R&D Engineer Cable and Kits - EHT

Spirax-Sarco Ltd.•La Vergne, TN

About The Position

As part of the Research & Development team, the R&D Engineer develops and improves electric heat trace cables and connection kits from concept through product realization. The engineer translates customer, market, regulatory, and manufacturing needs into product designs that are safe, reliable, manufacturable, compliant, and commercially competitive. The role leads technical work across design, prototyping, verification, qualification, certification, and launch. It collaborates closely with Product Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Application Engineering, and third-party approval agencies to introduce new products and improve existing platforms.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Working knowledge of electrical circuits, resistance heating, heat transfer, material behavior, and mechanical design principles.
Experience applying a structured product-development process from requirements and concept selection through verification, validation, and release.
Ability to create and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, test procedures, and technical reports.
Hands-on capability with prototypes, laboratory equipment, test instrumentation, and structured root-cause problem solving.
Effective communication skills and the ability to partner with cross-functional stakeholders, including product users, production, supply chain, quality, and related departments.
Ability to prepare and present technical information, design concepts, test findings, risks, and recommended solutions to engineering and business stakeholders.
Aptitude for multitasking, managing projects, and working to emerging timelines.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing heat trace cable, heating cable, wire and cable products, connection kits, industrial electrical accessories, or related thermal-management products.
Knowledge of polymer extrusion, fluoropolymers, polyolefins, elastomers, irradiation or crosslinking, overmolding, sealing, potting, crimping, termination, or cable assembly methods.
Experience with hazardous-location or industrial product standards and certification bodies such as UL, CSA, FM, IECEx, or ATEX.
Experience with Autodesk products and engineering data or product lifecycle management systems.

Responsibilities

Own R&D projects for heat trace cable platforms and associated power connection, splice, tee, end-seal, termination, and entry kits.
Translate voice-of-customer, product management, application engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory requirements into engineering specifications, design inputs, test plans, and product acceptance criteria.
Develop and evaluate cable constructions, connection methods, sealing systems, insulation systems, metallic components, polymers, adhesives, potting compounds, and related materials for industrial heat trace applications.
Manage projects from concept selection through design, prototyping, verification, validation, certification, and product realization while coordinating with cross-functional departments.
Plan and execute electrical, thermal, mechanical, environmental, dielectric, ingress-protection, chemical-resistance, aging, and installation-related testing as applicable.
Coordinate with third-party approval agencies and laboratories to ensure proper sample selection, testing, technical documentation, and conformance to applicable industry standards.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to develop scalable processes, work instructions, inspection methods, and production controls for new products.
Qualify new materials, components, and suppliers to improve product performance, reliability, availability, cost, and manufacturability while maintaining compliance.
Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for development issues, test failures, manufacturing problems, and field performance concerns.
Manage product engineering data and configuration control, including drawings, specifications, bills of material, test reports, design records, and engineering changes.
Support product launches with technical content, application guidance, training, manufacturing readiness, and field or customer support as needed.