Sr Innovation Electronic Engineer - Cooking Appliances

Midea America; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Midea America Corp. is seeking a Senior Electronic Innovation Engineer to drive breakthrough electronics, software, sensing, connectivity, and control technologies for major cooking appliances.

You will lead front-end innovation by assessing consumer needs, market trends, and emerging tech to create differentiated products and experiences. You will oversee projects across the lifecycle from ideation to proof-of-concept, incubation, and mass production, collaborating with Product Management,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in electronic product development, innovation engineering, or advanced technology development.
• Proven experience leading projects from ideation through commercialization and mass production.
• Experience with consumer appliances, durable goods, consumer electronics, or related industries; strong knowledge of gas, electric, and induction cooking technologies preferred.
• Strong expertise in electronic hardware development, PCB design, embedded controls, component selection, power electronics, and system integration.
• Deep understanding of firmware and software development processes for cooking appliances.
• Experience with sensors, HMI technologies, wireless communications, IoT platforms, mobile applications, and connected appliances.
• Familiarity with induction cooking systems, inverter technologies, power management, and advanced cooking controls.
• Hands-on experience with prototype development, laboratory testing, performance validation, and reliability assessments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills.
• Strong innovation mindset with the ability to translate consumer insights into differentiated technical solutions.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with proven experience working effectively with global product development organizations and multicultural engineering teams.
• Strong coaching and mentoring abilities.
• Self-motivated, creative, resourceful, and results-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of electronics, software, sensing and connectivity for major cooking appliances.
• Identify unmet consumer needs, emerging technologies, market trends, and opportunities through research and tech scouting.
• Create prototypes and validate technical feasibility, reliability, and consumer value.
• Collaborate with suppliers and partners to evaluate and implement emerging technologies.
• Research and support patent landscape and IP opportunities.
• Travel domestically and internationally to collaborate with suppliers, manufacturing sites, and research partners.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Communication

Mentoring

Innovation mindset

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PCB design

Firmware development

IoT platforms

HMI technologies

Power electronics

System integration

Job description

Midea America Corp., is one of the world’s largest home appliance brands, offering the most comprehensive selection of products in the world to fully serve the needs of day-to-day living at home, at work, or anywhere else you go. In North America we strive to aim high, put the customer first, transform and innovate the marketplace, utilizing our commitment, dedication, inclusion, and partnership with our teams. Midea America is a subsidiary of the Midea Group, a global company with over 150,000 employees and operations in more than 195 countries. As a publicly listed company, we are ranked #231 as a Fortune Global 500 company and offer one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry.

Job Summary

The Senior Electronic Innovation Engineer is responsible for driving the development of breakthrough electronic, software, sensing, connectivity, and control technologies for major cooking appliances, including ranges, wall ovens, microwave ovens, over-the-range microwaves, induction cooktops, and emerging cooking platforms.

This role leads front-end innovation activities by identifying consumer needs, market opportunities, competitive trends, and emerging technologies to create differentiated products and user experiences. The position combines innovation leadership, hands‑on engineering development, and strategic thinking to transform concepts into commercially successful products.

The engineer will support projects throughout the entire product lifecycle, from ideation, proof‑of‑concept development, and technology incubation through product launch and mass production.

This position works closely with Product Management, Consumer Insights, Industrial Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Suppliers, and Global R&D teams to develop innovative solutions that strengthen Midea's leadership in the North American market.

Innovation & Technology Development

• Lead the development of innovative electronics, software, sensing, connectivity, and control technologies for major cooking appliances.
• Identify unmet consumer needs, emerging technologies, market trends, and competitive opportunities through research, benchmarking, and technology scouting.
• Develop innovative product concepts and user experiences that improve performance, convenience, safety, energy efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Create and evaluate prototypes, proof‑of‑concepts, and functional models to validate technical feasibility, reliability, and consumer value.
• Research emerging technologies including AI‑enabled features, smart appliance ecosystems, advanced sensing systems, and connected home solutions.
• Support long‑term technology roadmaps and future product platform strategies.

Electronic Systems Engineering

• Develop electrical schematics, PCB architectures, control strategies, component specifications, and system integration requirements.
• Support development of advanced cooking technologies including induction systems, power electronics, inverter controls, precision sensing, and intelligent cooking algorithms.
• Collaborate with suppliers and technology partners to evaluate and implement emerging technologies.
• Conduct engineering analysis, laboratory testing, performance evaluations, and product validation activities.
• Apply Design for Reliability (DFR), DFMEA, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies.
• Perform root cause analysis, technical troubleshooting, risk assessments, and corrective action implementation.

Regulatory, Compliance & Intellectual Property

• Ensure compliance with applicable North American safety, performance, and regulatory requirements including UL 858, ANSI Z21.1, CSA, FCC, DOE, ENERGY STAR, and AHAM requirements.
• Generate invention disclosures, support patent applications, and contribute to the company's intellectual property portfolio.
• Conduct competitive technology assessments and patent landscape evaluations to support future innovation initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and cross‑functional teams.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Global R&D organizations to successfully commercialize new technologies.
• Partner with suppliers, universities, startups, and research organizations to identify breakthrough innovation opportunities.
• Travel domestically and internationally to collaborate with suppliers, manufacturing sites, research institutions, technology partners, industry events, and customers to accelerate innovation and product development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in electronic product development, innovation engineering, or advanced technology development.
• Proven experience leading projects from ideation through commercialization and mass production.
• Experience with consumer appliances, durable goods, consumer electronics, or related industries, strong knowledge of gas, electric, and induction cooking technologies preferred.
• Strong expertise in electronic hardware development, PCB design, embedded controls, component selection, power electronics, and system integration.
• Deep understanding of firmware and software development processes for cooking appliances.
• Experience with sensors, HMI technologies, wireless communications, IoT platforms, mobile applications, and connected appliances.
• Familiarity with induction cooking systems, inverter technologies, power management, and advanced cooking controls.
• Hands‑on experience with prototype development, laboratory testing, performance validation, and reliability assessments.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and root cause analysis skills.
• Strong innovation mindset with the ability to translate consumer insights into differentiated technical solutions.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and cross‑functional collaboration skills, with proven experience working effectively with global product development organizations and multicultural engineering teams.
• Strong coaching and mentoring abilities.
• Self‑motivated, creative, resourceful, and results‑oriented.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.