Senior Electrical Designer

Gorbel’s mission is simple: We improve people’s lives. 

That mission guides everything we do, from the products and service we provide to our outside customers to the work environment we foster for our employees. We are a manufacturer of material handling and fall protection products for the production and warehouse/distribution sectors. We’re on the cutting edge of manufacturing and distribution; a thriving, growing company that is constantly seeking out new ways to innovate and elevate our products and our processes – and we’re looking for people like you to join us in that mission. 

We’re currently hiring for open positions in the US and Canada. We operate in Canada as Engineered Lifting Systems and Equipment (ELS)/DBA Gorbel® Canada, and subsequent communication related to Canadian positions may show the ELS name. You may be contacted by phone by recruitment personnel based in either Canada or New York. 

Work Shift:

Job Description:

The Senior Electrical Designer is responsible for leading the creation, development, validation, and continuous improvement of electrical and control systems for material handling equipment and integrated automation solutions. This role operates independently with minimal supervision and provides technical leadership across projects.                                                                                         
 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the complete electrical and control systems, including power distribution, control architecture, PLC and other device software, industrial communications, safety systems, enclosures, and cabling.
• Lead the control system software architecture and lifecycle expectations, ensuring version control, validation, documentation, and maintainability.
• Refine and maintain electrical and control system architecture aligned with product, manufacturing, and business requirements.
• Produce and approve production‑ready schematics and documentation using AutoCAD Electrical and SolidWorks PDM.
• Review and approve work from junior and intermediate designers; eliminate design risks, errors, and rework.
• Lead electrical and control aspects of machine safety, including safety relays, STO functions, and safety‑related control systems.
• Provide senior‑level troubleshooting support during manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and field operation.
• Participate in and lead technical reviews, Human Centered Design exercises, project kickoffs, site visits, and debriefs.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with other departments to ensure integrated system performance.
• Establish and govern electrical, control, and device‑software, standards, libraries, and documentation.
• Lead CAD, control documentation, and PDM structures to support manufacturing and lifecycle needs.
• Mentor junior and intermediate designers through reviews, coaching, and knowledge sharing.
• Clearly communicate design intent, software behavior, safety requirements, and standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in design quality, safety robustness, standardization, and cost.
• Support Lean engineering and manufacturing practices by reducing variation and recurring issues.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, employees are also expected to complete other duties as required. All employees are expected to have familiarized themselves with the Health & Safety and Human Resources manuals, including their responsibilities as outlined in each.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Degree or Diploma in Electrical Engineering Technology, Business, or Engineering
• Completion of AutoCAD Electrical courses and Solidworks courses preferred.
• P.Eng. designation an asset.
• Maintain valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
• Maintain valid passport with ability to travel in North America as needed, less than 10%.

Experience:

• 10+ years of related experience in electrical and control system design within an industrial or product development environment.
• Demonstrated leadership in producing professional, production‑ready electrical schematic sets for manufacture.
• Proven experience working in a Lean manufacturing environment with structured approaches to quality, standardization, and continuous improvement.
• Proficient software experience with ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics NAV or CSI (Cloud Suite Industrial, preferred), and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project).
• Advanced proficiency in control system integration involving PLCs, VFDs, safety devices, HMIs, and distributed I/O, including safety‑related control functions.

• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical; experience with SolidWorks PDM preferred.
• PLC programming and troubleshooting experience, including development, integration, and verification of machine control logic and I/O behavior in an industrial environment.
• Safety relay-controller experience, including selection, application, wiring integration, and validation support for safety functions (e.g., Area Scanners, E-Stops, guards, interlocks) within safety‑related control systems.
• Python programming experience applied to integrated control systems (e.g., automation scripts, data processing, diagnostic utilities, test/verification support) in support of design and commissioning activities.

• Demonstrated experience designing, integrating, and troubleshooting industrial communication networks, including:
  • Ethernet‑based industrial networks
  • Modbus TCP/IP
  • CAN‑based communication (e.g., CAN, CANopen)
• Proficiency in machine safety principles, including the application of risk assessments in accordance with EN ISO 12100. This includes demonstrated experience applying functional safety standards to control systems, including:
  • EN ISO 13849‑1 (Performance Level determination and validation), and/or
  • EN / IEC 62061 (Safety Integrity Level concepts and system design)

Core Competencies, Interpersonal & Intrapersonal Skills:

• Communicates technical and non‑technical information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing, using appropriate tools and formats.
• Confidently presents, explains, and defends technical solutions with peers, management, and external customers, encouraging clarity, candor, and shared understanding.
• Influences outcomes through technical credibility, collaboration, and sound judgment, maintaining a solutions‑focused mindset and acting in the best interest of the organization.
• Demonstrates sound technical and professional judgment in both routine and ambiguous situations, including the ability to commit to decisions despite incomplete information when required.
• Applies strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a structured, data‑driven approach and a high level of attention to detail.
• Proactive, self‑directed, and accountable for engineering outcomes, operating effectively with minimal supervision.
• Effectively prioritizes and manages multiple projects or workstreams of varying complexity while maintaining quality, schedule commitments, and technical rigor.
• Collaborates effectively across disciplines and functions, building strong professional working relationships through integrity, ethical behavior, and respect for diverse perspectives.
• Provides informal technical guidance, coaching, and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers through design reviews, problem solving collaboration, and knowledge sharing, while also reviewing work and offering technical support, cross training, and clear articulation of technical expectations, standards, and desired outcomes—without formal people management responsibility.
• Maintains a continuous improvement mindset, actively developing new skills, refining processes, and embracing new technical and professional challenges.

Working Conditions:

• Works in office and manufacturing facility with flexibility for travel to off-site meetings
• Hybrid remote setup an option after onboarding period
• May experience tight deadlines and stressful conditions at times
• Must be able to manage frequent interruptions and multiple tasks daily
• Primarily standard business hours, with occasional flexibility required to support project and business needs.
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment, including movement around equipment and workstations.
• Sitting, working at desk/personal computer for extended periods