Materials Engineer III

S&C Electric Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 106,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

S&C Electric Company is seeking a Materials Engineer III in the Technology Breakthrough Initiative (TBI) to advance materials programs for medium voltage switchgear. You will evaluate new insulating materials, guide formulations, and support product development with CAD, testing, and qualification activities.

The role requires a strong background in materials science, electrical insulation principles, and hands-on experience with characterization, prototyping, and data analysis, all within

Qualifications

• BS or greater in Materials Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited university.
• 5+ years of relevant experience required.
• Expertise in materials characterization in rheological, thermal, dielectric, and mechanical testing.
• Working knowledge of basic electrical circuits, instrumentation, data acquisition and programming for laboratory automation.
• Familiarity with electrical insulation, field grading, partial discharge and dielectric breakdown within insulation materials is preferred.
• Must be self-motivated, innovative, resourceful, organized and productive with minimal supervision.
• Strong skills in identifying risks, developing mitigation strategies and alternative solutions, and resolving issues independently and in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage time and multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Participating in cross-functional project teams supporting new product development and the commercialization of medium voltage switchgear for electrical distribution.
• Formulating and evaluating new proprietary electrically insulating materials.
• Designing, prototyping, building and evaluating mechanical designs and electrically insulating structures and components to enable new product concepts.
• Designing, building, programming and troubleshooting test fixtures and automated test systems incorporating basic electrical circuits, instrumentation, sensors, controls and data acquisition to support materials characterization and product development.
• Providing materials engineering support to product development and production teams.
• Pursuing assignments with a strong desire to succeed, a sense of urgency and a "make it happen" attitude.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Materials science

Electrical engineering

Materials characterization

CAD

Test & instrumentation

Data acquisition

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science/Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidEdge

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Description

As an S&C Electric team member, you’ll work on projects that have real-world impact. You’ll help transform the grid for resilient and reliable power worldwide. S&C has more than a 100-year history of innovation and has been 100% employee-owned since 2012. We continue this legacy as a trusted, forward-thinking leader in the electrical industry. You will advance a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electrical grid. Our products help the grid adapt to severe weather and transition to clean energy. We’re big enough to be a respected industry leader but small enough for you to impact our company directly. Our commitment gives you opportunities to impact on and off the job positively.

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

Hours

• 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Mon-Fri) On-Site

Compensation

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 annual base salary range for this position is $106,073 - $140,549. Individual pay within this salary range is determined by several compensable factors, including performance, knowledge, job-related skills and experience, and relevant education or training. This role is also eligible for S&C’s annual incentive plan (AIP), subject to eligibility criteria.

Join Our Team as a Materials Engineer III!

Are you passionate about Technology Breakthrough and Innovation? S&C Electric Company is seeking a dynamic individual to join our TBI department. As a Materials Engineer III, you’ll be crucial in ensuring smooth operations and supporting our diverse team.

S&C Electric, a leading manufacturer of medium voltage distribution switchgear, is seeking an experienced technical professional for their Insulation Technology team in the TBI division. The selected candidate will be a multi‑talented team member with a background in one or more areas of materials science including elastomers, ceramics, thermosets, thermoplastics and composites. Preferred experience includes formulation, molding, extrusion, specification, characterization and qualification. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have practical electrical engineering skills to support design, prototyping, instrumentation and testing of electromechanical systems and electrically insulating components.

The selected candidate will support the development of new products and will be a key player involved in the selection, specification, formulation and qualification of best‑in‑class materials required to maximize product performance. Additionally, the candidate will be responsible for building an advanced understanding of materials and process technologies that will drive future new product development to successful commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Participating in cross-functional project teams supporting new product development and the commercialization of medium voltage switchgear for electrical distribution.
• Formulating and evaluating new proprietary electrically insulating materials.
• Designing, prototyping, building and evaluating mechanical designs and electrically insulating structures and components to enable new product concepts.
• Designing, building, programming and troubleshooting test fixtures and automated test systems incorporating basic electrical circuits, instrumentation, sensors, controls and data acquisition to support materials characterization and product development.
• Providing materials engineering support to product development and production teams.
• Pursuing assignments with a strong desire to succeed, a sense of urgency and a "make it happen" attitude.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required

• BS or greater in Materials Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited university.
• 5+ years of relevant experience required.
• Expertise in materials characterization required in one or more of the following areas: rheological, thermal, dielectric, and mechanical testing.
• Working knowledge of basic electrical circuits, instrumentation, data acquisition and programming for laboratory automation and equipment control.
• Familiarity with working principles of electrical insulation, electrical field grading, partial discharge and corona effects, tracking and dielectric breakdown within insulation materials is preferred.
• Must be self‑motivated, innovative, resourceful, organized and productive with minimal supervision.
• Strong skills in identifying risks, developing mitigation strategies and alternative solutions, and resolving issues independently and in collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to manage time and multiple tasks.
• Ability to combine disparate ideas into unique solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• 3D CAD experience (i.e. SolidEdge, SolidWorks) preferred.

Environmental and Hazardous Conditions

• Continuously working indoors/outdoors in an air-conditioned office/manufacturing based environment.
• Infrequently exposed to fumes/vapors/dust/gases/odors/mist/toxic chemicals/radiation/vibration/grease/oils/radiation/lasers/other etc.
• Occasionally exposed to low/moderate/high noise levels including machinery/vehicles/forklifts/office equipment/office traffic etc.
• Occasionally working around energized equipment with the risk of electrocution/scalding/burns/other etc.
• Infrequently exposed to wet humid/outdoor weather/extreme cold (non-weather)/extreme heat (non-weather) conditions/other etc.
• Infrequently working with machinery with moving parts/vehicles/forklifts/heavy machinery/sharp objects/other etc.

Equal Opportunity Employment

S&C Electric is committed to equal-opportunity employment. All employees and applicants will be considered without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to complete the application, please email us at [e-mail] .

No fixed deadline

About Us

In 1909, S&C Electric Company transformed the delivery of safe, reliable electricity with the invention of the Liquid Power Fuse. Today, as the world faces extreme weather events and the demand for electricity grows, S&C continues to innovate and advance the electrical grid, ensuring reliable and resilient power for homes, communities, and critical infrastructure around the world.

With a diverse, global workforce and core values around integrity, safety, and quality, S&C is a trusted industry leader and top workplace that offers meaningful careers to more than 3,500 team members. As a people‑first organization, S&C is committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative workplace where team members advance their careers through robust talent‑development programs and involved leadership.

S&C’s deeply rooted belief diversity fosters greater creativity, innovation, and success guides the company to advance and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture.

S&C provides a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

• Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical & Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, , Health Savings Account (HSA), Group Life Insurance, optional Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance, Wellbeing Resources including Employee Assistance Program and Family Forming Benefits (i.e., Adoption and Fertility support)
• Leave Benefits: Vacation Time, Sick Time, Paid Holidays and Company Shutdown days, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Other Leaves, Paid Parental Time and Military Leave

Retirement Benefits: 401(k) Retirement Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (KSOP) offering traditional and Roth 401(k) options and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) component; KSOP participants can receive annual ESOP company contributions of over 11% of eligible earnings (3% Core, up to 3.5% Match, Variable Periodic).

About The Team

In the (Engineering, Design) department, we are responsible for creatively addressing customers' needs, pioneering industry changes, and understanding each step, from R&D to production. We strive to not only solve the unique challenges our customers face today, but to create breakthrough technologies enabling them to effectively navigate the demands of the grid of tomorrow. As S&C innovates for reliability, progress, and longevity, our work continues S&C's legacy of creating game-changing technology and advancing the energy industry.