Design Lead

Q3 Contracting, a division of Primoris Services Corporation, is a publicly owned and operated construction contracting company that provides both specific and turnkey services for its customers in the gas, oil, electric and telecommunications industry. We are headquartered in Minnesota, with branch offices in Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

We have an immediate opening for a Design Lead for our office in Little Canada, MN.

The Lead Designer is an advanced-level design role responsible for delivering comprehensive distribution design project management for new and existing commercial, industrial, residential, and internal customers. This position performs all duties of a Senior Designer while serving as a technical leader, mentor, and primary point of contact for complex design requests. The Lead Designer ensures that project designs are cost-effective, aligned with Xcel Energy Delivery Service standards, and executed in accordance with all administrative and regulatory guidelines.

In addition to completing their own design workload, the Lead Designer provides direct training, job shadowing support, and daily guidance to Designers and Senior Designers. This role acts as a liaison between internal teams, construction personnel, customers, and external engineering partners while helping maintain continuity and quality across the design group.

Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

Design and Project Management

• Execute all responsibilities of a Senior Designer, including complex distribution design, cost-effective project solutions, and full management of assigned customer projects.
• Serve as the primary contact for future and existing customers, providing guidance on standards, timelines, design requirements, and project expectations.
• Prepare high-quality construction drawings, estimates, easements, permits, and associated documentation in compliance with Xcel Energy standards and policies.
• Coordinate and communicate work direction for construction personnel and support field activities as needed.
• Ensure design deliverables meet or exceed quality expectations and regulatory requirements.

Leadership, Training & Team Support

• Tain new designers and Senior Designers through hands-on instruction, technical guidance, job shadowing, and ongoing mentorship.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex design, permitting, or engineering support requests.
• Provide subject-matter expertise and act as the team’s central resource for unique or high-risk design situations.
• Support the Manager-Design by assisting with workflow prioritization, technical reviews, and team development initiatives.
• Offer back-up leadership coverage in the Managers absence.

Customer & Partner Interface

• Act as the main point of contact for external engineering firms during design reviews, redlining, and approval cycles.
• Maintain strong working relationships with construction crews, permitting teams, municipalities, vendors, and customers.
• Represent the design team professionally in meetings, project reviews, and coordination discussions.

Operational Expectations

• Required to work in the office full-time to provide daily support and facilitate real-time collaboration.
• WFH is permitted only when feasible and with leadership approval based on business needs.
• Contribute to process improvements, documentation updates, and efficiency initiatives across the design organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Must have Demonstrated performance as a Senior Designer or equivalent advanced design role.
• Must have extensive knowledge of distribution design standards. Construction practices, permits, and utility requirements.
• Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage highly complex design projects.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to mentor, train, and support other designers in a team environment.

Preferred

• Prior leadership experience or informal team-led responsibilities
• Experience coordinating with engineering firms for PE reviews or stamp requests.
• Proficiency in utility design software and internal systems

Position Impact

The Lead Designer plays a key role in ensuring design quality, team development, customer satisfaction, and efficient workflow execution. By serving as both a technical expert and team mentor, this position strengthens the overall performance and reliability of the design organization. Due to the leadership and support expectations of this position, the Lead Designer is required to work full-time in the office. Work-from-home (WFH) may be approved onley when feasible and business-appropriate.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with Generous Company Match
• Company-paid Disability Insurance
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation & Sick Time

Compensation: $34-$44/hr. (DOE)

EEO Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Third Party Agency Notice:

Primoris will not accept any unsolicited resumes from any third-party recruiting agencies either domestic or international. Primoris nor its subsidiaries will be responsible for any fees from the use of any unsolicited resumes either through our ATS or via electronic mail systems from any agency representative or agency consultant unless your firm is an approved vendor partner with a current executed agreement.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.