| Location | Ann Arbor, MI |
Industry: Custom Machinery & Industrial Automation
The Electrical Hardware Designer / Engineer is responsible for designing and developing electrical control systems for custom machinery, automated equipment, and industrial applications. This position works closely with mechanical engineering, controls engineering, and project management teams to develop electrical designs from initial concept through fabrication, assembly, installation, and commissioning.
The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with electrical hardware design, control panel layout, electrical schematics, and industrial automation systems, with strong proficiency in EPLAN Electric P8. This individual should be comfortable translating machine requirements into detailed electrical designs and supporting the integration of PLCs, drives, motors, sensors, safety devices, and other automation components.
Electrical Design & Engineering
Design and develop electrical hardware systems for custom machinery, automated equipment, and industrial manufacturing applications.
Create and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control panel layouts, and electrical documentation using EPLAN.
Design electrical control panels, power distribution systems, machine interfaces, and operator control stations.
Select and specify electrical components, including circuit breakers, relays, contactors, power supplies, terminal blocks, drives, motors, sensors, and safety devices.
Develop electrical designs that meet machine specifications, customer requirements, and applicable electrical codes and standards.
Collaborate with mechanical engineering to coordinate electrical layouts, component mounting, cable routing, and machine integration.
Controls & Automation Integration
Support the electrical hardware design and integration of PLC-based control systems.
Incorporate PLCs, HMIs, variable frequency drives (VFDs), servo drives, motors, sensors, and other automation components into machine designs.
Develop I/O layouts, electrical connection diagrams, panel wiring documentation, and interface specifications.
Work alongside controls engineers and programmers to ensure electrical hardware is properly designed to support machine functionality.
Support the integration of industrial communication networks and machine safety systems.
Assist with troubleshooting electrical design issues during panel assembly, machine build, testing, and commissioning.
Control Panel Design & Manufacturing Support
Develop control panel layouts, enclosure designs, component arrangements, and wiring documentation.
Establish electrical bill of materials (BOMs), component specifications, and material requirements.
Provide technical support to electrical panel builders, machine assemblers, and production personnel.
Review electrical drawings and documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and manufacturability.
Support design modifications, engineering changes, and troubleshooting throughout the equipment build process.
Project & Cross-Functional Support
Work with project managers, mechanical engineers, and controls engineers throughout the equipment design and development process.
Participate in design reviews and project meetings to establish electrical requirements and resolve design challenges.
Support equipment installation, startup, and commissioning activities as needed.
Maintain accurate electrical documentation and ensure designs are properly released and updated throughout the project lifecycle.
Identify opportunities to improve electrical design standards, component selection, and engineering processes.
3+ years of experience in electrical hardware design or electrical engineering within a manufacturing, industrial automation, or custom machinery environment.
Strong proficiency with EPLAN Electric P8 for electrical schematic development and control panel design.
Experience designing electrical control panels and industrial machine control systems.
Understanding of PLC-based automation systems and electrical integration.
Knowledge of industrial electrical components, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo drives, motors, sensors, relays, contactors, and circuit protection devices.
Ability to read, interpret, and develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical drawings.
Understanding of industrial power distribution, machine wiring, grounding, and electrical safety.
Familiarity with applicable electrical standards and codes, including NFPA 79, NFPA 70, and UL 508A.
Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple engineering projects and deadlines.
Experience designing electrical systems for custom-built machinery, automated production equipment, or special-purpose machines.
Familiarity with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation or Siemens.
Experience with control panel layout, enclosure sizing, and component selection.
Knowledge of industrial networking and communication protocols.
Experience supporting machine builds, electrical assembly, testing, and commissioning.
Background working for an OEM, machine builder, or industrial automation systems integrator.