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Nidec

Global manufacturer of electric motors

Senior Product Engineer 1

Full-Time
No salary listed
Senior
Bachelor's, Master's
Troy, MI, USA
In Person
Mechanical EngineeringDesign Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, specifically Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Systems, or a related field, is required.
  • Typically 5–8+ years of product engineering or related experience is required.
  • Advanced knowledge of product engineering principles and design methodologies is required.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and systems-thinking skills are required.
  • The ability to independently lead complex engineering initiatives is required.
  • Proficiency with computer-aided design, analysis tools, and product lifecycle management systems is required.
  • A strong understanding of manufacturing and supply chain interfaces is required.
  • Effective communication and stakeholder-influence skills are required.
  • The role requires high standards for engineering discipline, quality, and accountability.
  • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 5 years of prior relevant experience are required.
Responsibilities
  • Own complex product designs, components, or subsystems end-to-end from concept through production and field support.
  • Lead development of robust, cost-effective, and manufacturable product solutions.
  • Make engineering trade-offs balancing performance, reliability, cost, and schedule.
  • Lead investigation and resolution of complex product, quality, or field issues.
  • Apply advanced root-cause analysis and engineering methods.
  • Develop and implement corrective and preventive design actions.
  • Lead or oversee advanced validation and verification activities.
  • Analyze test data and ensure product requirements are fully met.
  • Support reliability, durability, and lifecycle testing strategies.
  • Lead complex engineering changes affecting performance, cost, or manufacturability.
  • Ensure engineering changes are properly validated, documented, and released.
  • Manage product lifecycle activities, including refreshes, cost-reduction initiatives, and obsolescence mitigation.
  • Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to optimize producibility and cost.
  • Support new product introductions, pilots, and production launch readiness.
  • Resolve advanced manufacturing or supplier-related technical issues.
  • Ensure designs comply with engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and internal controls.
  • Maintain technical documentation, specifications, and design records.
  • Support audits and regulatory reviews as needed.
  • Partner with Product Management, Marketing, Quality, Procurement, and Operations teams.
  • Communicate complex technical concepts to varied audiences.
  • Influence product and business decisions through technical expertise.
  • Identify opportunities to improve product performance, cost, reliability, or sustainability.
  • Support design-for-manufacture, design-for-cost, and design-for-quality initiatives.
  • Incorporate lessons learned and best practices into future designs.
  • Provide guidance and mentoring to Product Engineer I and II roles.
  • Review technical work and reinforce engineering rigor.
  • Share technical knowledge and best practices across teams.
  • Work toward operational, functional, and business targets with direct and indirect impact on departmental or job-family results.
  • Communicate and interpret department-related matters for employees within the department or job family and, depending on the job area, external clients or partners.
  • Make minor improvements to technical or business processes, procedures, or systems.
  • Apply technical skills and analysis to difficult problems involving multiple issues and impacts across the job family or multiple teams.
  • Provide guidance, training, and work review for entry-level employees.
  • Lead parts of less complex projects or processes.
Desired Qualifications
  • A master’s degree is preferred.

About the company

Nidec designs, manufactures, and sells a broad range of electric motors and related components, from small precision motors to large industrial units. Its products include spindle motors for hard disk drives, brushless DC motors, automotive motors (power steering and EV traction motors called E-Axles), as well as motors for home appliances, elevators, ships, robotics, and smart grids. The company differentiates itself by its dominant position in spindle motors and EV/ADAS-related motors, a large global footprint with about 340 group companies in 46 countries, and a diverse, sector-spanning customer base. Its goal is to be a leading global supplier of motors and electronic components by expanding capacity and capabilities through ongoing growth and acquisitions.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Kyoto, Japan

Founded

1973

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 2026 300 kW CDU and STC 1.0 target AI cooling demand.
  • Interop Tokyo 2026 win validated Nidec's data-center cooling credibility.
  • EV, appliance, and industrial motor platforms keep diversified revenue flowing despite turmoil.

What critics are saying

  • September 2026 investigation found falsified tests, unauthorized shipments, and country-of-origin violations.
  • Tokyo Stock Exchange special alert threatens delisting if controls fail by 2026.
  • March 2026 warned of ¥250 billion charges; accounting scandal still widens.

What makes Nidec unique

  • Nidec dominates precision motors across EVs, appliances, and industrial systems globally.
  • June 2026 liquid-cooling CDUs extend Nidec into AI data-center infrastructure.
  • Vertical integration spans die design, manufacturing, logistics, and optomechatronics modules.

