Packaged Power Design Engineer

Van Meter Inc.; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Van Meter Inc. seeks a Packaged Power Design Engineer to act as a technical expert for MCCs and packaged drives, partnering with sales to align customer requirements with optimal equipment and configurations.

You will develop BOMs, layouts, and quotes, while supporting standardization and continuous improvement across packaged power offerings. The role emphasizes front-end design, equipment selection, and cost development to meet customer needs and company standards, with collaboration across

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Evaluate customer requirements, motor lists, and specifications to determine equipment and design approaches.
• Develop accurate BOMs and equipment layouts using internal tools for MCC and packaged drive solutions.
• Identify gaps, risks, or non-standard requirements and translate into practical solutions.
• Partner with sales to develop proposals balancing technical requirements, cost, and gross profit.
• Coordinate with suppliers for pricing, lead times, and clarifications.
• Provide guidance on margin and cost optimization during solution development.
• Highlight non-standard options, lead time impacts, and risks early in quoting.
• Ensure designs align with industry standards, safety requirements, and customer specs.
• Develop understanding of packaged power components including MCCs, VFDs, power distribution.
• Support development of customer and internal design standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in quoting accuracy, design consistency, and efficiency.
• Provide clear design handoff information to implementation and delivery teams.

Skills

Customer service

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Team orientation

Growth mindset

Communication

Education

Associate degree or equivalent experience

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

Requirements

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 skills
• Positive 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

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an incumbent. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, duties or responsibilities. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

Several factors are considered in making compensation decisions at Van Meter; including but not limited to education, skill sets, work experience and training, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation may be below the lower end of the range when the minimum requirements of the role are not met and the higher end is reserved for candidates with extensive experience and qualifications that exceed the requirements of the role.