Electrical Engineer – Product Development

manpowe; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Manpower Engineering is partnering with a Milwaukee-area manufacturer to fill an Electrical Engineer – Product Development role. You will design, build, test, and support electrical systems for commercial mobile equipment, from concept through production, with direct involvement across the full product lifecycle.

This hands-on team values ownership, autonomy, and practical problem solving. You’ll work on 12V DC systems, prototyping, troubleshooting, and collaborating with mechanical, firmware,

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years in product development or similar environment.
• Strong understanding of electrical fundamentals and troubleshooting.
• Experience with 12V DC systems is desirable.
• Ability to work across electrical and mechanical systems.
• Hands-on approach and ownership mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with changing priorities.
• Strong communication across functions.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and support electrical systems for commercial mobile equipment.
• Work with 12V DC systems including motors, relays, wiring, connectors.
• Participate in new product development from concept to market.
• Evaluate components for performance, cost, obsolescence.
• Develop test plans and perform hands-on testing.
• Troubleshoot electrical and electromechanical issues.
• Collaborate with mechanical, firmware/software, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, and service teams.
• Work directly with prototypes and production equipment.
• Support product reliability and quality improvements.
• Contribute to upcoming product platform development.

Skills

Electrical fundamentals

Hands-on engineering

Troubleshooting

CAN bus

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Oscilloscopes

DraftSight

Job description

Electrical Engineer – Product Development

Are you an Electrical Engineer who wants to do more than own one small piece of a product?

Manpower Engineering is partnering with an established Milwaukee‑area manufacturer to add an Electrical Engineer – Product Development to its engineering team.

This is a hands‑on product engineering opportunity supporting electrical systems used in commercial mobile equipment. You’ll have exposure to the full product lifecycle, including concept development, electrical design, prototyping, testing, validation, production launch, troubleshooting, field issues, and ongoing product improvement.

You won’t be buried inside a large engineering organization or limited to one narrow responsibility. This is a lean, experienced engineering team where people are trusted to take ownership, solve problems, and work directly with the products they help develop.

The timing is also interesting. The organization is beginning a significant next‑generation product platform initiative that will create new development work and engineering challenges for years to come.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out:

See your work become a real product.

You won't design one component and hand it off. Engineers stay involved from early concepts through testing, production, launch, and ongoing product support.

Get your hands on the equipment.

You'll work directly with prototypes, test equipment, manufacturing, and finished products. This isn't a desk‑only engineering position.

Have room to make decisions.

The engineering team operates with a high degree of autonomy. The manager is an engineer himself and remains technically involved, but he wants people who can take ownership and figure things out.

Join at an interesting point in the product cycle.

The company is beginning a significant evolution of one of its major product platforms. New development projects are already taking shape, creating an opportunity to contribute to products that will be in the market for years.

Build a career without getting boxed into one path.

The position is open because the previous engineer moved into another role within the organization. The company has a history of giving engineers opportunities to advance technically, move into leadership, or explore other areas of the business.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Design, develop, test, and support electrical systems for commercial mobile equipment.
• Work primarily with 12V DC electrical systems, including motors, relays, wiring, connectors, and related electromechanical components.
• Participate in new product development from initial requirements and concepts through prototype development, validation, production, and market introduction.
• Evaluate electrical components and alternative solutions related to performance, cost, obsolescence, availability, and second sourcing.
• Develop test plans and perform hands‑on product testing and validation.
• Troubleshoot electrical and electromechanical issues involving existing products and field applications.
• Reproduce product issues, identify root causes, develop solutions, and validate corrective actions.
• Work with vehicle communication and integration technologies, including exposure to CAN bus and serial communications.
• Partner closely with mechanical, hydraulic, firmware/software, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, and technical service teams.
• Work directly with prototypes and production equipment rather than spending your entire day behind a desk.
• Support ongoing product, reliability, and quality improvements.
• Contribute to upcoming product platform development and next‑generation product initiatives.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
• Ideally 2+ years of electrical engineering experience within product development, mobile equipment, vehicles, electromechanical products, industrial products, or a similar environment.
• Solid understanding of electrical fundamentals and practical troubleshooting.
• Experience with or exposure to 12V DC electrical systems is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with motors, relays, wiring, electrical power, connectors, or other electromechanical components.
• Ability to understand and work across electrical and mechanical systems.
• Hands‑on approach to engineering and problem solving.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities without requiring constant direction.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, and other business functions.

Experience That Would Be a Plus:

Relevant experience could include:

• CAN bus or other vehicle communication systems
• Serial communications
• Commercial vehicles or mobile equipment
• Agricultural, construction, recreational, or off‑highway equipment
• Electromechanical product development
• Motors and motor controls
• PLCs or industrial controls
• AutoCAD or DraftSight
• SolidWorks
• Oscilloscopes and other electrical test equipment
• Prototype development and hands‑on product testing
• Manufacturing or production support

Who Will Do Well Here?

Someone who likes variety and doesn't want to spend every day doing the exact same thing.

Someone who wants to understand how the entire product works, not just their individual piece of it.

Someone who's comfortable moving from an engineering discussion to the manufacturing floor, troubleshooting a prototype, working through a field issue, and then jumping into a new product development project.

You don't need to come from this exact industry. Experience with mobile equipment, vehicles, electromechanical products, power equipment, industrial products, or other hands‑on product environments can translate well.

What matters most is a solid electrical foundation, practical curiosity, willingness to learn, and the ability to take ownership.

Compensation, Benefits & Work Environment:

• Competitive base salary based on experience
• Eligible for company profit sharing
• Full benefits package including health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off, and additional company programs
• Primarily onsite at the Milwaukee facility due to the hands‑on nature of the position
• Some flexibility to work remotely when the work allows
• Typical working hours are approximately 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM, with flexibility around start and end times
• Strong emphasis on work‑life balance and practical flexibility