Electrical Engineer Co-Op

S&C Electric; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

S&C Electric Company, a 100% employee-owned company, invites applications for an Electrical Engineer Co-op in Chicago. The role supports the New Product Validation and Reliability team, with hands-on reliability testing, data collection, and reporting under mentoring engineers on-site at our Chicago facility.

The co-op focuses on Design for Reliability, test planning, fixture design, and embedded test automation.

Qualifications

• Pursuing an ABET-accredited degree in Electrical/Computer/Mechatronics engineering and returning to school after the co-op.
• Interest in reliability engineering, product validation, test engineering, embedded systems, power electronics, or automation.
• Coursework or experience with circuit analysis, electronics, microcontrollers, programming, sensors, or data acquisition is preferred.
• Familiarity with programming languages or tools such as C, C++, Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Arduino, or similar platforms is helpful.
• Ability to read schematics, perform basic electrical measurements, troubleshoot test setups, and work with laboratory equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; documentation of test results clearly and accurately.
• Curiosity, attention to detail, willingness to learn, and safe hands-on engineering work.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of Design for Reliability plans for new product development programs.
• Support reliability test planning by estimating sample sizes, test durations, acceleration factors, test conditions, and required resources.
• Participate in reliability activities such as environmental stressor assessment and accelerated life testing.
• Design, build, modify, and document test fixtures used to operate and monitor products during reliability testing.
• Develop embedded or microcontroller-based test automation to sequence tests, control fixtures, collect measurements, and improve repeatability.
• Support circuit board layout, prototype wiring, sensor integration, signal conditioning, and test interface development.
• Set up and operate test equipment such as thermal chambers, humidity chambers, vibration shakers, power supplies, data acquisition systems, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and automated test systems.
• Collect, organize, and analyze test data to identify trends, anomalies, failure modes, and potential design weaknesses.
• Document test procedures, test setups, observations, and conclusions in clear engineering reports.
• Work closely with reliability engineers, design engineers, test architects, laboratory personnel, and cross-functional project teams.
• Follow laboratory safety practices, test procedures, calibration requirements, and documentation expectations when working around electrical and mechanical test equipment.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

Circuit analysis

Data acquisition

Test automation

Education

In-progress degree in Electrical/Computer/Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Arduino

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

At S&C Electric Company , a 100% employee-owned company, we help keep the lights on for people and businesses worldwide. Our manufacturing roles build the equipment that protects the critical infrastructure of the power grid, and each of our team members lends their unique skills to this crucial mission. We empower our people by providing pathways to a long-term career and support them in their professional growth by sustaining a culture founded on respect, strengthened by collaboration, and measured by our shared successes. The manufacturing industry is booming with opportunities to learn new things, expand your skills, and build a long-term career.

Join S&C to make an impact on tomorrow's energy challenges and become an employee-owner!

Available Shift

1st shift: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Full-Time Fall 2026 Co-Op

At S&C, we are dedicated to providing competitive and equitable compensation for all our team members, and we are committed to transparency in our pay practices. The estimated per hourly range for this position is $22 - 30 per hour based on experience.

Competitive Weekly Pay Period

S&C Electric Company is looking for an Electrical Engineer Co-op to support the New Product Validation and Reliability team in Chicago, Illinois. This role provides hands-on experience in planning, designing, executing, and reporting reliability tests for electrical, electronic, and electromechanical products used in power distribution and smart grid applications. The co-op will work under the guidance of experienced engineers and mentors while contributing to Design for Reliability activities, reliability test planning, test automation, fixture design, data collection, and technical reporting. The co-op will report to the Senior Manager - New Product Validation & Reliability and will work primarily on-site at S&C's Chicago facility.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of Design for Reliability plans for new product development programs.


• Support reliability test planning by helping estimate sample sizes, test durations, acceleration factors, test conditions, and required test resources.


• Participate in reliability activities such as environmental stressor assessment, accelerated step-stress testing, accelerated life testing, temperature cycling, temperature-humidity testing, vibration testing, and reliability demonstration testing.


• Design, build, modify, and document test fixtures used to operate and monitor products during reliability testing.


• Develop embedded or microcontroller-based test automation to sequence tests, control fixtures, collect measurements, and improve repeatability.


• Support circuit board layout, prototype wiring, sensor integration, signal conditioning, and test interface development.


• Set up and operate test equipment such as thermal chambers, humidity chambers, vibration shakers, power supplies, data acquisition systems, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and automated test systems.


• Collect, organize, and analyze test data to identify trends, anomalies, failure modes, and potential design weaknesses.


• Document test procedures, test setups, observations, and conclusions in clear engineering reports.


• Work closely with reliability engineers, design engineers, test architects, laboratory personnel, and cross-functional project teams.


• Follow laboratory safety practices, test procedures, calibration requirements, and documentation expectations when working around electrical and mechanical test equipment

Requirements

• In-progress degree program from an accredited university/college program with a concentration in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related engineering discipline and returning to school after the work session.


• Interest in reliability engineering, product validation, test engineering, embedded systems, power electronics, electromechanical systems, or automation.


• Coursework or experience with circuit analysis, electronics, microcontrollers, programming, sensors, instrumentation, or data acquisition is preferred.


• Familiarity with programming languages or tools such as C, C++, Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Arduino, or similar platforms is helpful.


• Ability to read schematics, perform basic electrical measurements, troubleshoot test setups, and work with laboratory equipment.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document test results clearly and accurately.


• Curiosity, attention to detail, willingness to learn, and ability to work safely in a hands-on engineering environment.

Major Physical Demands

• Office-based analysis and documentation with laboratory-based test setup, troubleshooting, and execution.


• May work near energized equipment, moving mechanical systems, environmental chambers, and vibration equipment.