Electrical Engineer - Cost Optimization

MSA - The Safety Company; Cranberry Township (Butler County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MSA Safety in Cranberry Township is seeking an Electrical Engineer to join the Value Engineering & Cost Optimization team. You will tackle cost reduction while maintaining product performance across multiple lines, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, and product management.

You will design analog, digital, embedded, and power electronics, develop prototypes, validate results, and drive design-for-manufacturing concepts.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical/Electrical Engineering, ABET-accredited preferred.
• Experience in electrical circuit design and development.
• Experience with analog, digital, embedded, and power electronics.
• PCB design and schematic capture experience.
• Knowledge of EMC-compliant design practices.
• Experience selecting and qualifying electronic components.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to lead across multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive cost optimization by analyzing electrical designs and identifying cost reductions.
• Design and modify analog, digital, embedded, and power management circuits.
• Develop prototypes and validate performance.
• Coordinate design changes with suppliers and manufacturing sites.
• Lead cross-functional projects with sourcing, manufacturing, quality and product management.
• Develop test plans and support lab testing and validation.
• Document savings from engineering changes and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Contribute to global continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Independent leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (ABET accredited)

Tools

PCB Design

EMC Design Practices

FMEA/DFSS tools

Job description

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

At MSA, SAFETY is who we are AND it is what we do. We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our Mission to help protect people and assets all around the world. We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day.

Are you in? Read on for more details about this particular role.

Make an Impact Across the Business

Are you an Electrical or Electronics Engineer who enjoys solving technical challenges while delivering measurable business results?

Join our global Value Engineering & Cost Optimization team and play a key role in improving products used around the world. In this highly visible position, you will work directly with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Sourcing, and Executive Leadership to identify innovative ways to reduce cost, improve product performance, and strengthen competitiveness.

Every successful project you deliver creates measurable value for the company, making this a unique opportunity to combine technical engineering expertise with strategic business impact.

Why This Role Is Different

• Directly influence product profitability and company performance.
• Lead high-impact technical initiatives with visibility to senior leadership.
• Work across multiple product lines and technologies.
• Drive engineering decisions that affect global manufacturing and sourcing strategies.
• See your ideas implemented and tracked through measurable cost savings.
• Collaborate with experts from electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

Drive Product Cost Optimization

• Analyze electrical designs and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Simplify circuits, PCB designs, and electrical architectures.
• Evaluate alternative components and technologies.
• Benchmark products and designs against industry solutions.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Serviceability (DFS) principles.
• Support value engineering workshops and innovation activities.

Design & Develop Electrical Solutions

• Design and modify analog, digital, embedded, power management, and communication circuits.
• Develop prototypes and validate performance.
• Resolve component obsolescence challenges through redesign or alternate sourcing.
• Ensure products meet performance, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Support product improvements across existing product portfolios.

Cross-Functional Projects

• Work closely with sourcing, manufacturing, quality, product management, and mechanical engineering teams.
• Run cost optimization projects through implementation.
• Coordinate design changes with suppliers and manufacturing sites.
• Present recommendations and results to leadership teams.
• Drive execution to ensure projects deliver measurable savings.

Validate and Improve Products

• Develop and execute test plans for redesigned systems.
• Support laboratory testing and prototype evaluation.
• Investigate technical issues and develop solutions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry and regulatory standards.
• Document and validate savings achieved through engineering changes.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Develop new approaches to improve product competitiveness.
• Create cost models and engineering best practices.
• Contribute to global continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or related field, preferably from an ABET-accredited program.
• Experience in electrical circuit design and development.
• Experience with analog, digital, embedded, and power electronics.
• PCB design and schematic capture experience.
• Knowledge of EMC-compliant design practices.
• Experience selecting and qualifying electronic components.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to both engineering and business audiences.
• Ability to work independently and lead execution across multiple functional teams.

Preferred Experience

• Electronics design for hazardous or regulated environments.
• Intrinsically safe design experience.
• Statistical analysis and design verification methods.
• FMEA, DFSS, Minitab, or related engineering tools.
• Product cost optimization, value engineering, or design-to-cost experience.

Career levels

This position is available at five different career levels based upon experience, education, etc.:

• Staff I: no experience required.
• Staff II: 2 years relevant experience
• Staff III: 3 years relevant experience
• Sr. Staff Engineer: 5 years relevant experience
• Principal Engineer I: 7 years relevant experience
  • PhD may be substituted for up to 4 years of experience
  • MS degree may be substituted for up to 2 years of relevant experience.

Who Will Thrive Here?

This role is ideal for engineers who:

• Want to influence business decisions, not just design circuits.
• Enjoy solving complex technical and cost challenges.
• Like working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Want to see their ideas implemented across global products.
• Are motivated by measurable results and visible impact.

If you're looking for a role where your engineering expertise directly contributes to company growth, product competitiveness, and millions of dollars in business value, this is the opportunity for you!