Sr. Electrical Engineer

Sr. Electrical Engineer – Direct Hire

Middleton, WI

Job Requisition:  7183

Description for Sr. Electrical Engineer: 

This Sr. Electrical Engineer is responsible for creating, designing, testing, supporting, and developing new and innovative electronic motor and control systems for existing and new products.  Scope of role spans motors, controls, hardware and software.  This is successfully accomplished by understanding, accurately specifying, and adhering to customer requirements, utilizing and applying quality tools and methods and pursuing continuous improvement in all aspects of product and process design. These efforts will have a direct impact on increasing average sales price per unit and improving value, reliability, and performance. Product responsibilities include branded products, private label brands, and all support componentry. The associate will plan and manage product design engineering activities related to conceptualization, product design, testing / validation, and manufacturing process functions.  In additional to production designs, this position also helps support the Engineered-To-Order (ETO) approach to meet unique customer and application needs.  ETO support will involve direct engagement with sales, customer service, end customers, manufacturing, and suppliers.  This position reports to the Product Development Manager.  This position helps to design and manage the electronic hardware and software used in the Engineering Test lab.

Objectives for Sr. Electrical Engineer:

• Coordinates and prioritizes design and product engineering activities as established by product requirements provided by product management and in accordance with Client’s business strategies and goals.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Engineering and Channel Marketing teams to introduce and develop new product concepts and existing product enhancements.
• Creates and maintains systems architecture for blinds, and how the blinds interact with end user controls and home / building systems. This includes the motors, controls, connected and IoT solutions, product interfaces, and systems interfaces as well as any languages or communications protocols used.
• Ensures designs comply with all relevant codes (electrical wiring, etc.) and standards (FCC, UL)
• Designs products and components with safety, quality, durability, reliability, value, and assembly as priorities.
• Develops and plans short- and long-term goals in accordance with SWF strategies and goals.
• Establish design specifications, material selection, and potential suppliers with regards to product design.
• Estimates project and product costs, assists with project justification, and recommends required materials and tooling.
• Facilitates design reviews to discuss concepts and proposed product designs, engaging other functional areas of the business, to gain input regarding product manufacturability and quality and incorporating those inputs into final design.
• Participates on project teams for new products, product enhancements, and NPS teams using the 4D stage gate process and teaming principles.
• Develops engineering solutions for design related customer field complaints.
• Develop and implement cost reduction measures in accordance with financial objectives.
• Prepares and submits capital requirements for product lines.
• Prepares and issues required reports, summaries, and presentations related to engineering activities.
• Maintains and controls engineering files, records, and documentation for part and process specifications, drawings, and patents.
• Interface with purchasing and suppliers to investigate, resolve, and assure compliance to specifications for supplier quality issues.
• Represent the company in industrial organizations.
• Maintain and organize lab area following 5S principles.
• Engaged in continuous improvement initiatives, recognizing process improvement methods to identify root cause, develop solutions, and implement solutions.
• Quality - (Required for all SWF job descriptions) - Integrates quality at the source thinking and activities in daily, individual, team and project work. (Applies to all job duties 100%)
• Responsible for all electrical product and design engineering activities for the Graber, Bali, and private label product lines and other associated products.
• Lead role on motorization of all product lines: motors, controls, software, user controls, systems interfaces
• Maintains knowledge base on motorization / electronics trends in relevant customer channels: commercial / contract, builder, home automation, etc.
• Collaborates on strategic application development and integration of connected deices including partnerships and voice control systems such as Alexa and Google Home
• Develops innovative designs that are congruent with product strategy and resolve patent infringement issues.
• Involved in capital budgeting process affecting all relevant product lines and manufacturing process equipment selection.
• Manages projects based on timelines established by product management priorities. Develops, plans, and implements timetables for engineering related projects.
• Interacts and collaborates with associates in marketing, quality, manufacturing, customer service, external suppliers, and other key stakeholders with regards to quality and product improvement.
• Direct interaction and communication with customers and consumers.
• Daily contact with associates at all levels of the organization
• Confers with engineering manager and product management team on major issues

Requirements for Sr. Electrical Engineer:

• BS in Engineering with a minimum of 5-10 years of applicable work experience with a focus on New Product Development and understanding of manufacturing operations

1. Capability of managing both firmware and hardware. Understanding software, and interface between product and cloud.
2. Ability to program management skills scheduling making commitments from a development timeline and support standpoint and what efforts and needs are for various projects.

• Relevant experience with new product development and product design role
• Familiarity with the design of motors, controls, user interfaces and software
• Altium experience (electronic system design)– or equivalent. Understanding of layout schematic package.

1. Program management skills scheduling; making commitments from a development timeline and support standpoint. Support efforts and needs for various projects.

• Experience with systems design: motors, controls, user interfaces, systems interfaces.
• Experience with wired / wireless communications protocols: RS232, RS485, Z-wave, Zigbee, BTLE, WiFi
• Proficiency working with outside resources to direct development of new innovation.

Education: BS in Engineering with a minimum