Principal Switchboard Development Engineer

STS Technical Services; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

STS Technical Services is seeking a Principal Switchboard Development Engineer to lead the engineering development of the company’s switchboard product portfolio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This onsite role requires 12+ years of direct switchboard and power distribution experience and a hands‑on technical leadership style.

You will translate requirements into complete designs, own the bus structures and electrical enclosures, and drive validation, certification, and production release with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 12+ years of direct experience designing switchboards, MCCs, LV switchgear, or related power distribution equipment.
• Experience leading product development through design, analysis, validation, certification, and production release.
• Ownership of bus structures and electrical enclosures.
• Experience with UL 891/UL 845/UL 1558 standards.
• Proficiency using engineering analysis and simulation tools.
• Knowledge of short‑circuit ratings, grounding, and factory testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering development of switchboards from defined product requirements through production release.
• Establish product architecture meeting electrical, mechanical, thermal, certification, manufacturing, cost, reliability and serviceability requirements.
• Create development plans, engineering requirements, design reviews, technical studies, and documentation.
• Lead cross‑functional work with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, sourcing, quality, certification, and testing.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for switchboard development throughout the product lifecycle.

Skills

Switchboard design

Electrical power distribution

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Engineering analysis software

Job description

STS Technical Services is hiring a Principal Switchboard Development Engineer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a direct-hire opportunity focused on the engineering development of switchboard products.

This is an onsite position requiring five days per week and is designed for an experienced electrical engineering professional with extensive knowledge of switchboards, motor control centers, low-voltage switchgear, and related power distribution equipment.

We’re seeking a hands‑on technical leader with 12 or more years of direct engineering experience who can translate defined product requirements into certified, manufacturable, and scalable switchboard products.

The successful candidate will lead switchboard development from product architecture and detailed engineering through analysis, validation, certification, and production release, with direct ownership of bus structures, electrical enclosures, and product development methods.

Position Details

• Job Title: Principal Switchboard Development Engineer
• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Work Arrangement: Onsite, 5 Days Per Week
• Employment Type: Direct Hire
• Experience: 12+ Years of Relevant Engineering Experience

Position Summary

The Principal Switchboard Development Engineer will lead the engineering development of the company’s switchboard product portfolio.

Working from product requirements established by the business and the market, this position translates required applications, ratings, performance requirements, and general product layouts into complete technical designs.

This hands‑on technical leadership role is responsible for product architecture, detailed engineering, analysis, validation, certification, and production release.

The engineer will serve as the primary technical authority for switchboard development, with direct ownership of bus structures, electrical enclosures, and the engineering methods used to develop the product.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Product Development

• Lead the engineering development of switchboards from defined product requirements through production release.
• Translate required applications, ratings, performance objectives, and general product layouts into complete technical designs.
• Establish product architecture that meets electrical, mechanical, thermal, certification, manufacturing, cost, reliability, and serviceability requirements.
• Create development plans, engineering requirements, design reviews, technical studies, and engineering documentation.
• Lead cross‑functional technical work involving electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, quality, certification, and testing.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for switchboard product development throughout the product lifecycle.

Bus Structures and Electrical Enclosure Development

• Own the design and development of switchboard bus structures, joints, supports, bracing systems, service sections, distribution sections, grounding systems, barriers, and electrical enclosures.
• Develop designs that meet short‑circuit withstand, temperature‑rise, dielectric, serviceability, manufacturability, and safety requirements.
• Integrate circuit breakers, fusible devices, metering, controls, communications, utility interfaces, and customer options into the overall product design.
• Establish standard design methods, calculation approaches, component interfaces, materials, tolerances, and construction practices.
• Develop modular and configurable engineering structures that support customer‑specific applications while maintaining control of the core product design.
• Partner directly with manufacturing to ensure designs can be fabricated, assembled, wired, inspected, and tested safely and repeatedly.

