Design QA/QC Lead

Job Description

The role serves as the first-line independent technical reviewer for conversion and distribution overhead work packages within DTE's OHD QA/QC function. This role performs structured design reviews at the 30%, 60%, and 90% completion stages, validating that designs from external service providers comply with DTE Distribution Design Operating (DDO) standards, are constructible, and are free of defects before packages advance toward scheduling and construction.

This position is being created to establish staged (30/60/90%) design review for conversion and distribution work. The role does not redesign DTE's existing engineering process; it applies an independent quality review layer over that process. The role is expected to engage during the 0 to 30% window as well, helping shape project scope and design criteria before formal design begins.

The role reports to the QA/QC Engineering Supervisor, who retains final review authority and sign-off. This role carries no supervisory responsibility.

Key Accountabilities

• Conduct structured 30%, 60%, and 90% design reviews of conversion and distribution overhead work packages submitted by external design service providers, documenting findings against DDO standards and DTE construction details.
• Verify design accuracy and standards compliance across conductor sizing and ampacity, clearances, grounding, pole class and loading, and armless versus crossarm construction.
• Verify conversion-specific design changes, including insulation levels, arrester and cutout ratings, and secondary impacts associated with 4.8kV to 13.2kV conversion.
• Evaluate constructability and safety considerations, including tree trim requirements, joint use coordination, top cut sequencing, and construction list completeness.
• Conduct field site visits as required to verify existing conditions, constructability, and design accuracy.
• Track and document standards exceptions and non-standard designs; route deviations to the Standards group for disposition and log outcomes in the Standards Exceptions and Deviations tracker.
• Log all findings, RFIs, and review outcomes.
• Contribute to the QA/QC lessons learned process by identifying recurring defects and trends that should inform checklist updates, standards clarifications, or reviewer training.
• Provide design service provider performance input, including accuracy, completeness, and rework frequency, to support vendor scorecards and quality metrics reporting.
• Partner with the QA/QC Engineering Supervisor to validate and refine AI-assisted review tools used to support conversion and distribution package reviews.

Technical Review Scope

The reviewer is expected to independently evaluate conversion and distribution design packages across the following technical areas:

• Conductor loading, ampacity, and approved conductor sizes for new construction
• Voltage drop and voltage regulation checks for new overhead laterals
• Transformer sizing and loading, including flags for oversized or undersized transformers
• Fuse sizing and coordination with upstream protective devices
• Vertical and horizontal clearance requirements over roadways, driveways, and structures, including where DTE standards are more restrictive than NESC
• Pole loading analysis triggers, wind/ice loading zone application, and pole class requirements
• Grounding and neutral continuity requirements, including ground rod spacing
• 4.8kV to 13.2kV conversion-specific equipment and design standard changes
• Standards exceptions and non-standard design documentation requirements
• Armless versus crossarm construction triggers
• Span length and sag/tension table verification
• Construction list and material list completeness, including CU text accuracy
• Stakeholder and permit review status, including Real Estate, Environmental, Construction, Forestry, and Project Management touchpoints

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related discipline.
• Senior level: minimum 6 years of relevant experience in overhead distribution design, engineering, or construction.
• Advanced level: minimum 8 years of relevant experience, including demonstrated independent technical review or design QA/QC experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of DTE DDO, standards and construction details, or equivalent utility overhead distribution design standards.
• Direct experience with 4.8kV to 13.2kV or comparable voltage conversion projects.
• Experience with staged (30/60/90%) design review processes.
• Experience with sag/tension analysis, pole loading analysis, or related engineering verification tools.
• Familiarity with Maximo, Documentum, and Bluebeam tools used in DTE's design and work management workflow.
• Experience identifying, documenting, and dispositioning standards exceptions and deviations.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, preferred but not required.

Other Requirements

• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently assess design adequacy rather than rely on checklist compliance alone.
• Strong documentation discipline; findings must be clear, specific to work location, and traceable to a standard or design criterion.
• Ability to work independently against review cycles and manage multiple concurrent design packages.
• Effective communicator, able to deliver direct and defensible technical feedback to design service providers and escalate unresolved issues appropriately.
• Proficiency in computer applications relevant to the role, including document markup and review tools.

Working Relationships

• Reports to: QA/QC Engineering Supervisor, OHD QAQC.
• Works alongside: Design QA/QC Lead – Sub-Transmission, the parallel technical reviewer role for sub-transmission scope.
• Coordinates with: DDO, standards group on exceptions and deviations, PMO on design package status and scheduling, and external design service providers on findings and corrective action.
• Does not supervise staff in this role.