Electrical Controls Design Engineer

Specialized Recruiting Group - Charlotte, NC; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Specialized Recruiting Group - Charlotte, NC is seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Engineer / Electrical Controls Engineer to lead the electrical hardware design of sophisticated industrial machinery and process equipment.

This hands-on role focuses on designing electrical systems for machines, using EPLAN, with NEC/NFPA, UL and CE compliance, and close collaboration with mechanical and automation engineers on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• Approximately 7+ years of relevant industrial electrical engineering experience; exceptional candidates with somewhat less may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience designing electrical systems for industrial machinery, automated equipment or other engineered machine systems.
• Strong working knowledge of EPLAN, preferably EPLAN Electric P8.
• Working knowledge of NEC/NFPA, UL and CE electrical requirements.
• Experience with electrical hardware such as transformers, motors, relays, circuit protection and power-distribution components.
• Ability to take an electrical design from requirements and schematics through build, checkout and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end electrical hardware design for industrial machinery and equipment.
• Develop electrical schematics, panel layouts, cable routing and related machine documentation using EPLAN.
• Design AC and DC power distribution systems (120–600VAC and 24–60VDC).
• Design and specify control panels, enclosures, wiring, grounding and electrical protection.
• Select and integrate electrical hardware including transformers, motors, relays, breakers, power cables and related components.
• Create and maintain BOMs, terminal layouts, grounding plans, vendor specifications and electrical documentation.
• Design equipment in accordance with NEC/NFPA, UL and CE requirements.
• Collaborate with mechanical, manufacturing and automation engineers to integrate electrical systems into complete machines.
• Support equipment builds on the manufacturing floor, including checkout, testing and troubleshooting.

Skills

Electrical design

Cross-functional collaboration

Hands-on hardware design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

EPLAN Electric P8

Job description

Employment Type: Full-Time Employment, Direct Hire

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Engineer / Electrical Controls Engineer to lead the electrical hardware design of sophisticated industrial machinery and process equipment.

This is a hands‑on engineering position for someone who has designed the electrical systems of industrial machines or equipment, not simply supported electrical systems within a manufacturing facility.

The ideal candidate combines strong EPLAN capability with practical experience in machine electrical design, control panels, power distribution, component selection, electrical safety standards, and equipment build/debug.

Engineers coming from industrial machinery OEMs, custom equipment manufacturers, automation/machine builders, process equipment, thermal equipment, robotics, packaging, material handling, machine tools, or similar engineered-equipment environments are especially relevant.

What You’ll Do

• Own end‑to‑end electrical hardware design for industrial machinery and equipment.
• Develop electrical schematics, panel layouts, cable routing and related machine documentation using EPLAN.
• Design AC and DC power distribution systems, including approximately 120–600VAC and 24–60VDC.
• Design and specify control panels, enclosures, wiring, grounding and electrical protection.
• Select and integrate electrical hardware including transformers, motors, relays, breakers, power cables and related components.
• Create and maintain BOMs, terminal layouts, grounding plans, vendor specifications and electrical documentation.
• Design equipment in accordance with applicable NEC/NFPA, UL and CE requirements, including standards such as UL508A and NFPA 79.
• Partner closely with mechanical, manufacturing and automation engineers to integrate electrical systems into complete machines.
• Support equipment builds on the manufacturing floor, including checkout, testing, troubleshooting and resolution of electrical issues.
• Collaborate with controls/automation engineering to ensure electrical hardware integrates properly with the machine control architecture.
• Improve electrical design standards, documentation and engineering processes.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Approximately 7+ years of relevant industrial electrical engineering experience; exceptional candidates with somewhat less experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience designing electrical systems for industrial machinery, automated equipment, custom equipment or other engineered machine systems.
• Strong working knowledge of EPLAN, preferably EPLAN Electric P8.
• Strong understanding of industrial electrical schematics, control panels, power circuits, panel layouts and component selection.
• Working knowledge of NEC/NFPA, UL and CE electrical requirements.
• Experience with industrial electrical hardware such as transformers, motors, relays, circuit protection and power‑distribution components.
• Ability to take an electrical design from requirements and schematics through build, checkout and troubleshooting.
• Comfortable working directly with manufacturing personnel and physical equipment in a hands‑on engineering environment.
• Strong problem‑solving, documentation and cross‑functional communication skills.

Particularly Valuable Experience

Experience with any of the following would be especially attractive:

• UL508A and NFPA 79
• Custom machinery or OEM equipment
• 480VAC / three‑phase industrial power
• Machine safety and regulatory compliance
• Siemens or Rockwell/Allen‑Bradley control environments
• Equipment commissioning and startup
• Furnaces, ovens, kilns or other thermal‑processing equipment
• Heaters, SCRs and transformer‑based heating systems
• Process equipment
• Metal processing or advanced manufacturing equipment

What This Role Is — and Isn't

This position is centered on electrical hardware and machine design.

It is particularly well suited to an Electrical Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer or Controls Engineer who has worked for a machine builder or industrial equipment manufacturer and has personally designed the electrical systems incorporated into the equipment.

It is not primarily a PLC programming, plant maintenance, facilities electrical, utility/power‑grid, PCB/electronics or MEP/building‑design position.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

You’ll join a collaborative engineering and manufacturing environment where electrical engineering is directly connected to the equipment being built. You’ll have the opportunity to own designs, work alongside mechanical and automation engineers, solve real‑world equipment challenges and see your work progress from engineering documentation to a functioning machine.