Electrical Engineer, Hardware Development

Vitamix•Olmsted Township, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vitamix is seeking a Hardware Development Engineer that will research, develop and provide technical support to development engineering activities and electro-mechanical systems in Vitamix products, both Commercial and Household. The Engineer will also be responsible for the electro-mechanical design in and/or integration with Vitamix products including control boards, embedded firmware, motors, EMI filters, cord sets and wiring in order to meet product performance, cost and schedule requirements. They will participate in the NPD Stage-Gate process and contribute to product reliability, safety compliance, and EMC/EMI design objectives across all applicable programs.

Requirements

2-4 years Engineering experience
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, or related Engineering field required
Proficiency in MS Office
Previous experience using Pro-Engineer or similar 3D modeling software
Fundamental knowledge of motors (Universal Motors, Induction Motors, Permanent Magnet Motors, BLDC)
Experience with communications and wireless technologies
Familiarity and/or experience with/in PLC, HMI, Control Panel Design and PCB Layout
Working knowledge of motor control hardware including motor controllers, power stages, MOSFETs/gate drivers, thermistors, and TCO devices; ability to support motor selection and evaluate designs against performance requirements
Previous experience and/or knowledge of sensor technologies and implementation
Analog and digital circuit design fundamentals, including ability to independently design analog/digital subcircuits and MCU support circuitry (power, clocks reset, interfaces)
Knowledge of electrical safety standards (UL/IEC) and product compliance requirements; ability to apply insulation, grounding, and isolation principles in circuit designs.
Understanding of EMC/EMI fundamentals including common sources of interference, EMI mitigation techniques (filtering, shielding, grounding), and basic pre-compliance testing practices
Familiarity with FMEA methodology (Design FMEA, IEC 60730-1 Annex H board FMEA) and ability to participate in structured risk analysis activities
Ability to use oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, and other standard lab equipment for circuit debug, validation, and data collection
Understanding of NPD Stage-Gate process and ability to execute applicable EE deliverables (hardware control documents, DVP/PVP plans, BOM, schematics) in accordance with program timelines and gate requirements
Working knowledge of component lifecycle, BOM management, and basic supply chain considerations including component availability, alternates, and sourcing risk
Problem Solving - Skilled at quickly diagnosing issues, identifying root causes, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
Critical Thinking - Ability to break down complex information, identify key elements, and assess their validity and relevance.
Communication - Ability to clearly articulate reasoning, explain decisions, and effectively convey complex ideas to different audiences.
Relationship Building - Ability to establish, maintain, and cultivate positive relationships with individuals, teams, and external stakeholders to foster a collaborative environment
Innovation & Adaptability - Demonstrated ability to generate innovative ideas, explore unconventional approaches, and adapt strategies to achieve desired outcomes, showcasing originality, resourcefulness and a willingness to experiment.
Flexibility - Ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities, new information, and diverse situations, while remaining focused on achieving goals.
Reliability/Dependability - Highly reliable, proactive self-starter; can be counted on to complete assignments on time

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in electrical engineering, a plus
Previous experience using Pro-Engineer or similar 3D modeling software
Experience with Electrical CAD (Altium) desired
Possesses working knowledge of ERP systems such as Oracle and/or SAP
Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout using Altium Designer, including ability to route boards with consideration for noise, thermal performance, signal integrity, and DFM requirements

Responsibilities

Provides technical support to Engineering, Production and Quality for all matters pertaining to electro-mechanical components
Assists in the development of control systems
Assists in the design of electro-mechanical components
Manages the Bill of Material process
Performs various change control activity
Develops embedded systems control and firmware
Coordinates and assists in the development of test plans and in the testing of electro-mechanical components and/or Vitamix products
Supports change activity concerning circuit boards and electro-mechanical components on existing product lines
Identifies and implements performance and/or quality improvement and cost savings opportunities related to motors, EMI filters, cord sets, circuit boards, and wiring for any new project, utilizing end user needs, warranty feedback, material cost, etc.
Assists in ensuring all relevant technical and agency system requirements, internally and externally, are met for new and existing products
Participates in FMEA sessions, contributing to identification of safety-critical failure modes and design controls for new and existing products
Supports UL/IEC safety compliance activities including design-to-standard, test preparation, and coordination with certification labs
Applies EMC/EMI design principles including grounding, filtering, and shielding strategies to achieve pre-compliance and agency requirements
Executes applicable deliverables within the NPD Stage-Gate (STEP) process, ensuring EE documentation and design artifacts are completed and approved at each gate review
Supports electrical reliability activities including derating analysis, thermal analysis, and DVP/PVP test execution
Performs motor control hardware tasks including thermistor/TCO setpoint evaluation and motor fault response validation in support of product programs