Associate Project Engineer - Design

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) seeks an Associate Project Engineer to design and support electrical control and protection cabinets in Pullman, WA. You will select components, develop schematics, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards while collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver manufacturable designs.

The role emphasizes iterative design, documentation, and supporting prototype builds through production transition, with emphasis on quality and

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent education/experience.
• Knowledge of electrical component selection for industrial or power applications.
• Understanding of wiring practices, grounding, and cable management.
• Familiarity with creepage and clearance requirements.
• Working knowledge of electrical safety and compliance standards.
• Ability to document designs clearly and communicate with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design electrical control and protection cabinets, including schematic development, panel layout, wiring, grounding, and labeling.
• Select electrical components such as transformers, contactors, relays, terminal blocks, power supplies, and circuit protection devices.
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and bills of materials (BOMs).
• Apply proper creepage and clearance requirements for high-voltage and high-current components.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable standards and codes.
• Participate in design reviews and support design iteration and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with component design, manufacturing, test, and qualification teams.
• Support prototype builds, troubleshooting, qualification testing, and production transition.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation to support manufacturing and certifications.
• Assist with regulatory reviews, audits, and certifications as required.

Skills

Component selection

Wiring practices

Electrical safety

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Education

B.S in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

SolidWorks Electrical

Job description

US CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) seeks an Associate Project Engineer to design and support electrical control and protection cabinets. This position focuses on component selection, cabinet layout, wiring design, and compliance with applicable standards. The ideal candidate enjoys iterative design, works comfortably with cross-functional teams, and applies thorough knowledge of electrical safety and regulatory requirements to deliver reliable, manufacturable designs.

Position Responsibilities

• Design electrical control and protection cabinets, including schematic development, panel layout, wiring, grounding, and labeling.
• Select electrical components such as transformers, contactors, relays, terminal blocks, power supplies, and circuit protection devices.
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and bills of materials (BOMs).
• Apply proper creepage and clearance requirements for high-voltage and high-current components.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable standards and codes.
• Participate in design reviews and support design iteration and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with component design, manufacturing, test, and qualification teams.
• Support prototype builds, troubleshooting, qualification testing, and production transition.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation to support manufacturing and certifications.
• Assist with regulatory reviews, audits, and certifications as required.

Required Qualifications

• B.S in Electrical Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of electrical component selection for industrial or power applications.
• Understanding of wiring practices, grounding, and cable management.
• Familiarity with creepage and clearance requirements.
• Working knowledge of electrical safety and compliance standards.
• Ability to document designs clearly and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing cabinets for power systems, protection, automation, or industrial controls.
• Knowledge of thermal management, EMC/EMI considerations, and environmental ratings (NEMA/IP).
• Experience using electrical CAD tools such as AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SolidWorks Electrical, or similar.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and panel shop processes.
• Interest in iterative design and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with MIL Standards.

Location

Pullman, WA - SEL corporate office is located in Eastern Washington where you'll enjoy an unmatched quality of life. Enjoy the smaller town life: country space, freedom from traffic, easy access to recreational activities in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests, as well as great schools and universities.

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.

We're 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.

We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.

We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.

We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance and engineering development programs. Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range

We anticipate filling this position as an Associate Project Engineer: $84,240 - $124,461.

We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the salary range may differ if filled at a different level. Our ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location. We base our starting pay offer and title on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

Communication with Applicants

We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [e-mail].

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.