Engineering Team Lead

Location: Onsite in Richmond, VA (Sandston area)
Employment Status: Full Time | Direct Hire
Compensation: $110,000 - $126,500 per year + Annual Bonus Eligibility
Travel: Up to 50% depending on project assignments
On Call: May participate in on-call rotation based on location and client needs

Who We Are
Thermo Systems is a global, full-service control systems integration partner delivering premier class automation solutions across the Energy, Life Sciences, and Mission Critical markets.

Guided by The Thermo Way, we are unified, dynamic, and committed to delivering excellence. Our culture is grounded in three core principles:

Employee Success – investing in our people and their growth
Customer Success – delivering reliable, high-quality solutions
Financial Strength – operating with discipline and long-term focus

We believe strong teams, trusted partnerships, and technical excellence drive sustainable success.

The Opportunity

The Engineering Team Lead provides technical leadership across automation and control system projects while guiding and developing engineering team members. This role leads project tasks or small to mid-sized projects from design through commissioning and supports the successful delivery of complex control system solutions.

Working closely with project managers, engineers, and customers, the Engineering Team Lead ensures technical deliverables meet quality standards, schedules, and budget expectations while supporting team development and maintaining strong customer relationships.

This role is ideal for experienced automation engineers who are ready to combine hands-on technical leadership with mentorship and project ownership.

What You’ll Do

Core Responsibilities

• Lead and support design, development, and integration of control system solutions.
• Lead system start-up, commissioning activities, and testing efforts.
• Provide advanced expertise in interpreting piping & instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) and wiring diagrams.
• Develop and maintain Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) applications.
• Provide instrumentation specifications for complex control system designs.
• Lead development of IT infrastructure, network architecture, and system integration designs supporting control systems.
• Value engineer system designs to identify cost-effective technical solutions.

Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, and customers to ensure technical deliverables align with project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Serve as a primary technical contact for customers on assigned projects.
• Communicate clearly and proactively with customers, partners, and project teams.
• Provide mentorship and training to engineering staff during design, installation, and commissioning activities.

Quality, Safety & Process

• Lead adherence to Thermo Systems’ Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure project deliverables meet quality standards and technical specifications.
• Promote continuous improvement in engineering processes and project execution practices.
• Maintain strong attention to detail in engineering documentation and system design.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop engineering team members through mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance.
• Provide constructive feedback to team members and support their professional growth.
• Manage team workload and assign project responsibilities appropriately.
• Support performance management, retention, and team engagement.
• Promote a collaborative and positive team environment aligned with The Thermo Way.

What We’re Looking For

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 7+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or system integration.
• Demonstrated experience leading project tasks or small to mid-sized projects.
• Prior experience mentoring engineers or supporting team leadership responsibilities preferred.

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of control system design, PLC programming, and HMI development.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, wiring diagrams, and control system documentation.
• Experience supporting control system integration, commissioning, and start-up activities.
• Strong understanding of project scheduling, budgeting, and execution practices.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to mentor and guide engineering team members.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and accountability.

What You’ll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Exposure to complex, high-impact automation projects
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork

Learn more at www.thermosystems.com

Work Environment & Physical Requirements
The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.