Forklift Exchange, Inc. is seeking an Electrical Engineer to support the electrical design of heavy-duty mobile equipment, with a focus on 12V/24V system engineering and wire harness development. This onsite role in Bedford Park, IL blends computer-based design work with hands-on troubleshooting of prototype and production machines alongside technicians and production teams.
The primary objective is to help Royal develop electrical systems that are simple, reliable, repeatable, easy to manufacture, and straightforward to troubleshoot in the field. A successful design enables earlier harness builds and testing, cleaner production installs, and durable engineering changes that prevent recurring electrical issues.
Key Responsibilities
- Design complete 12V/24V electrical systems and wire harnesses for heavy mobile equipment.
- Create and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, harness drawings, connector pinouts, and bills of material.
- Engineer harnesses for engines, transmissions/hydrostatic systems, hydraulic controls, operator controls, lighting, safety systems, sensors, and accessories.
- Select wire sizes, connectors, terminals, relays, fuses, circuit protection, switches, sensors, and other electrical components.
- Develop and maintain electrical interfaces with PLCs/controllers, CAN bus/J1939 networks, engines, Danfoss hydrostatic components, displays, sensors, and other electronic controls.
- Design harnesses with manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, and installation practicality in mind.
- Define harness routing, mounting, protection, labeling, connector placement, and service access.
- Partner with Royal’s in-house harness department to support consistent, efficient harness build execution.
- Develop and maintain harness test procedures and test fixtures to verify harnesses before machine installation.
- Troubleshoot prototype and production machines to identify root causes of electrical problems instead of applying temporary fixes.
- Support prototype builds and convert prototyping learnings into permanent engineering changes.
- Coordinate with mechanical, hydraulic, manufacturing, assembly, and service teams.
- Maintain accurate electrical documentation, revisions, BOMs, and electrical standards across the Royal product line.
- Help standardize components and electrical architecture across multiple Royal models to reduce part count, inventory, assembly time, and service complexity.
- Provide electrical troubleshooting support for production and field service as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, or equivalent practical experience.
- Strong understanding of 12V/24V DC electrical systems.
- Ability to read and create professional electrical schematics and harness documentation.
- Understanding of electrical troubleshooting topics including voltage drop, grounding, circuit protection, electrical loads, and component selection.
- Experience working directly with manufacturing and technicians during prototype development.
- Strong practical problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing electrical systems or wire harnesses for off-highway equipment, forklifts, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, trucks, automotive systems, or other mobile machinery.
- Experience with CAN bus and J1939 communications.
- Experience with mobile hydraulic or hydrostatic equipment.
Technologies
- 12V/24V DC electrical systems
- CAN bus
- J1939
- PLCs/controllers
- Danfoss hydrostatic components
Benefits
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Salary: USD 25 - 35 per hour.
Location: Bedford Park, IL (onsite).
This role is designed for an engineer who goes beyond creating drawings and can own the electrical system from concept through production, ensuring Royal’s designs are buildable, testable, and maintainable across machines.
