Senior Staff Motor Design Engineer
Location: Chaska, MN (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $138,000 – $185,000/year
Our client is a leading aerospace and defense manufacturer seeking an expert-level Senior Staff Motor Design Engineer to design and optimize electric motors and drive next-generation motor technology across their product portfolio. This role covers the full scope of electric motor engineering — magnetics, materials, GD&T, assembly, manufacturability, analysis, inspection, test, and verification — with regular interaction across engineering, program management, procurement, supply chain, and outside suppliers and test facilities.
This is a senior technical leadership role for someone who wants to shape breakthrough motor technology in a high-performance, AS9100-certified aerospace/defense environment.
What You'll Do - Design, prototype, assemble, and test electromagnetic topologies for high-performance, high-reliability aerospace and defense motors and products
- Develop breakthrough motor technologies that help win new business in served market segments
- Apply expert-level materials selection and GD&T to optimize designs for manufacturability and cost
- Perform electromagnetic analysis, simulation, and modeling (including Finite Element Analysis)
- Serve as a technical leader/facilitator in design and manufacturing trade-offs — cost, efficiency, mass, thermal performance, and more
- Apply deep knowledge of motor subcomponent design: magnet wires, insulation systems, laminations, magnets, shafts, bearings, enclosures, EMI, and sealing
- Collaborate closely with actuation systems and test engineering to drive manufacturable designs on new programs
- Work directly with suppliers to ensure conformity to contract requirements, drawings, and specifications
- Inspect, witness, and verify in-process and final inspections to ensure product conformity
- Audit and review supplier processes to ensure proper risk mitigation during manufacturing
- Review technical documents (prints, specifications) to identify manufacturing challenges or design-related cost drivers early
- Stay current on competitive landscape and evolving motor technologies
- Some travel to client facilities and supplier manufacturing sites as needed
What You Bring - B.S. in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience — other degrees considered)
- 5-10 years of experience in electromagnetic motors, windings, products, and systems engineering
- Strong experience with electromagnetic principles and analysis (FEA, simulation, modeling)
- Expertise in materials selection, secondary processing, and workmanship principles for high-performance motor manufacturing
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional and external stakeholder interaction
- Strong computer literacy, including MS Office
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical ability
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (ITAR/export control requirement)
Work Environment - Split between professional office and manufacturing/machine shop environments
- Full-time; additional/weekend work may be required as job duties demand
- Infrequent travel required
Equal Opportunity Employer.