Senior Electrical Engineer

Bridgestone Americas • Nashville, TN

34d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Electrical Engineer researches, develops, designs, tests, and implements electrical components, equipment, systems, and networks for commercial and industrial manufacturing applications. This senior-level position applies advanced knowledge typically obtained through advanced education and substantial work experience. The role operates with a high degree of independence, serves as a primary technical authority, and leads projects of diverse scope while mentoring junior engineering staff. Problems faced are often difficult and complex, requiring both technical depth and cross-functional collaboration. This role requires 33–66% domestic and international travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or 3 years and a master’s degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work experience
• Proficiency in Rockwell Automation PLC programming
• Proven experience with Ladder Logic, Sequencer instructions (SFC, SQI, SQO), servo drives, VFDs, and Safety PLC programming
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD Electrical, NFPA 79, NEC, and NFPA 70E
• Familiarity with machine functional safety standards (ANSI B11, ISO 13849)

Nice To Haves

• Mitsubishi and/or Siemens experience preferred
• Experience with Power BI and AI-based tools for engineering analytics and reporting (preferred)
• Project management skills, including budget tracking, cash flow, schedule management, and workload reporting (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Leads medium-to-large-scale controls engineering projects and multi-phase processes across corporate and plant operations
• Operates independently with minimal supervision and serves as a primary technical authority on assigned systems
• Develops and manages project scopes, specifications, timelines, budgets, and documentation
• Monitors and reports on project schedules, workload distribution, and budget performance throughout the project lifecycle
• Coordinates with plant engineering, operations, maintenance, and external vendors to ensure successful equipment deployment and commissioning
• Designs, installs, and implements electrical equipment, control systems, and automation solutions for commercial and industrial manufacturing applications
• Creates, reviews, and modifies electrical design packages using AutoCAD Electrical and Vault, ensuring compliance with NFPA 79, NEC, NFPA 70E, and Bridgestone Standards
• Develops, tests, and maintains PLC logic and control system architecture using Rockwell (required), with additional experience in Mitsubishi (preferred) and Siemens (preferred) platforms
• Demonstrates proven knowledge of Sequencer instructions including SFC, SQI, and SQO for structured and efficient machine control programming
• Writes, interprets, and troubleshoots Ladder Logic and other IEC 61131-3 programming languages across multiple PLC platforms
• Designs, configures, and troubleshoots HMI applications and operator interface systems
• Designs, configures, and optimizes servo drives, servo motors, motion stages, and coordinated motion control systems
• Selects, programs, integrates, and troubleshoots VFDs for applications such as conveyors, extruders, mixers, and machine actuators
• Performs commissioning, tuning, and diagnostics for motor control systems across multiple OEM platforms
• Reads, interprets, and designs pneumatic and hydraulic fluid power circuits used in industrial machinery
• Integrates fluid power components — valves, cylinders, manifolds, regulators, and pressure controls — with electronic automation systems
• Ensures safe and synchronized operation between electrical controls and mechanical/hydraulic motion
• Designs and implements machine functional safety systems in alignment with ANSI B11, ISO 13849, and internal safety engineering standards
• Integrates safety sensors, safety relays, interlocks, light curtains, area scanners, and safety PLCs into machine architecture
• Programs and validates Safety PLC systems to ensure proper logic execution and compliance with applicable performance levels
• Performs safety risk assessments, validates Performance Levels, and ensures proper documentation of safety circuits
• Leads and performs machine risk assessments using internal tools and safety standards (ANSI B11, ISO 13849)
• Ensures electrical and control system designs meet regulatory, safety, and corporate engineering standards
• Drives safety-by-design principles throughout all phases of project execution
• Identifies automation opportunities and leads continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality, uptime, reliability, and operational efficiency
• Provides advanced troubleshooting support to plant engineering and maintenance teams to minimize downtime
• Evaluates and applies emerging control technologies, including AI-driven analytics and process optimization tools, to support innovation and corporate automation standards
• Develops and maintains Power BI dashboards and reports to support data-driven decision-making, KPI tracking, and operational visibility
• Coaches, mentors, and reviews the work of associate, professional, and junior-level engineers
• Provides technical guidance and support to plant teams and cross-functional partners
• Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization and maintains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Supports continuous improvement and innovation culture within the engineering group

Benefits

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
• An effective and inclusive team.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior