Senior Hardware Certification Design and Compliance Engineer

Schneider Electric • Lake Forest, IL

1d

About The Position

Schneider Electric is seeking a highly experienced Senior Certification Engineer to lead regulatory compliance, product certification, and safety evaluation for PLC-based industrial control products used in hazardous locations. The role ensures products meet global electrical safety, intrinsic safety, and environmental compliance standards, including CSA C22.2, FM 3600/3610, IECEx/ATEX 60079-7, IACS E10, G3 environmental requirements, CCCEx, CE, and RoHS.

The engineer leads global certification programs, interprets standards, manages technical submissions, and develops certification plans, gap assessments, and design reviews. They advise engineering teams on design-for-compliance, review schematics, PCB layouts, component choices, and mechanical designs, and define testing and validation strategies. They also oversee safety, EMC, environmental, and reliability testing; interpret results; and prepare compliance reports and engineering justifications.

The position serves as a primary contact for certification agencies and laboratories, coordinating audits, technical meetings, factory inspections, and responses to nonconformities and requests for action. It maintains listings and required certification documentation throughout the product lifecycle, and works across hardware, firmware, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams. The role also mentors junior engineers and advises on supplier selection, component obsolescence, and design changes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in product safety, certification engineering, or regulatory compliance.
• Deep understanding of electrical and hazardous-location concepts, including Ex and Division/Zone systems.
• Hands-on experience with CSA C22.2, FM 3600/3610, IEC 60079-0/7/11, ATEX EN 60079 series, UL, RoHS, CE, EMC, G3 environmental, and IACS E10 standards or requirements.
• Strong experience working with certification laboratories and Notified Bodies.
• Ability to read electronic schematics, perform safety calculations, and interpret test data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple certification projects simultaneously.
• Strong documentation, organizational, and technical writing skills.
• Hands-on approach to testing and engineering validation.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering or a similar field.
• Experience with PLC or industrial automation products, medical products, or aerospace products.
• FMEDA or functional safety background, including IEC 61508.
• Experience with corrosion-resistant design, including ISA-71.04 G3/GX.
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001/80079-34 processes.
• Professional certification such as Ex Competency or IECEx CoPC.

Responsibilities

• Lead global certification programs for PLC and industrial control products used in hazardous locations.
• Interpret and apply applicable electrical safety, hazardous-location, intrinsic-safety, EMC, environmental, and product compliance standards and directives.
• Prepare, review, and manage technical documentation for submission to NRTLs, Notified Bodies, certification bodies, and regional authorities.
• Develop and execute certification plans, gap assessments, and design reviews.
• Provide design-for-compliance guidance early in the product lifecycle.
• Review schematics, PCB layouts, component selections, and mechanical designs for electrical safety and hazardous-location compliance.
• Define test methods and validation strategies for intrinsic safety, increased safety, and protection-against-fire concepts.
• Drive design changes to address evolving standards and regulatory updates.
• Create and manage safety, EMC, environmental, and reliability test plans.
• Oversee internal and external testing, including temperature rise, dielectric strength, creepage and clearance, thermal aging, intrinsic-safety energy limits, vibration, corrosion, humidity, and G3 chemical exposure.
• Interpret test data and produce compliance reports and engineering justifications.
• Act as the primary contact for certification agencies and laboratories, including CSA, FM Approvals, ATEX, IECEx, IACS E10, and CCCEx labs.
• Coordinate audits, technical meetings, factory inspections, and responses to nonconformities and requests for corrective action.
• Maintain valid listings, QAR/QAN documentation, and ongoing compliance requirements.
• Prepare hazardous-location test reports, risk assessments, control drawings, installation instructions, and product markings.
• Maintain certification records and revision control throughout the product lifecycle.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Mentor junior engineers on standards, compliance strategy, and certification processes.
• Advise on supplier selection, component obsolescence reviews, and design changes.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, including member reward points
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Basic life insurance
• Benefit Bucks credits to apply toward benefits
• Flexible work arrangements
• Paid family leaves
• 401(k) with company match
• Well-being programs
• Recognition programs, including service anniversary recognition
• 12 holidays per year
• 15 days of paid time off per year, prorated in the first year based on start date
• Opportunity to purchase company stock, subject to eligibility based on start date
• Military leave benefits
• Short-term incentives
• Global career opportunities
• Access to the Schneider Career Hub and learning platforms such as Coursera
• Volunteer leave

What This Job Offers

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