About the Role
Valiant Group is hiring an experienced QA/QC Manager to lead quality assurance and quality control on a large electrical substation construction project in Pennsylvania. This is a full-time, boots-on-the-ground assignment — you will be onsite daily, owning the quality program from foundations through energization.
We are looking for a seasoned quality professional who knows high-voltage substation work inside and out: someone who can read the drawings, walk the yard, catch the issue before it becomes a rework order, and hold subcontractors to spec without slowing the schedule. If you have built a 15+ year career making sure substations are built right the first time, we want to talk.
What You'll Do
- Own and administer the project Quality Control Program — develop, implement, and enforce the site-specific QA/QC plan, inspection and test plans (ITPs), and quality procedures.
- Perform daily field inspections across all phases of substation construction: civil/foundations, grounding grids, structural steel, control enclosures, conduit and raceway, cable pulling and terminations, and equipment setting (transformers, breakers, switchgear, disconnects, buswork).
- Verify that all installations conform to approved drawings, project specifications, manufacturer requirements, and applicable codes and standards (NEC/NESC, IEEE, ASTM, and utility/owner standards).
- Review and witness testing and commissioning activities — grounding/ground-resistance testing, insulation resistance, hi-pot, relay and protection testing, and pre-energization checks — and confirm results meet acceptance criteria.
- Manage material receiving inspections, verify certifications and mill/test reports, and control non-conforming materials.
- Document and drive resolution of Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), punch lists, and corrective actions; track to closure.
- Maintain complete, audit-ready quality records — inspection reports, test records, red-line as-builts, photo documentation, and turnover/closeout packages.
- Coordinate and verify the work of subcontractors and craft trades, holding them accountable to the quality standard.
- Lead quality kickoff meetings, pre-installation meetings, and daily quality coordination with field supervision and the owner's representatives.
- Interface directly with the client, owner's engineer, inspectors, and utility representatives as the project's quality point of contact.
- Support safety culture on site and integrate quality with the project's overall HSE expectations.
What You Bring (Requirements)
- Minimum 15 years of QA/QC experience in electrical substation, transmission & distribution, or high-voltage utility construction.
- Deep, hands-on knowledge of substation construction means and methods and the ability to interpret electrical, structural, and civil construction drawings.
- Working command of applicable codes and standards — NEC, NESC, IEEE, ASTM — and experience building to utility/owner quality specifications.
- Proven experience developing and administering QC programs, ITPs, and NCR/corrective-action processes on active job sites.
- Strong field presence — comfortable inspecting energized-adjacent work areas, walking the yard daily, and documenting thoroughly.
- Excellent written documentation skills and proficiency with quality/reporting software and standard office tools.
- Ability to communicate firmly and professionally with subcontractors, craft, and client representatives.
- Must be able to work onsite full-time in Pennsylvania for the duration of the project.
Preferred / Nice to Have
- Industry certifications such as CWI (Certified Welding Inspector), ACI, ICC, CQM (USACE/NAVFAC Construction Quality Management), or NICET.
- Prior experience on utility-owner or EPC substation programs (230kV/500kV or higher a plus).
- OSHA 30, first aid/CPR, and utility-specific safety credentials.
- Experience with commissioning and energization sequences.
Compensation & Benefits
Valiant Group offers a competitive, above-market compensation package for this role, structured to fit how you prefer to work — W-2 hourly or 1099 contract.
Pay range (choose the structure that fits you):
- W-2 hourly: $60 – $75 per hour straight time, with overtime at 1.5× for hours over 40/week, commensurate with experience.
- 1099 contract: $60 – $75 per hour straight time, with overtime at 1.5× for hours over 40/week (substation projects routinely run extended schedules — strong earning potential).
In addition to base pay, this assignment includes:
- Per diem for qualifying candidates (untaxed daily allowance for meals and incidentals while working away from home).
- Vehicle allowance (or company vehicle/fuel program) for onsite and project-related travel.
- Overtime pay — this is a high-hour project with significant OT opportunity.
- Paid weekly.
Pay: $60.00 - $75.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
