Lead Motor Engineer

Klein Tools; Lincolnshire (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Product discounts

Professional development

Job summary

Klein Tools is seeking a Lead Motor Systems Engineer to spearhead high-current BLDC and DC motor-drive designs for lithium-ion battery-powered products. Based in Ningbo, China, you will guide motor hardware, power electronics, embedded control, and system integration for global programs, building a production-ready engineering team in China.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver safe, efficient motor control solutions and drive production readiness while shaping

Qualifications

• 8+ years in electrical/mechanical/electromechanical/mechatronics engineering.
• 5+ years in BLDC motor-drive development for Li-ion battery-powered systems (5–150 A).
• Must demonstrate system-level expertise across motor hardware, power electronics, control algorithms, and embedded firmware.
• Proficiency with test equipment and data interpretation (EMI/EMC, thermal, reliability).
• Fluency in Mandarin and English is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and technical direction for high-current BLDC and DC motor-drive systems.
• Define torque, speed, position, power, efficiency, thermal, acoustic, duty cycle, and life targets.
• Integrate motors with Li-ion batteries, embedded controls, gearing, and mechanical loads.
• Select and optimize BLDC, brushed DC, and PM synchronous motor architectures.
• Develop embedded C/C++ firmware using STM32, Arm Cortex, DSP, or similar platforms.
• Design and validate three-phase inverters, MOSFET stages, gate drivers, sensing, PWM, and PCB layouts.
• Lead controller and inverter bring-up, debugging, characterization, and design validation.

Skills

BLDC motor-drive

Embedded firmware

Control algorithms

Sensorless feedback

Thermal management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics or related field

Tools

STM32

Arm Cortex

DSP

Oscilloscopes

Power analyzers

Electronic loads

Dynamometers

PCB layouts

Job description

At Klein Tools, curiosity powers discovery, ownership inspires excellence, and urgency means we run towards opportunities. We deliver quality and innovation in everything we do, designing and launching hundreds of groundbreaking products each year. Join us and be part of a legacy built to last.

Perks for you include:

• Paid Vacations & Holidays
• Profit Sharing & Matching 401(k)
• Health Insurance (Medical, Vision, & Dental)
• Discounts on Klein Tools products
• Education and Professional Development Assistance

The Lead Motor Systems Engineer is Klein Tools' primary technical authority for high-current brushless DC (BLDC) and related DC motor-drive systems used in lithium-ion battery-powered products. Based in Ningbo, China, this individual leads motor hardware, power electronics, embedded control, system integration, validation, supplier development, and production readiness for global programs. The role works independently through cross-functional teams and has no direct reports. This position joins a long-standing American brand during rapid growth in China and will help establish a permanent engineering team in China that delivers safe, efficient, production-ready solutions globally.

• Lead architecture and technical direction for high-current BLDC and DC motor-drive systems.
• Define torque, speed, position, power, efficiency, thermal, acoustic, duty cycle, and life targets.
• Integrate motors with lithium-ion batteries, embedded controls, gearing, and mechanical loads.
• Select and optimize BLDC, brushed DC, and permanent-magnet synchronous motor architectures.
• Evaluate winding topology, turns, wire gauge, resistance, inductance, pole count, back-EMF, Kt, and Kv.
• Develop and tune six-step commutation, FOC, SVPWM, and current, torque, speed, or position loops.
• Develop or direct embedded C/C++ firmware using STM32, Arm, DSP, or similar motor-control platforms.
• Design and validate three-phase inverters, MOSFET stages, gate drivers, sensing, PWM, and PCB layouts.
• Define protection for overcurrent, short circuit, shoot-through, voltage faults, heat, stall, and locked rotor.
• Build prototype controller boards, inverter stages, sensing circuits, and test fixtures.
• Lead controller and inverter bring-up, debugging, characterization, and design validation.

Job Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Electromechanical, Mechatronics, or a related engineering field, with eight (8) or more years of relevant experience.
• At least five (5) years must be in BLDC or related motor-drive development, including lithium-ion battery-powered systems operating from 5 A to 150 A.
• Must demonstrate system-level expertise across motor hardware, power electronics, control algorithms, and embedded firmware.
• Required knowledge includes motor construction and windings, magnetic design, six-step commutation, FOC, SVPWM, sensorless or position feedback, three-phase inverters, gate drivers, current sensing, PWM, dead time, grounding, thermal management, protection, and high-current PCB layout.
• Must be able to develop, review, or direct embedded C/C++ firmware using STM32, Arm Cortex, DSP, or comparable platforms.
• Hands-on proficiency with oscilloscopes, differential and current probes, power and logic analyzers, electronic loads, and dynamometers is required.
• Must interpret waveforms and test data to resolve hardware, firmware, EMI/EMC, thermal, communication, and reliability issues.
• Experience with simulation, HIL testing, supplier development, and production launch in China is preferred.
• Fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English is preferred.

Salary

This role has an annual salary range of $150,000 - $175,000. In addition to salary, you’re eligible for competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Klein Tools Inc. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors, including, but not limited to, skills, experience, and location. In addition, Klein Tools offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and company performance.

Your main focus:

• Quality
• Customer Obsession
• Innovation
• Ownership
• Teamwork

Klein Tools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. For candidates with disabilities and needing assistance, please email us at [e-mail].