Engineering Analysis and Simulation

• Use modern engineering, calculation, and simulation tools to guide design decisions and reduce development and certification risk.
• Perform or direct analysis of short‑circuit forces, bus bracing, temperature rise, structural loading, dielectric performance, and enclosure performance.
• Incorporate analysis into the product development process rather than relying on oversizing, excessive material, or repeated trial‑and‑error testing.
• Document engineering assumptions, models, calculations, margins, and conclusions to support design reviews and certification activities.
• Correlate engineering analysis and simulation results with laboratory test results, using those findings to improve product designs and reusable engineering rules.

UL Certification and Product Testing

• Lead technical compliance and certification efforts associated with UL 891 and other standards applicable to defined product requirements.
• Develop design verification and certification plans, including test samples, instrumentation, acceptance criteria, test sequences, and supporting technical documentation.
• Lead laboratory testing, evaluate results, direct failure analysis, and drive corrective actions when required.
• Use engineering analysis and rigorous design reviews to enter certification testing with a high level of confidence in product performance.
• Coordinate technical activities with UL, testing laboratories, component suppliers, and technology partners.

Production Release and Product Lifecycle Support

• Develop and approve drawings, bills of material, specifications, product structures, configuration rules, and manufacturing documentation.
• Support prototypes, pilot builds, first‑production units, factory testing, and the transition to stable production.
• Resolve technical issues identified during development, manufacturing, testing, installation, or field operation.
• Maintain technical ownership of the core product design and lead controlled engineering changes and product improvements.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers supporting switchboard development and customer projects.

Required Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 12 or more years of direct experience designing switchboards, motor control centers, low‑voltage switchgear, or closely related power distribution equipment.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering product development through detailed design, analysis, validation, certification, and production release.
• Direct experience owning the design of bus structures and electrical enclosures.
• Direct product‑development experience with at least one of the following standards: UL 891, UL 845, or UL 1558.
• Experience using engineering, calculation, and simulation software to support product development.
• Strong knowledge of short‑circuit ratings, bus bracing, temperature rise, grounding, service equipment, overcurrent protection, protective devices, and factory testing.
• Experience leading product validation and laboratory testing activities.
• Ability to translate defined product requirements into clear engineering requirements and complete, executable designs.
• Ability to lead complex technical work and make sound engineering decisions using analysis, test evidence, standards, and practical judgment.

Preferred Qualifications And Experience

• Direct experience with UL 891 switchboard development and certification.
• Experience with generator docking stations, camboards, service‑entrance equipment, utility metering sections, or custom power distribution equipment.
• Experience across more than one of the following product categories: switchboards, motor control centers, low‑voltage switchgear, generator docking stations, camboards, service‑entrance equipment, or utility metering.
• Experience with short‑circuit force analysis, thermal modeling, structural analysis, dielectric analysis, or related engineering software.
• Experience developing modular or configurable product platforms and reusable engineering rules.
• Experience launching a new product line or transferring an established design into a new manufacturing operation.
• Experience developing engineering standards, design guides, calculation methods, and validation procedures.
• Personal ownership of at least one successful certification program from design through passing test and production release.

Success Profile

• Is a recognized power distribution equipment expert who remains hands‑on with architecture, calculations, design, testing, and production.
• Can translate defined market and product requirements into complete, validated, and manufacturable products.
• Uses engineering tools and evidence to optimize designs rather than relying on conservative overdesign.
• Takes ownership of technical execution from initial requirements through certification and stable production.
• Builds repeatable designs, engineering methods, and technical standards that support future products and customer projects.
• Works effectively across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, testing laboratories, certification organizations, and commercial teams.
• Makes practical decisions that balance safety, compliance, performance, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and long‑term scalability.

The Successful Principal Switchboard Development Engineer

• Is a recognized power distribution equipment expert who remains hands‑on with architecture, calculations, design, testing, and production.
• Can translate defined market and product requirements into complete, validated, and manufacturable products.
• Uses engineering tools and evidence to optimize designs rather than relying on conservative overdesign.
• Takes ownership of technical execution from initial requirements through certification and stable production.
• Builds repeatable designs, engineering methods, and technical standards that support future products and customer projects.
• Works effectively across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, testing laboratories, certification organizations, and commercial teams.
• Makes practical decisions that balance safety, compliance, performance, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and long‑term scalability.