  • Lay out equipment rooms, cable trays, racks, panels, and field devices in coordination with real-world constraints

  • Ensure spatial accuracy using 3D modeling tools and field conditions

  • BIM Coordinators/Modelers

  • Integrate electrical systems into full 3D models for clash detection and constructability

  • Collaborate with other trades in BIM coordination meetings, using software like Navisworks Manage

  • Revit MEP Designers

  • Model systems per project phasing, LOD requirements, and client design criteria

  • Produce construction-ready documentation in coordination with fabrication standards

3. Key Considerations for Recruiting in Engineering & Physical Design

  • Software proficiency : ETAP, AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, SKM, Bluebeam, BIM 360, and Microsoft Project are often required

  • Hybrid skillsets : Candidates with experience in both field and design environments are particularly valuable

  • Mobility and adaptability : Engineers and designers may rotate between home office, modular assembly facilities, and field sites