Electrical Engineer / Senior Electrical Engineer

As the leading transit bus manufacturer in the United States, GILLIG buses play a critical role in the environmental and social initiatives in communities across our nation.  GILLIG is on the forefront in the transition to zero-emission vehicles and has an unmatched reputation in the industry for quality, reliability, durability, service, and support.  From initial design through final assembly, each GILLIG bus is designed and built in Livermore, CA. 

WHY GILLIG

• Leader in environmentally friendly mobility solutions including battery electric, hybrid electric, near-zero CNG and clean diesel transit buses
• Renowned for its inclusive team/family-oriented culture
• Stable, successful, and growing organization – a Bay Area business for over 132 years!
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Excellent compensation including company paid medical premiums, generous retirement plan and other comprehensive benefits

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

GILLIG Engineering is responsible for the development, customization, and configuration of GILLIG’s clean technology heavy-duty transit buses.  We are committed to developing the most reliable buses that connect communities, eliminates congestion, and contributes to a greener environment. Our engineers are engaged in designing, analyzing, testing, launching, and problem solving across a wide range of technical areas. 

Electrical Engineering is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing electrical systems and components, such as low & high voltage power distribution, CANbus network topology & variation, infotainment/CAD/AVL & surveillance system integration to ensure safety, durability, and performance. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet regulatory standards, troubleshoot issues during production, and ensure cost-effective and efficient designs tailored to the needs of heavy-duty transit buses. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Electrical Engineer/Senior Electrical Engineer position is a hands-on role directly responsible for transit bus design. Duties involve requirements analysis engineering, concept design, detailed design, problem resolution, vehicle attribute design, BOM development, customer application research & other engineering duties that involve designing, configuring and industrializing electrical systems for the manufacturing of heavy-duty transit buses. This person will have direct influence at the systems and components level to optimize vehicle functionality and performance attributes. 

This is a direct, full-time, on-site position with GILLIG in Livermore, CA reporting to the Electrical Engineering Manager but may also receive direction and guidance from senior engineers.

TECHNICAL FOCUS

Power and Signal Distribution

You will apply your skills & experience to provide highly customized, vehicle-based power & signal distribution systems through definition and/or selection of harnesses, devices, fusing, and connectors of appropriate size. Additional consideration for routing and environmental conditions will also play a major factor as the GILLIG Transit Bus is both a heavy-duty industrial and automotive product. Staying current with the latest vehicle electrical power management technology and regulations is necessary for both innovation and regulatory compliance. Experience with low voltage (12/24VDC) and high voltage (600VDC, 240/480VAC) is required.  Experience in electrical harness manufacturing and/or industrial control systems a plus.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL

• Create and maintain Bill of Materials (BOM), defining appropriate applications of parts and assembly
• Gather information regarding supplier components, existing GILLIG designs and technological advancements to rationalize and optimize design concepts
• Partner with the team to develop a course of action based on guidelines and modify processes and methods as required
• Use analytical tools to assess designs of self and others, including but not limited to, power, grounding, circuit protection, harmonics, mechanical performance, and durability
• Use ECAD tools to create, review & release vehicle electrical components, schematics and harness assemblies receiving guidance from senior engineers as needed
• Actively participate in the release process to put your designs into production. Periodic support & input may be required in follow-on processes such as Change Control, Production Change Order (PCO), and Engineered Production Change (EPC) release
• Support designs throughout entire lifecycle, including development, production launch, variant designs & customization, and field support
• Work with the test engineer(s) to create DVP&R, execute the defined test plan and review the test results/reports
• Provide engineering input for technical publications, such as service, parts, and driver manuals
• Collaborate and iterate designs with cross-functional partners such as mechanical, controls and manufacturing engineers
• Troubleshoot vehicle electrical and network issues of varying complexity

Additionally at the Senior Level

• Provide input on modular BOM structure to maintain and improve configuration efficiency
• Perform design trade-offs and optimization to devise robust, manufacturable, and maintainable design concepts
• Gain a mastery of both Customer & Design REI releases, including significant involvement in BOM structuring, Change Control, Production Change Order (PCO), and Engineered Production Change
• Provide expert input working with the test engineer(s) to create DVP&R, execute the defined test plan and review the test results/reports
• Operate in a primary role, proposing solutions to more senior engineers or management for evaluation

