Research And Development Engineer - Switchgear

STQ Partners; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

STQ Partners in Houston is seeking an R&D Engineer to design, prototype, test and validate new products across automation, electrification, power generation and packaged equipment with a strong focus on LV/MV switchgear and MCCs.

Lead concept development, DFMA and verification activities, collaborating with Engineering, Manufacturing and suppliers to deliver reliable, cost-effective solutions that meet client and industry standards while supporting staged product roadmaps.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Controls/Automation Engineering; MS preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in R&D, product development or advanced engineering within industrial power systems.
• Knowledge of LV/MV switchgear design and MCC experience is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks, Inventor or AutoCAD Electrical) for layouts and schematics.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development, requirements definition and feasibility for LV/MV switchgear and MCC platforms.
• Design electromechanical assemblies, switchgear line-ups and MCCs, including arc-resistant and metal-enclosed equipment.
• Develop equipment layouts for LV/MV switchgear and MCC systems for prototype testing.
• Develop test plans, DOE and verification protocols; analyze results and iterate designs.

Skills

Concept development

Root cause analysis

System reliability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Controls

MS preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD Electrical

3D CAD

Job description

STQ Partners are currently partnered with a specialist Industrial Power Systems business. The business has vast experience in electrical packages and execution on power projects.

With a strong presence in Houston, the business has decades of experience serving and supplying the industrial power systems world. They are now seeking to hire an R&D Engineer to join the business. The business is scaling to keep up with engineered to order & speciality project pipeline demands.

The overall objective of the R&D Engineer is to design, prototype, test and validate new products and system enhancements across the business’s automation, electrification, power generation and packaged equipment offerings, with a strong focus on low and medium-voltage switchgear and motor control centers (MCCs). The role leads concept development, design-for-manufacture and verification activities, working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Field Service and suppliers to deliver reliable, cost-effective products that meet client and industry standards.

For this role we are specifically looking for R&D or product development experience with LV/MV switchgear and MCC equipment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead concept development, requirements definition and feasibility studies for new products and system enhancements, including LV/MV switchgear and MCC platforms.
• Design electromechanical assemblies, switchgear line-ups, MCCs and instrumentation and control solutions, including arc-resistant and metal-clad or metal-enclosed equipment.
• Develop equipment layouts for LV/MV switchgear and MCC systems for prototype testing.
• Design and integrate circuit breakers, contactors, soft starters, VFDs, protective relays, transformers, bus systems and auxiliary equipment where required.
• Develop test plans, design of experiments (DOE) and verification and validation protocols, then analyze results and iterate designs based on electrical, thermal and mechanical performance.
• Produce engineering documentation, including drawings, BOMs, specifications, control narratives and risk assessments.
• Apply DFM/DFA and reliability engineering practices to drive cost, footprint, weight and complexity reductions while maintaining safety and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (e.g., UL 1558, UL 891, UL 845, UL 508A, IEEE C37, NEC/NFPA 70, NFPA 70E) and client specifications.
• Prepare technical reports, business cases and ROI analyses to support stage-gate decisions and product roadmaps.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of electrical, control and mechanical issues during new product and UL testing, implementing corrective and preventive actions.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Controls/Automation Engineering; MS preferred. Equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of experience in R&D, product development or advanced engineering within industrial, power distribution or energy markets.
• Knowledge of LV/MV switchgear design is required; MCC product experience is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of power distribution fundamentals, including switchgear architectures, MCC topologies and short circuit considerations.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD and drafting tools such as SolidWorks, Inventor or AutoCAD Electrical for layouts, assemblies and schematics.
• Competence in engineering analysis, including tolerance stacks, basic FEA, thermal analysis and reliability concepts.
• Experience with test planning, DOE, data analysis and technical report writing for equipment qualification and type testing.
• EIT/PE, PMP or other relevant certifications are a plus.

There is a genuine opportunity for someone to join a growing team and business. Great pipeline of projects and a high performing, yet flexible, working environment. If you want to work in a project-centric; growing business with a rich history in the Houston area- we look forward to hearing from you.