R&D Engineer-Mechanical Power Equipment

IEM (Industrial Electric Mfg.) is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom electrical distribution and power quality equipment in North America. IEM is delivering customer-specific solutions to meet the ever-changing power requirements of growth industries across the world. This position offers an exciting opportunity within an innovative, growing company, with a backlog of bookings that go beyond 3 years.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The R&D Mechanical Engineer is responsible for collaborating or leading the design, testing and certification of innovative electrical power products in collaboration with a diverse team of electrical, mechanical and manufacturing engineers. This role requires a strong intuition of fundamental engineering concepts across multiple disciplines and an ability to effectively manage the product development process under limited direction.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serve as Project Leader for New Product Development Projects from project initiation through production implementation.
• Ensure the execution and implementation of the New Product Introduction (NPI) engineering work for assigned projects.
• Collaborate with Senior and Lead Engineers in writing detailed engineering specifications and developing concept drawings in collaboration with Sales and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate with Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) to define product evaluation and certification scope.
• Lead the creation of detailed design drawings, 3D models and bills of material for prototype equipment and test articles.
• Develop and document test plans according to the relevant standards. Common tests include full-load temperature rise, dielectric and BIL, short-circuit and withstand current, mechanical endurance, component failure, environmental, functional and seismic shake-table tests.
• Support the testing process at in-house and third-party laboratories. Travel up to 20% to support testing and other product development tasks in-person. Evaluate test results and revise designs based on empirical data and established engineering concepts.
• Characterize the electrical, thermal and mechanical performance of common design elements through testing, simulation and/or analytical methods. Develop standard design criteria and models.
• Work closely with manufacturing engineering to implement Design for Manufacturability (DFM) concepts throughout the new product development process.
• Working with Mechanical Designers,
• Conduct failure analyses of existing products and identify opportunities for continuous improvement

COMPETENCIES:

• Strong Technical Capability
• Solid grasp of three-phase electric power concepts, power distribution systems, power control and protection strategies are preferred.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills.
• Must be a team player with strong verbal/written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with precise attention to detail.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 5 years of experience designing low and/or medium voltage power distribution equipment or related products.
• BSME or equivalent in experience.
• Experience with NRTL (UL, CSA, etc.) evaluation, testing and certification processes.
• Experience with common standards for electrical equipment (UL 891, 1558, 508A; IEEE C37.20, etc.)
• Design Experience using SolidWorks to produce 3D models is highly preferred.