Principal Electrical Engineer

 Architecture & Facilities Engineering (A&FE) is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to serve as the Resort's foremost technical authority on electrical power distribution across the full range of voltage levels, electrical life-safety-related systems, and electrical code strategy. This role requires a current California Professional Engineer (PE) license and serves as the final technical authority in the discipline.

 

You will be regarded as an expert in electrical engineering, applying an in-depth understanding of how the specialty integrates within the broader engineering function, and solving unique and complex problems with broad impact on the business. You will plan, conduct, and direct development and/or research work on complex electrical projects requiring the origination of new and unique approaches, supply technical inspiration and consultation to professional colleagues, may represent the organization in outside discussions and technical forums, and work with wide latitude for unreviewed action. As the Principal Electrical Engineer, you will set the technical direction, standards, and long-range infrastructure strategy for electrical engineering across the Resort.

 

You will report to the Director, A&FE (or designated senior Resort engineering leadership) and sit in Anaheim, CA.

 

You Will / Job Responsibilities:

 

Leadership & Strategic Program Direction

• Lead projects with notable risk and complexity, consistently over time, often multidisciplinary in nature; develop the strategy for project execution.
• Serve as a mentor and technical authority for electrical engineers Resort-wide; guide, but do not formally supervise, other engineers and designers across the electrical discipline.
• Represent A&FE's electrical engineering function in cross-functional and executive-level discussions and may represent the organization in outside discussions and technical forums.
• Contribute to the development of functional strategy for electrical engineering across the Resort's capital and sustaining portfolios, including multi-year power distribution and infrastructure master planning.
• Originate and set direction for engineering standards, master specifications, and design guidelines governing electrical systems Resort-wide.
• Evaluate long-range life-cycle cost, risk, and reliability strategy across the full range of voltage levels in the Resort's electrical distribution, emergency/standby power, and electrical resiliency portfolio, including substation and switchgear master planning, microgrid feasibility, and EV charging infrastructure strategy.

 

Technical Design & Support

• Apply in-depth, expert-level understanding of electrical engineering to solve unique and complex problems with broad impact on the business, originating and applying new and unique approaches where established methods do not apply.
• Provide conceptual and innovative technical direction on the most complex power distribution topology, protective relaying/coordination, and arc-flash mitigation strategy Resort-wide.
• Serve as final technical authority and PE of record on the Resort's most complex or highest-risk electrical designs and submittals.
• Direct root cause investigations and failure analyses for the most significant or novel electrical outages, equipment failures, or safety incidents.
• Maintain expert-level command of the California Electrical Code, IEEE electrical low voltage guidance (Brown, Buff, and Red Books), and the California Energy Code (Title 24), setting Resort-wide interpretation and application standards.

 

Relationship Management

• Communicate complex ideas, anticipate potential objections, and persuade senior leaders, regulators, and business partners to adopt sound electrical engineering strategies.
• Serve as the Resort's principal liaison with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and utility partners on complex or precedent-setting code and interconnection matters.
• Build and sustain executive-level relationships across Resort lines of business, Walt Disney Imagineering, Facility Asset Management, Entertainment, Food and Beverage, and Operations.
• Represent the Resort in industry, regulatory, or codes-and-standards development activities as needed.

 

You Will Have / Required Experience:

• 12+ years of progressive electrical engineering experience in design, construction, and/or consulting, with demonstrated expert-level depth and/or breadth of expertise.
• Demonstrated recognized standing in the electrical engineering profession (e.g., through publications, codes-and-standards committee participation, industry recognition, or comparable achievement).
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects and contributing to functional strategy.
• Thorough, expert-level understanding of the California Electrical Code, IEEE electrical low voltage guidance, and the California Energy Code (Title 24), with the ability to originate Resort-wide standards and provide overall discipline stewardship.
• Well versed in AutoCAD, Revit, SKM, and lighting design, with sound judgment for when to delegate detailed analysis versus perform it directly.
• Experience motivating and overseeing the work of others (examples include more junior level engineers/designers, vendors, interns, etc)

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated, hands-on application of engineering principles in real project delivery, valued at least as much as academic credentials alone; practical field/project experience is strongly preferred over theoretical knowledge without applied context.
• Active involvement in codes and standards development committees (e.g., NFPA, IEEE, ICC).
• Experience with theme parks, resort hotels, and mixed-use facilities at a portfolio or program level or similar complex operating environments including experience in the field.
• Experience with utility interconnection, microgrid, or large-scale emergency/standby power strategy.
• Prior experience representing an organization to external regulators, AHJs, utility partners, or industry bodies.

 

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related engineering field (preferred from an ABET accredited university)
• CA Professional Engineer (License in good standing – clear and valid)

 

Preferred Education:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering and/or MBA.

 

Additional Information:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits

The hiring range for this position in Anaheim, CA is $152,800.00 to $186,600.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.