Electric Motor Design Engineer

Employment Type: Direct Hire
Position Type: Full-Time
Work Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Salary Range: $130,000–$160,000 annually, depending on experience and education
Bonus: 15% bonus opportunity
Schedule: 1st Shift
Experience Required: Typically 10+ years of related engineering experience
Technical Experience Required: Electromagnetic design of AC and DC motors; extensive gear design and manufacturing experience
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
Relocation Assistance: Available
Supervisory Responsibilities: Technical project leadership; no direct reports

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Electric Motor Design Engineer to lead complex engineering assignments involving the electromagnetic design of AC and DC motors and the development of new or improved products and processes.

This position combines technical design responsibilities with project leadership, including planning, organizing, coordinating, and verifying engineering work. The selected candidate will guide projects to meet technical requirements, schedules, cost targets, and customer expectations.

The role requires extensive gear design and manufacturing experience to support effective integration with product engineering and optimize designs for manufacturing and assembly.

The ideal candidate will bring advanced engineering knowledge, strong analytical skills, and the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams. This position has technical responsibility for assigned projects and products without direct supervisory responsibility.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Motor Design and Product Development

• Research and execute complex engineering assignments involving electromagnetic design of AC and DC motors.
• Develop new or improved engineering methods, techniques, products, and processes.
• Apply gear design and manufacturing expertise to support product integration.
• Incorporate Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly (DFM/DFA) principles into product development.
• Determine project specifications by reviewing product designs, customer requirements, performance expectations, and data requirements.
• Conduct technical studies and prepare cost estimates.
• Prepare or coordinate product layouts, detailed drawings, and schematics with designers, drafters, and other engineers.
• Develop tooling and fixtures for new products and processes.
• Work with tooling vendors to support design and manufacturing requirements.

Technical Project Leadership

• Develop project goals and objectives by reviewing proposals and plans with management.
• Identify project phases, tasks, staffing needs, and resource requirements.
• Prepare project plans, schedules, and milestones.
• Monitor progress, coordinate activities, and resolve technical or scheduling problems.
• Evaluate alternative solutions to maintain project performance.
• Review design, specification, plan, and schedule changes and recommend actions to meet commitments.
• Monitor project costs, review expenditures, and administer contractor agreements when assigned.
• Prepare project status reports for review within and across business units.
• Provide technical leadership on new program teams.

Analysis, Verification, and Documentation

• Prepare and review technical work, including system schematics, layouts, sketches, algorithms, transfer functions, test plans, procedures, and reports.
• Verify product performance through similarity assessments, engineering analysis, and testing.
• Develop detailed verification plans aligned with product requirements.
• Analyze engineering and process data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
• Prepare documentation for new manufacturing processes and engineering procedures.
• Maintain engineering history files, project records, and technical databases.
• Apply established engineering practices, standards, and documentation methods.
• Ensure compliance with applicable company policies and industry regulations.

Collaboration and Continuous Improvement

• Communicate project status and technical recommendations to customers and internal leadership.
• Coordinate with engineering teams, other divisions, vendors, academic professionals, government agencies, and technology providers.
• Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives within design, process engineering, and cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate proposed changes to methods and procedures using data and comparative analysis.
• Serve as a technical consultant to management on significant engineering matters.
• Train and mentor less experienced employees.
• Share specialized technical knowledge and represent the organization on assigned projects.
• Maintain technical expertise through training, technical publications, benchmarking, and professional associations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the position’s responsibilities, typically acquired through 10 or more years of related engineering experience.
• Strong background in electromagnetic design of AC and DC motors.
• Extensive gear design and manufacturing experience.
• Knowledge of DFM/DFA principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering theories, principles, practices, techniques, regulations, and policies relevant to assigned products.
• Ability to integrate knowledge from related engineering disciplines and technical specialists.
• Comprehensive knowledge of continuous improvement principles and the ability to lead their implementation.
• Proficiency with standard business applications and specialized data analysis, design, and project management tools.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems, evaluate multiple factors, and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to establish goals, coordinate complex projects, and communicate progress at project milestones.
• Sound judgment in selecting engineering methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
• Ability to interpret complex policies and recommend procedural improvements.
• Ability to respond effectively to significant inquiries from customers, regulatory agencies, and business representatives.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including communication of complex technical topics to senior leadership and customers.
• Strong analytical skills, including defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and participate in goal-setting, performance feedback, and professional development.
• Ability to work onsite in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of solid-model CAD software.
• Experience using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools.
• Experience using engineering simulation software.

Work Environment

• Onsite aerospace engineering and product development environment in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• Work involves motor design, gear design integration, engineering analysis, verification, and manufacturing process development.
• Regular collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, customers, and technology partners.
• Technical project leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Responsibility for project schedules, costs, documentation, and technical results.
• First-shift schedule.

Key Competencies

• AC and DC motor electromagnetic design
• Gear design and manufacturing
• Aerospace product development
• Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
• Engineering analysis and verification
• Technical project leadership
• Project planning and cost management
• Technical drawings and schematics
• Tooling and fixture development
• Complex problem-solving
• Data analysis
• Continuous improvement
• Engineering documentation
• Customer communication
• Technical presentations
• Mentoring and cross-functional collaboration

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
• Optional life, accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company matching contributions equal to 100% of the first 5% of pay.
• Company-funded defined-contribution retirement plan with an annual contribution equal to 3% of pay.
• Career development and tuition reimbursement.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short-term and long-term disability programs.
• Adoption assistance.
• Care.com membership and financial planning assistance.
• Optional identity protection, legal protection, and pet wellness programs.
• Paid time off and up to 15 company-paid holidays.
• Relocation assistance.
• Employee resource groups, recognition events, and engagement activities.
• Donation matching, charitable programs, disaster relief support, and paid volunteer hours.
• Employee discounts on eligible products and services.
• Employee referral awards of up to $4,000 for qualifying hires.
• Flexible work attire under a Dress for Your Day policy.
• Free onsite fitness center available 24 hours.
• Onsite cafeteria and vending options.