Packaged Power Design Engineer

Van Meter, Inc.; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Van Meter, Inc. seeks a Packaged Power Design Engineer to serve as a technical expert in MCCs and packaged drives.

You will work with sales to translate customer requirements into practical, buildable solutions and develop accurate BOMs and layouts using internal tools. This front-end role focuses on equipment selection, system design, and cost development to ensure proposals meet customer needs and company standards.

Qualifications

• Two-year degree or equivalent experience required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, including Teams.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate customer requirements, motor lists, and specs to determine equipment and design approaches.
• Develop BOMs and equipment layouts for MCC and packaged drives.
• Identify gaps, risks, and non-standard requirements and translate into buildable solutions.
• Partner with sales to develop competitive proposals balancing technical needs, cost, and gross profit.
• Coordinate with suppliers for pricing, lead times, and clarifications.
• Provide guidance on margin and cost optimization during solution development.
• Ensure designs meet industry standards, safety, and customer specs.
• Develop understanding of packaged power solutions (MCCs, VFDs, power distribution).
• Support development of customer and internal design standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in quoting accuracy and design consistency.
• Provide clear design handoff to implementation teams.

Skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Two-year degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Description

Summary: The Packaged Power Design Engineer plays a crucial role in supporting our purpose of creating lasting value to those we serve by serving as a technical expert in packaged power solutions, including motor control centers (MCCs) and packaged drives. This role partners closely with sales to evaluate customer requirements and motor lists, determine the appropriate equipment and configurations, develop accurate solutions using internal design tools, and support pricing through supplier engagement and margin guidance.

This position focuses on front-end solution development, including equipment selection, system design, and cost development to ensure proposals align with customer needs, application requirements, and company standards. The role also serves as an internal subject matter expert, supporting standardization, product optimization, and continuous improvement across packaged power offerings. This individual displays behaviors that support our culture, 5 P’s, and our purpose to create lasting value to those we serve.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

• Evaluate customer requirements, motor lists, and specifications to determine appropriate equipment, configurations, and design approaches
• Develop accurate bills of material (BOMs) and equipment layouts using internal design tools for MCC and packaged drive solutions
• Assess customer requests to identify gaps, risks, or non-standard requirements and translate them into practical, buildable solutions
• Partner with sales to develop competitive proposals that balance technical requirements, cost, and gross profit objectives
• Coordinate with suppliers to obtain accurate and competitive pricing, lead times, and technical clarifications
• Provide guidance on margin (GP%) and cost optimization opportunities during solution development
• Identify and communicate non-standard options, potential lead time impacts, and technical risks early in the quoting process
• Ensure all designs align with applicable industry standards, safety requirements, and customer-specific specifications
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of packaged power solutions, including MCCs, VFDs, power distribution, and related components
• Support the development and maintenance of customer standards and internal design standards
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts related to quoting accuracy, design consistency, and overall team efficiency
• Provide clear and complete design handoff information to implementation and delivery teams
• Support technical clarification efforts during project execution, as needed, without ownership of implementation activities

Critical Success Factors:

• Excellent internal and external customer service
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task
• Ability to identify, analyze & solve issues effectively
• Self-motivated
• Strong team orientation
• Collaborative
• Growth Mindset
• Ability to analyze workload and establish priorities with time sensitive deadlines
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skillsPositive attitude
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong communication skills, including written and oral communication
• Drive for continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail
• Dependable

Job Requirements/Specifications:

• Minimum two-year degree or equivalent experience required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills via phone, email and in person required
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite, including Teams, required
• Industrial Automation and manufacturing experience preferred

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• Consistently work indoors and in the office
• Frequently sitting, working with hands, working with fingers, talking, hearing, and works with others
• Some standing, walking, works alone, and customer contact
• Occasionally lifting, carrying, rushing, bending at the waist, twisting upper body, kneeling, crouching, reaching, driving, on-standard shift work, extended day, and travel

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities