Principal Engineer

Eaton Corporation • Asheville, NC

10d • $113,000 - $165,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Eaton’s ES AMER ARS PDCAD division is currently seeking a Principal Engineer. This role will take place out of our facility in Arden, NC. We are able to offer relocation assistance for qualified candidates within the United States.
The Principal Engineer is responsible for the design and product development of industry-leading medium voltage motor control assemblies. The product line subject to this opening produces medium voltage adjustable frequency drives and fixed-speed starters components and assemblies. This role is responsible for performing a wide variety of engineering and technical tasks involving the application of engineering knowledge and the development of solutions to complex problems pertaining to products, software, hardware, materials, manufacturing processes, routine and type tests (including regulatory compliance), and adaptations for unique customer applications.
The expected annual salary range for this role is $113000 - $165000 a year.
Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent study from an accredited institution.
• 10 years of experience in electrical power industry.
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1 to H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, I-485 job portability, etc.
• Advanced Power Electronics & Medium Voltage Systems Expertise
• Deep knowledge of medium‑voltage motor control, multi‑level adjustable frequency drives, modulation techniques, harmonic mitigation, power quality, efficiency impacts, long‑cable effects, and advanced flux control.
• Structured Product Development & Six Sigma
• Strong experience with Design for Six Sigma, Six Sigma methodologies, and Stage‑Gate product development, including disciplined design processes, testing, and lab report generation.
• Power Electronics Design
• Hands‑on experience with power semiconductor devices (thyristors, MOSFETs, IGBTs, IGCTs), magnetics, low‑inductance bus design, PCB layout, interconnects, and manufacturable power electronics assemblies.
• Simulation, Modeling & Digital Validation
• Proficiency with circuit and system simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink/Simscape, PLECs, EMTP), finite‑element and magnetic analysis tools, and real‑time hardware‑in‑the‑loop platforms (e.g., OPAL‑RT).
• Thermal, CFD & Multiphysics Analysis
• Strong understanding of thermal design for power electronics, including FEA heat‑transfer analysis, CFD simulation, and optimization techniques for robust, high‑reliability designs.
• Standards, Compliance & Measurement
• Working knowledge of medium‑voltage drive and MV control standards (UL, IEEE, NEMA) and demonstrated experience using advanced MV power electronics instrumentation and measurement techniques.
• CAD, Manufacturing & Configuration Management
• Proficiency with CAD tools (AutoCAD, Altium/PCAD), 3D geometry oversight, materials selection, BOM structuring by work center, and practical manufacturing knowledge of PCBs, harnesses, and electrical components.
• Project Leadership & Customer Engagement
• Ability to lead small to mid‑size development projects, communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, analyze complex application issues to root cause, and travel as needed to support manufacturing and customers.
• Willing to travel up to 10% in support of design activities including customer support, testing, and supplier interface
• On-site work with flex working arrangements agreed upon with direct manager, such as remote-virtual one-day per week, compressed schedule, etc. Willingness to collaborate with global development team roster in Microsoft Teams meetings occasional non-core local hours.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Professional Engineering license
• IEEE membership, preferably the IAS society and industry conference attendance history.
• 3 years of experience in design for Six Sigma.
• Second language fluency is desirable, preferably Chinese, Portuguese, Hindi, or Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Selects engineering techniques to problem-solve, perform root-cause analysis, and make design recommendations using domain knowledge and six-sigma methodologies.
• Participates as a team member or serves as the leader of cross-functional project design teams engaged in stage-gate product development framework (activity matrix).
• Provides guidance advice to manufacturing, front end order fulfillment and applications engineering or other junior engineers on areas of expertise.
• Participates in defining engineering approaches including the planning and scheduling of work, ensures successful completion of assigned projects within the budgeted time and cost constraints.
• Executes all design, development, and related technical tasks required to maintain the product line. Develops product designs which may require the implementation of unique solutions.
• Initiates and prepares specifications for products, equipment, and processes while maintaining awareness and control of costs.
• Travel for compliance type testing at remote laboratories, and support field commissioning of unique assemblies.
• Performs digital, analog, and power electronics circuit design, simulation, measurement, and analysis utilizing computer aided engineering and instrumentation tools
• Develops and debugs interface, driver, and application firmware modules utilizing embedded C or assembly programming as required in both real time operating system and custom module scheduling environments.
• Produces intellectual property on a regular basis and is on the leading edge of field of expertise.
• Designs to meet safety, EMC, and agency approval standards. Contributes to organizational technical and business strategy.
• Must be capable of producing effective engineering communications by writing articles for trade and technical publications, presenting papers, preparing patent disclosures, and creating/changing engineering documentation including specifications, drawings, and testing reports.
• Participates in codes and standards activities related to product line technology.

Benefits

• Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview.
• Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees