Electrical Engineer

Springs Window Fashions - Middleton, WI

Full-time - Mid Level

Middleton, WI

5,001-10,000 employees

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

About the position

Springs Window Fashions is seeking an Electrical Engineer to join our New Product Innovation group at our Middleton, WI Corporate Headquarters. With a legacy dating back to 1939, we are a leader in the window treatments industry, employing over 8,000 associates across North America, Europe, and Asia. Our products are widely available in major retailers, designer showrooms, and large commercial buildings. As a privately owned company, we market a diverse portfolio of brands, including Bali, Graber, Mecho, SWFcontract, and SunSetter. We pride ourselves on being 'The Best Experience Company', dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for our consumers, channel partners, and associates. In this role, you will be responsible for creating, designing, testing, supporting, and developing innovative electronic motor and control systems for both existing and new products. Your responsibilities will encompass motors, controls, hardware, and software, ensuring that customer requirements are accurately specified and adhered to. You will utilize quality tools and methods while pursuing continuous improvement in all aspects of product and process design. Your efforts will directly impact the average sales price per unit and enhance the value, reliability, and performance of our products, including those under the Graber and Bali brands, as well as private label brands and associated components. As a Senior Electrical Engineer, you will report to the Vice President of Innovation and play a key role in our Innovation team. You will collaborate with various teams, including Executive, Product Management, Engineering, and Channel Marketing, to introduce and develop new product concepts and enhance existing products. Your work will involve creating and maintaining systems architecture for blinds, ensuring compliance with relevant codes and standards, and leading the motorization of all product lines. You will also engage in strategic application development and integration of connected devices, ensuring that designs prioritize safety, quality, durability, reliability, and value. Additionally, you will be responsible for estimating project costs, facilitating design reviews, and developing engineering solutions for customer complaints, all while managing projects based on established timelines.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Executive, Product Management, Engineering, and Channel Marketing teams to introduce and develop new product concepts and enhancements.
• Create and maintain systems architecture for blinds, including motors, controls, connected and IoT solutions, and communication protocols.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives to identify root causes and implement solutions.
• Lead all electrical product and design engineering activities for Graber, Bali, and private label product lines.
• Collaborate on strategic application development and integration of connected devices, including voice control systems.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant codes and standards (FCC, UL).
• Design products and components with safety, quality, durability, reliability, and value as priorities.
• Establish design specifications, material selection, and potential suppliers for product design.
• Estimate project and product costs and assist with project justification.
• Facilitate design reviews to discuss concepts and proposed product designs with other functional areas.
• Participate on project teams for new products and enhancements using the 4D stage gate process.
• Develop engineering solutions for design-related customer field complaints.
• Implement cost reduction measures in accordance with financial objectives.
• Prepare and submit capital requirements for product lines.
• Maintain and control engineering files, records, and documentation for specifications, drawings, and patents.
• Interface with purchasing and suppliers to resolve compliance issues with specifications.
• Develop innovative designs that align with product strategy and resolve patent infringement issues.
• Manage projects based on timelines established by product management priorities.
• Interact and collaborate with associates in marketing, quality, manufacturing, customer service, and external suppliers.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 3+ years of design engineering experience in consumer products/controls related industry.
• Relevant experience with new product development and product design roles.
• Familiarity with the design of motors, controls, user interfaces, and software.
• Knowledge of consumer/appliance motors (A/C, DC, battery powered).
• Experience with systems design: motors, controls, user interfaces, systems interfaces.
• Experience with wired/wireless communications protocols (RS232, RS485, Z-wave, Zigbee, BTLE, WiFi).
• Proficiency in working with outside resources to direct the development of new innovations.
• Experience with CAD drawing (Solid Works).
• Knowledge of typical drafting standards, electrical/circuit drawing standards, and software documentation.
• Knowledge of current practices, standards, and trends in home and commercial building controls preferred.
• Data collection and management of databases.
• Technical writing skills for memos, lab reports, and project updates.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with consumer appliance motors and their applications.
• Familiarity with IoT solutions and connected device integration.
• Knowledge of current trends in home automation and smart home technologies.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• 401k retirement savings plan.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible scheduling options.