Lead Mechanical Engineer - Data Centers

Eaton; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Vacation

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Eaton’s Electrical Critical Power Solutions division in Richmond, VA seeks a Lead Mechanical Engineer to supervise mechanical design, mentor teammates, and drive cross-functional development of power distribution products. The role emphasizes design decisions, standards adherence, and collaboration with electrical engineers.

The position offers sponsorship within the United States, relocation benefits, and a competitive compensation package aligned with experience and market demand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor with 5+ years of mechanical design experience or Master’s with 3+ years in mechanical design.
• Experience leading designers and mentoring junior staff.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD, sheet metal design, and manufacturing drawings.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design for product lines and mentor junior staff.
• Collaborate with electrical/mechanical engineers to ensure standards and compliance.
• Plan and support certification processes with NRTLs and internal reviews.
• Support DFMEA/DFSS and cost/design for manufacturing analyses.
• Maintain engineering documentation and SOPs for mechanical design.

Skills

Mechanical design leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

DFMA knowledge

Attention to detail

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (mechanical design)

Master’s degree in Engineering

Tools

3D CAD (Creo/SolidWorks)

PLM software

DFMEA/DFSS

ERP systems

Job description

Eaton’s Electrical Critical Power Solutions Division is currently seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to join our team in Richmond, VA. Relocation benefits and sponsorship will be provided within the United States only.

Eaton’s Electrical Data Center Power Distribution division designs, manufactures, and services Static Transfer Switches (STS), Power Distribution Units (PDU), Remote Power Panels (RPP), and Dry-Type transformers products to ensure power reliability in the most demanding applications. Our employees deliver mission-critical solutions to our customers’ most challenging energy management requirements.

The Lead Mechanical Engineer is responsible for supervising the mechanical design and development of product lines, contributing to project design, development, and prototype production. This role is essential in a cross‑functional team, making key design decisions for integration. The Lead Mechanical Engineer mentors junior staff, researches, evaluates, and documents design methods to meet standards and codes, and supports management throughout development.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $97000 - $143000 a year.

Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Why Eaton?

• Be a key member of a world‑class organization that creates market leading Static Transfer Switch and Power Distribution Products.
• Opportunities for career advancement through a defined technical track as well as broader Eaton career opportunities in various business functions.
• Competitive salary and benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, vacation, paid parental leave.

In This Role You Will

• Collaborate with Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to identify relevant industry standards and compliance requirements impacting product design.
• Lead product certification planning and testing process and support relevant Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs).
• Collaborate on design and implementation of engineering repository structure and Standard Operating Procedures for mechanical design including verification and validation.
• Support Production during cost/design for manufacturing analysis (DFMEA / DFSS).
• Work collaboratively with Manufacturing Engineers to optimize assembly and testing processes.
• Continuously update your knowledge by staying current with all relevant UL, IEEE, IEC, CSA, and DOE standards.

Qualifications

Required (Basic) Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from an accredited institution with minimum five (5) years of experience in mechanical design OR a Master’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution with a minimum of three (3) years work experience in mechanical design

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing products from concept to manufacturing launch.
• In depth knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) techniques.
• Proficiency with 3D Mechanical CAD tools, including complex assemblies, sheet metal design, and creation of detailed manufacturing drawings.
• Strong working knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, weldments, structural frames, and enclosure‑based designs used in electrical and industrial applications.
• Experience using Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems for BOM management, configuration control, and engineering change processes (ECR/ECO).
• Familiarity with ERP systems and understanding of how engineering data interfaces with manufacturing, sourcing, and cost control.
• Experience with Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) methodology and participation in DFMEA, cost‑reduction, and manufacturability improvement initiatives.
• Understanding of mechanical considerations tied to electrical compliance, including creepage and clearance support, grounding provisions, enclosure integrity, serviceability, seismic requirements, and safety‑related features.
• Experience contributing to or leading New Product Introduction (NPI) projects, including prototype builds, design reviews, verification and validation, and release to production.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and designers, provide technical direction, and support formal design reviews and standards adherence.

Skills

Position Criteria:

• Ability to understand the needs of the business and ability to make wise decisions to maintain customer satisfaction and Eaton quality and profitability
• Mentor – can work with less experienced engineers and designer to provide meaningful feedback about design implications
• Ability to work autonomously and shift to a team environment with the ability to work with other teams within Eaton
• Performs work with a sense of urgency and high attention to detail
• Communication - discuss technical concepts and information to internal staff/peers and stakeholders, strong verbal and written documentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

All positions may require participation in video and in‑person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job‑related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of an arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability‑related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.