Sr. Electrical Engineer (R&D)

The Sr. Electrical Engineer (R&D) at Butcher Power Products partners with cross-functional teams to develop and validate new low and medium voltage power distribution products. The role focuses on electrical design, testing, certification scope, and production-ready documentation, with an emphasis on safety, reliability, and compliance.

Overview of Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design for power and control across new product development projects, from project initiation through production implementation.
• Perform New Product Introduction (NPI) electrical engineering work for assigned projects.
• Produce detailed electrical engineering specifications and lead creation of electrical schematics, wiring drawings, and bills of material for prototype equipment and test units, in collaboration with commercial, mechanical, and CAD stakeholders.
• Coordinate with Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) to define product evaluation and certification scope, including the qualification path for each product configuration.
• Develop and document test plans in accordance with relevant standards.
• Support testing at in-house and third-party laboratories.
• Assess test results and revise designs based on empirical data and established engineering concepts.
• Characterize electrical and thermal performance of common design elements using testing, simulation, and analytical methods.
• Establish standard design criteria, develop design calculators, and create reusable design models.
• Design modular, configurable solutions and option matrices to support standardized quoting and CPQ.
• Work with manufacturing engineering to apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) concepts throughout new product development.
• Integrate electrical design into equipment layouts and general arrangement drawings with mechanical and electrical designers.
• Conduct failure analysis of existing products and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Engineer and design switchboard and switchgear to customer specifications, including selection of electrical components such as circuit breakers, relays, and transformers based on performance criteria, applicable standards, and project requirements.
• Serve as primary technical point of contact for equipment design through manufacturing and testing, including Factory Witness Test (FWT) troubleshooting, and provide technical support to Sales and Project Management for proposals and customer meetings.
• Mentor and support junior engineers through design reviews and knowledge sharing.
• Provide senior technical resource support for production design work as assigned.
• Comply with the company’s safety policies.

Test Plan Development (Common Testing Areas)

• Full-load temperature rise
• Dielectric and BIL
• Short-circuit and withstand current tests

Required Qualifications

• BSEE or equivalent experience.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in electrical design of low and/or medium voltage power distribution equipment or related products.
• Experience with NRTL (UL, Intertek/ETL, CSA, etc.) evaluation, testing, and certification processes.
• Experience with electrical equipment standards including UL 891, 1558, and 508A.
• Familiarity with IEEE/ANSI C37.20.2, C37.04, C37.06, C37.09; CSA C22.2; EEMAC G8-3.2 design guidelines; and NFPA 70E.
• AutoCAD (or similar) design experience to produce electrical diagrams and schematics.
• Ability to travel up to 20% to support testing and other product development tasks in person.
• Previous field service experience, knowledge, and understanding is a plus.

Technology and Tools

• AutoCAD
• CPQ

Core Competencies

• Expert knowledge of applicable electrical standards (UL, NEC, ANSI, IEEE) with comprehensive knowledge of switchgear, switchboards, controls, and complex power distribution systems.
• Strong understanding of three-phase electric power concepts, power control, and protection schemes.
• Design standardization capabilities, including design criteria, calculators, and reusable design models.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Technical mentorship ability and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Location and Work Setting

Rancho Cordova, CA (onsite).