Design Engineering Manager

Arrow Speed Controls; Richmond; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental benefits

RRSP matching plan

Education and training funding

Social functions with team

Paid time off for personal wellness

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Arrow Speed Controls Limited, a leader in VFD integration, seeks a Design Engineering Manager to lead the technical team, design motor control systems, and ensure compliance with safety and industry standards.

You will mentor engineers across electrical, firmware, software and mechanical domains, oversee LV/MV VFD architectures, review schematics, and drive projects from concept to production.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Power Electrical Engineering and EGBC Professional Engineer registration.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex electrical engineering projects from concept to completion.
• Design and develop electrical systems, components, and test procedures.
• Review hardware schematics, layouts, embedded SCADA/PLC programs, and EMC considerations.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive knowledge transfer within the team.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Team mentoring

Analytical thinking

Education

Master’s degree in Power Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

SCADA/PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, ABB, Mitsubishi)

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

ABB

Mitsubishi

Job description

Arrow Speed Controls Limited (est. 1980) is the leading Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Integrator in North America. With over 20,000 successful applications to date, we are a trusted partner across the heavy industries. We engineer and assemble speed control equipment for a wide range of electric motor applications. In addition to VFD's, we also do DC drives, soft starts, servo controls and PLC systems.

What You Will Be Doing

As a Design Engineering Manager, you will lead the technical team to design motor control systems, manage projects, oversee power electrical hardware, automation and control software, ensuring compliance with standards, and providing technical expertise while mentoring junior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Lead and manage complex electrical engineering projects from concept to completion, ensuring they meet technical specifications and are delivered on time and within budget.
• Design and Development: Design and develop electrical systems, components, and test procedures ensuring innovative solutions that adhere to safety standards and industry regulations, including creating and maintaining design calculations and risk assessments.
• Technical Authority: Act as the technical authority within the engineering disciplines, ensuring all designs and assessments comply with statutory requirements and national/international standards.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, including Customer Solution, Sales, Supply Chain, Production, and Customer Service to achieve project goals and resolve any technical challenges that arise.
• Mentorship and Training: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers, fostering their professional development and ensuring knowledge transfer within the team.
• Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve complex electrical issues, providing effective solutions to maintain project timelines and quality standards.
• Reporting: Prepare and present engineering reports to stakeholders, summarizing project progress, challenges, and solutions.
• Innovation: Evaluate and implement new technologies and methodologies to enhance engineering processes and project outcomes.
• Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and scale a team of electrical, firmware, software and mechanical design engineers.
• VFD Design & Architecture: Oversee end-to-end design of low-voltage (LV) or medium-voltage (MV) VFDs, power converters, and motor control systems.
• Technical Oversight: Review hardware schematics, layouts, embedded SCADA/PLC programs, thermal management, and EMC compliance.
• Process & Standards: Ensure compliance with international safety and performance standards (e.g., IEEE, IEC, UL) and improve standard work processes. Own the Product Development Process.

What We Need From You

• Education and Background:
  • Master’s degree in Power Electrical Engineering and registered with EGBC as a Professional Engineer.
  • 10+ years of experience in senior engineering role in MCC, VFD, Switchgear design.
  • Proficiency with SCADA/PLC programming (Allen-Bradly, Siemens, ABB, Mitsubishi…), AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or equivalent.
  • Strong understanding of industrial automation, motor control, VFDs, and soft starters.
  • Significant experience of designing for high-mix, low-volume, including:
    • Design For Excellence, DFM.
    • Configurable standardizations for custom products.
    • Code and Compliance Standards such as UL, CSA, CE, IEC, IECEx.
  • Lean and Six-Sigma certification and/or experience are a strong asset.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to work in a customer focus, production-driven environment.
• Leadership Skills:
  • Strong leadership and project management abilities are crucial for guiding teams and managing complex projects. This role is vital for advancing technological initiatives within an organization and ensuring that engineering projects are executed efficiently and effectively.

Key Competencies

We Expect Our People To Consistently Demonstrate The Following Competencies In Their Work, Decision-making, And Interactions With Colleagues, Customers, And Stakeholders

• Ethics & Integrity: Acts with honesty, professionalism, fairness, and respect while maintaining confidentiality and building trust.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of responsibilities, follows through on commitments, and accepts responsibility for outcomes.
• Strategic Thinking: Understands how their work contributes to organizational goals and identifies opportunities to improve processes and results.
• Action Orientation: Demonstrates initiative, solves problems proactively, and responds effectively to changing priorities and challenges.
• Continuous Learning & Humility: Seeks feedback, learns from experiences, embraces new ideas, and pursues ongoing personal and professional development.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Works effectively with others, values diverse perspectives, and contributes to a positive, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
• Results Orientation: Focuses on delivering high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and achieving objectives efficiently and effectively.
• Safety & Well-Being: Promotes a safe and healthy work environment by following safety procedures, identifying hazards, and supporting the well-being of others.

Everyone is responsible for demonstrating these competencies and contributing to a high-performing, collaborative, inclusive, and safe workplace.

What We Will Give To You

• $140,000 - $160,000, dependent on experience and qualifications
• Extended health and dental benefits
• RRSP matching plan
• Education and training funding opportunities
• Social functions with team
• Paid time off for personal wellness
• Opportunities to move up with your career with Arrow

Career Path

This role provides a growth path to develop, mentor, and growth the design engineering team with both capacity and capability to be a world-class team with an ultimate goal of becoming Director of Engineering and more.

Arrow Speed Controls is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Arrow is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other legally protected status.