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Benefits

PTO (Paid time off)

10 Paid Holidays

401(k) and company match

Medical, dental, and vision plans with options

Flexible Spending Account

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

9%

1 year growth

9%

2 year growth

9%
Yahoo Finance
Sep 30th, 2026
Nidec records $4.4B in impairment losses across multiple segments

Nidec Corporation has announced substantial financial losses totalling JPY 689.4 billion across multiple segments. The Japanese motor manufacturer recorded impairment losses of JPY 632.1 billion on non-financial assets, with the largest write-downs in its ACIM segment at JPY 298.8 billion and Group Company Business at JPY 189.7 billion. The company also recognised JPY 22.5 billion in provisions for loss of contract in its automotive products segment, where unavoidable costs exceed expected economic benefits. Additionally, Nidec recorded JPY 4.2 billion in liabilities from a supplier settlement agreement and JPY 30.5 billion in special investigation expenses. These charges follow previous provisions announced in November 2025. Nidec apologised to shareholders and stakeholders for the inconvenience caused by these developments.

Associated Press
Jun 19th, 2026
Nidec overhauls board structure to strengthen corporate governance

Nidec Corporation has announced its new board and committee structure following its 53rd Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on 18 June 2026. All company-proposed director candidates were elected as part of efforts to strengthen corporate governance. Mitsuya Kishida was appointed representative director, president and chief executive officer, whilst Soichiro Sakuma will chair the board of directors. The restructure includes the formation of four committees: Audit and Supervisory, Nomination, Remuneration and Sustainability. The changes form part of Nidec's strategy to enhance board effectiveness through appointing directors with diverse knowledge, experience and expertise. The majority of committee positions are filled by outside independent directors, reflecting the company's commitment to governance standards.

Business Wire
Jun 16th, 2026
Nidec delays annual report filing to September amid accounting probe and quality issues

Nidec Corporation is considering applying for an extension to file its annual securities report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pushing the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026. The Japanese manufacturer cited multiple ongoing investigations requiring additional time. A third-party committee identified widespread improper accounting practices across Nidec's operations, with involvement from management. Separately, an investigation into potential quality issues—including unauthorised changes to materials and improper testing data—is expected to conclude by end-August 2026. The company is also investigating customs duty issues following a voluntary declaration by subsidiary FIR regarding unpaid US customs duties. Nidec must assess the financial impact of all investigations before completing its audit procedures. The company has released preliminary figures but cautioned these exclude impacts from the ongoing investigations.

Business Wire
May 13th, 2026
Nidec overhauls board with nine outside directors following accounting probe

Nidec has determined its director candidates for election at its 53rd Annual General Meeting scheduled for 18 June. The Japanese motor manufacturer is reshaping its board following a third-party committee report on improper accounting within the group. The board will comprise 11 directors, including three internal members led by CEO Mitsuya Kishida and eight outside independent directors. All candidates are newly nominated, marking a complete board refresh. Seven directors will retire upon expiration of their terms, with one resigning on the same date. The restructuring forms part of Nidec's corporate governance strengthening efforts. An Executive Responsibility Investigation Committee continues examining whether current and former directors bear legal liability for the accounting issues, with potential damages claims or legal measures to follow based on their recommendations.

Mynewsdesk
Apr 13th, 2026
Nidec Advance Technology joins the SATAS.

Nidec Advance Technology joins the SATAS. Nidec Advance Technology Corporation ("Nidec Advance Technology" or "we") has announced today that it has joined the Semiconductor Assembly Test Automation and Standardization Research Association (SATAS). The SATAS is a research and development union established in April 2024 for the purposes of realizing and implementing labor reduction, automation, and standardization of the packaging, assembly, and inspection processes (downstream processes) of semiconductor manufacturing. With its membership including semiconductor manufacturers, semiconductor production equipment manufacturers, and other organizations, the SATAS promotes, among others, the establishment of open industry-wide standard specifications, the development and mounting of equipment, and the operation verification of devices on integrated pilot lines. In addition, the SATAS engages in the "research and development of the development and verification of automating and standardizing semiconductors' downstream processes," which is an important national business adopted as a "Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information Communication Systems/Development of Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology" of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Future prospect As technological demand grows for the further refinement and sophisticated packaging of semiconductors, automating and standardizing downstream processes is an urgent issue for the entire industry. By making maximum use of its decadeslong track record and high-level expertise in the semiconductor package inspection equipment business, Nidec Advance Technology is poised to engage in the SATAS's R&D activities to contribute to establishing industry-wide standards. We will stay dedicated to constant technological development for the further development of the semiconductor industry. Topics. Nidec is the world's leading comprehensive motor manufacturer, specializing in "everything that spins and moves," with a strong focus on the motor business. Nidec's extensive product lineup, which ranges from small precision motors to ultra-large motors, leverages the technological capabilities of its approximately 340 group companies across 46 countries. These products are used in various fields, including IT equipment, automobiles, motorcycles, commerce, and industry. We remain dedicated to providing the world with indispensable products and solutions at an overwhelming speed, utilizing technologies aimed at lightness, thinness, shortness, compactness, and efficiency.