SCOPE OF THE ROLE 

• Autonomy: Ability to work with little instruction on day-to-day work, receiving general instruction on new assignments from senior engineers or manager
• Technically Minded: Apply industry practices and standards (NFPA, NEC, APTA, etc.). Exhibit professional expertise, applying design standards, best practices, and company procedures to resolve a variety of issues. Determine a course of action based on guidelines and modify processes and methods as required
• Time Management: Work productively to deliver projects on schedule and on budget. Solve production and/or manufacturing related issues expeditiously
• Communication: Collaborate up, down and across the organization to resolve mutual problems. Focus on providing standard professional advice and creating initial reports/analysis for review by experienced team members
• Complexity: Responsible for a certain set of commodities or design elements within the team. Work on problems of moderate to more-complex scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Applies learned techniques and contributes to analysis and investigation to solve problems
• Quality & Standards: Model, drawing, and other technical documentation is accurate and complete. Released designs are cost effective, manufacturable, serviceable, meet all performance objectives, and customer requirements

Additionally at the Senior Level

• Technically Minded: Apply industry practices and standards (NFPA, NEC, APTA, etc.) and provide input and advice to other staff members on industry practices and standards. Exhibit advanced wide-ranging experience, using in-depth professional knowledge, acumen, concepts and company objectives to develop, resolve complex models and procedures
• Communication: Collaborate and teach up, down and across the organization to help raise the skills and knowledge of the GILLIG team. Adapt style to differing audiences and adept at persuasion on complex subjects
• Complexity: Assignments are broad in scope and highly complex that require outstanding creativity, superior initiative, good judgement, and leadership skills. Work on problems with diverse scope, where analysis of information requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Devise solutions based on limited information and precedent and adapt existing approaches to resolve issues. Use evaluation, judgment, and interpretation to select the right course of action

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Engineering. Electrical Engineering preferred
• Minimum 2 years of experience within the Engineering industry
• Automotive, commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicle design familiarity. Direct experience a plus.
• Familiarity with BOM management
• Fluency in CAD software such as Zuken E3 or Capital
• Experience working with component suppliers, engineering service suppliers, testing suppliers and product validation engineers
• Experience in the direct design of components including Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Service (DFS), and cost-efficiency (Value Engineering)
• Experience with “hands-on” troubleshooting, product assembly, prototyping, testing, and validation activities (on site and at remote locations)
• Working knowledge of various tools such as multimeters, power supplies, CANalyzer, and oscilloscopes
• Previous experience with electrical load analysis and management, including power optimization and redundancy planning for low-voltage (12/24V) and high-voltage (600V or higher) systems
• Possess hands-on experience with automotive communication protocols such as J1939, CAN, LIN, and Ethernet, including implementing diagnostics and troubleshooting tools for signal integrity across vehicle control modules
• Working-level proficiency in wiring harness design and integration tools like AutoCAD Electrical, Zuken / E3, with a proven ability to create manufacturable designs and address routing challenges.
• Possess a strong understanding of regulatory compliance and standards applicable to heavy-duty vehicle electrical systems, including SAE, NFPA, and ISO standards, as well as environmental and safety-critical requirements

Additionally at the Senior Level

• Minimum 5 years of progressive engineering experience
• Fluent with BOM, documentation control, and revision/version management. Experience with a configure-to-order product and modular BOM management a plus
• Demonstrated working knowledge of wiring harness design and formboard drawing creation using CAD tools such as Zuken, Zuken E3, Capital, and AutoCAD Electrical, with a proven ability to create manufacturable designs and address routing challenges
• Fluent in the direct design of components including Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Service (DFS), and cost-efficiency (Value Engineering)
• Highly skilled in hands-on troubleshooting, product assembly, prototyping, testing, and validation—both on-site and remotely—utilizing diagnostic tools such as multimeters, power supplies, CANalyzer, and oscilloscopes to identify and resolve electrical system issues

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Ability to lift 25 lbs.
• Prolonged periods of sitting/standing at a desk and working on a computer
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk and occasionally kneel or squat
• The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation
• Limited travel may be required
• Must be able to navigate manufacturing environment, comfortable around heavy machinery, tools, etc.
• Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment, (i.e. safety glasses, bump caps, hearing protection, etc.)
• Standard start time: 6:00 a.m (negotiable)

EXPECTED COMPENSATION

$75,000 - $164,000/annual salary + premium benefits  

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job classification, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

GILLIG is committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and respects the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of our employees and the people we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

GILLIG is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.