Lead Engineer, Electrical Utility

Emerson•Rockford, IL

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Lead Engineer, Utility in Rockford, IL, or Elyria, OH, you will serve as a technical authority, linking the needs of utility customers with innovative high-voltage test and measurement solutions. Your expertise in power transmission and distribution will directly influence product direction and system-level design decisions. You will provide technical leadership in the use and evaluation of utility tools such as battery-hydraulic cutters and crimpers, and test and measurement tools such as voltmeters, phasing tools, voltage detectors, and dielectric testers, supporting training and demos. Working closely with product managers, design engineers, and embedded systems developers, as well as directly with our customers, your impact will be immediate and lasting – helping deliver solutions utility pros trust! Emerson’s global Professional Tools business is an equal opportunity employer, offering the broadest portfolio of reliable tools and technologies for those working in mechanical, electrical, utility, and plumbing trades! With unparalleled expertise from RIDGID, Greenlee, HDE, and Klauke, we deliver tools our customers trust to handle their toughest challenges.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
8 years of professional experience in Engineering with a minimum of 5 years of experience with power transmission and distribution systems, including overhead and underground utility equipment.
Hands-on experience using or supporting test and measurement equipment in utility or industrial field applications.
Strong communication skills.
Willingness to travel typically around 25%, with up to 50% at times.
Legal authorization to work in the United States – sponsorship will not be provided.

Nice To Haves

Experience engaging customers through training, technical demonstrations, field support, or speaking at industry events.
Familiarity with utility industry practices, problem solving approaches, and safety protocols.
Knowledge of compliance standards and qualification procedures for high-voltage safety equipment (e.g., OSHA, IEC, ANSI/IEEE standards).
Deep understanding of electric and magnetic field theory and its application to high-voltage safety and measurement.
Experience with embedded systems, sensors, or wearable electronics from a user perspective.
Familiarity with functional safety principles and safety-critical design considerations for high-voltage environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical authority for the utility product category, acting as the primary technical contact for all questions, issues, and decisions related to that category.
Partner closely with Product Management to align on category strategy, identify emerging trends, and translate customer needs into actionable product-level requirements for both new and existing products.
Conduct field visits and collaborate directly with end users, distributors, and service teams to stay informed of product performance, market trends, and unmet customer needs.
Develop and maintain global category-specific validation standards, including internal test methods, procedures, and pass/fail criteria, ensuring consistent evaluation of product designs across all projects.
Ensure designs are consistent with category standards, leveraging learnings from past projects, and validating performance through analysis and testing.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and technicians, fostering sound engineering judgment and adherence to category standards and best practices.
Drive sustaining engineering activities within the category by leading root cause analysis, developing corrective actions, and ensuring lessons learned are incorporated into future designs.
Maintain awareness of relevant industry standards, technologies, and materials, incorporating these advancements into future category development.
Represent the product category in cross-functional reviews, ensuring alignment and integration across mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing disciplines.