Product Engineer

JOIN US, BUILD YOUR IDEAL Are you passionate about preserving American engineering and manufacturing excellence while working for a company that makes a difference globally?

Do you want to be part of an incredible 122-year-old brand with thousands of customers across more than 100 countries worldwide?

IDEAL ELECTRIC stands as the last independent, vertically integrated manufacturer and servicer of high-power specialized rotating electric motors, generators, and associated equipment.

Family-run and oriented, we're large enough to service, small enough to care – combining the capabilities of a major manufacturer with the entrepreneurial agility and innovative spirit that drives us to adapt quickly and solve complex challenges.

We're seeking a Product Engineer ready to roll up their sleeves and make a tangible impact on critical infrastructure that powers communities and industries around the world.

This position reports to the Engineering Manager and is based at our historic Mansfield, Ohio facility.  You'll join a team at an exceptional time of growth in our mission to deliver world-class engineering and manufacturing excellence.

From offshore installations to power plants, naval vessels to industrial facilities, your work will have real-world impact on systems that millions rely on daily across the continents and under the seas.

If you're ready to build a career you can take pride in while preserving critical engineering expertise built on a century of excellence and leading the electrification of the world, we want to talk to you.

OVERVIEW The Product Engineer is responsible for the application engineering, certification, and R&D support of IDEAL's rotating electrical equipment portfolio.

This position applies specialized knowledge of industry standards, customer requirements, and product performance to ensure IDEAL's motors and generators meet or exceed regulatory and market expectations.

Working within the Engineering department, this role collaborates with electrical and mechanical engineers, manufacturing, purchasing, and quality personnel, sales, and service teams, along with external certification bodies to guide products through development, testing, and market acceptance.

The position requires strong technical understanding of rotating electrical equipment, certification processes, and customer applications.

This full-time role is based at IDEAL's Mansfield, Ohio Works facility, reporting to the Engineering Manager.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary technical liaison between customers, sales teams, and design engineering for application-specific requirements
• Analyze customer specifications and translate them into detailed technical requirements for the engineering and manufacturing teams
• Guide products through design reviews, prototype testing, and final validation to ensure compliance with customer expectations and industry standards
• Prepare, review, and approve test reports documenting machine performance, compliance with specifications, and quality standards
• Lead product certification efforts with various regulatory bodies including hazardous location and marine certifications from UL, CSA, ABS, DNV, IEEE, and military standards for rotating electric equipment
• Support the sales team with technical expertise during customer consultations, site visits, and proposal development
• Develop custom engineering solutions for specialized applications in power generation, naval systems, and industrial environments
• Troubleshoot field issues with existing products and recommend design modifications or operational adjustments to improve performance C reate and maintain comprehensive technical documentation including application guides, installation manuals, and maintenance procedures
• Evaluate new technologies, materials, and design approaches to enhance product performance and manufacturability
• Collaborate with manufacturing to ensure production processes meet quality standards and product specifications
• Coordinate with test engineers to develop appropriate test protocols for verifying product performance and reliability
• Lead continuous improvement efforts by analyzing field data, customer feedback, and warranty claims to identify opportunities for product enhancement
• Represent IDEAL in technical forums, industry committees, and standards development organizations relevant to rotating electrical equipment
• Conduct competitive analysis to benchmark IDEAL products against industry alternatives and identify market opportunities
• Provide training to internal teams and customers on product capabilities, applications, and proper installation / maintenance QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or related field is preferred but not required for candidates with extensive hands-on experience with power systems, electric machines, product development, or applications engineering
• 5+ years of experience in product engineering, application engineering, or certification roles, preferably with rotating electrical equipment Due to the sensitive nature of some projects, US Citizenship is required for this position.
• Strong understanding of certification processes and standards for rotating electrical equipment (UL, CSA, ABS, DNV, IEEE, MIL-STD, etc.)
• Knowledge of rotating electric equipment technologies including synchronous, induction, permanent magnet, switched reluctance, synchronous reluctance, and / or wound rotor designs
• Familiarity with synchronous excitation, starting and synchronizing systems
• Knowledge of low, medium, and high voltage (up to 13.8 kV) insulation systems
• Experience with various cooling methods including open ventilation, force ventilated, TEWAC, TEAAC, water jacket cooling systems
• Demonstrated ability to analyze customer requirements and develop technical solutions that meet their specific needs
• Experience with product testing, performance validation, and documentation for certification purposes
• Understanding of industry standards relevant to rotating electrical equipment (NEMA, IEC, IEEE, API, ABS, MIL STD, etc.)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues
• Excellent communication skills with ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to various audiences
• Experience with creating technical documentation including application guides, installation instructions, and maintenance manuals
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams including engineering, sales, manufacturing, and quality assurance
• Technical literacy with demonstrated proficiency in :
• .1.
• Microsoft 365 suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) .2.
• Engineering analysis and documentation software .3.
• Cloud-based document management systems for team collaboration and file sharing .4.
• ERP systems for product lifecycle management
• Experience with customer-facing technical support is highly valued
• Knowledge of market trends and competitive landscape in rotating electric equipment is advantageous WORKING CONDITIONS AND WORK HOURS Daily minimum of 8 hours.
• Weekly 40 hour minimum.
• This position generally operates in a professional office environment.
• Travel to customer sites, supplier facilities, or certification laboratories may be necessary (approximately 15-20%).
• Position may require occasional international travel for customer projects or certification activities.
• May spend time in manufacturing and test areas observing product assembly and testing.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS While performing the duties of this job, the employee :