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 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 position with GILLIG.

This is an on-site position in Livermore, CA and will report directly to the Electrical Engineering Manager but may also receive direction and guidance from senior engineers.

TECHNICAL FOCUS

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 Bills of Materials (BOM), defining appropriate application of parts & assembly; providing input on modular BOM structure to maintain and improve configuration efficiency
• Gather information regarding supplier components, existing GILLIG designs and technological advancements to rationalize and optimize design concepts
• Use analytical tools to assess designs of self and others, including but not limited to, power, grounding, circuit protection, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), signal integrity, and thermal management
• Perform design trade-offs and optimization to devise robust, manufacturable, and maintainable design concepts
• Use ECAD tools to create, review & release vehicle components, schematics and harness assemblies
• 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
• Support designs throughout entre lifecycle, including development, production launch, variant designs & customization, and field support
• Provide expert input working with the test engineer(s) to create DVP&R, execute the defined test plan and review the test results/reports
• Provide engineering input to technical publications, such as schematics, service, parts, and driver’s manuals
• Collaborate and iterate designs with cross-functional partners such as mechanical, controls, manufacturing engineers, as well as production personnel
• Operate in a primary role, proposing solutions to more senior engineers or management for evaluation
• Train and mentor junior engineers, assisting in their technical growth by reviewing their designs, providing feedback, and guiding them through design processes, best practices, and company standards

SCOPE OF THE ROLE

• Autonomy: Ability to work independently with review at critical points.
• 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.
• Time Management: Work productively to deliver projects on schedule and on budget.
• 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.
• Quality & Standards: Model, drawing, and other technical documentation is accurate and complete. Released designs are cost effective, manufacturable, serviceable, meet all performance objectives, & meet customer requirements.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Engineering. Electrical Engineering preferred
• Minimum 5 years of progressive engineering experience
• Automotive, commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicle design familiarity, direct experience a plus
• 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
• Experience working with major component suppliers, engineering service suppliers, testing suppliers and product validation engineers
• 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
• 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
• 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

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.)
• Typical start time is between 6:00 a.m (negotiable)

EXPECTED COMPENSATION

$75,000 - $164,310/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.