Lead Engineer - Electrical Utility

As a Lead Engineer, Utility in Rockford, IL, or Elyria, OH, you will serve as a technical authority, linking the needs of utility customers with innovative high-voltage test and measurement solutions. Your expertise in power transmission and distribution will directly influence product direction and system-level design decisions. You will provide technical leadership in the use and evaluation of utility tools such as battery-hydraulic cutters and crimpers, and test and measurement tools such as voltmeters, phasing tools, voltage detectors, and dielectric testers, supporting training and demos. Working closely with product managers, design engineers, and embedded systems developers, as well as directly with our customers, your impact will be immediate and lasting – helping deliver solutions utility pros trust!

Emerson’s global Professional Tools business is an equal opportunity employer, offering the broadest portfolio of reliable tools and technologies for those working in mechanical, electrical, utility, and plumbing trades! With unparalleled expertise from RIDGID, Greenlee, HDE, and Klauke, we deliver tools our customers trust to handle their toughest challenges.

IN THIS ROLE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE TO: 

• Serve as the technical authority for the utility product category, acting as the primary technical contact for all questions, issues, and decisions related to that category.
• Partner closely with Product Management to align on category strategy, identify emerging trends, and translate customer needs into actionable product-level requirements for both new and existing products.
• Conduct field visits and collaborate directly with end users, distributors, and service teams to stay informed of product performance, market trends, and unmet customer needs.
• Develop and maintain global category-specific validation standards, including internal test methods, procedures, and pass/fail criteria, ensuring consistent evaluation of product designs across all projects.
• Ensure designs are consistent with category standards, leveraging learnings from past projects, and validating performance through analysis and testing.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and technicians, fostering sound engineering judgment and adherence to category standards and best practices.
• Drive sustaining engineering activities within the category by leading root cause analysis, developing corrective actions, and ensuring lessons learned are incorporated into future designs.
• Maintain awareness of relevant industry standards, technologies, and materials, incorporating these advancements into future category development.
• Represent the product category in cross-functional reviews, ensuring alignment and integration across mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing disciplines.

WHO YOU ARE: 
You readily take action on challenges, without unnecessary planning. You work cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. You break down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions. You follow through on commitments. You understand internal and external stakeholder requirements, expectations, and needs.

FOR THIS ROLE, YOU WILL NEED:    

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 8 years of professional experience in Engineering with a minimum of 5 years of experience with power transmission and distribution systems, including overhead and underground utility equipment.
• Hands-on experience using or supporting test and measurement equipment in utility or industrial field applications.
• Strong communication skills.
• Willingness to travel typically around 25%, with up to 50% at times.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States – sponsorship will not be provided.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS THAT SET YOU APART: 

• Experience engaging customers through training, technical demonstrations, field support, or speaking at industry events.
• Familiarity with utility industry practices, problem solving approaches, and safety protocols.
• Knowledge of compliance standards and qualification procedures for high-voltage safety equipment (e.g., OSHA, IEC, ANSI/IEEE standards).
• Deep understanding of electric and magnetic field theory and its application to high-voltage safety and measurement.
• Experience with embedded systems, sensors, or wearable electronics from a user perspective.
• Familiarity with functional safety principles and safety-critical design considerations for high-voltage environments.

Our Culture & Commitment to You
At Emerson, we prioritize a workplace where every employee is valued, respected, and empowered to grow. We foster an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and diverse perspectives—because we know that great ideas come from great teams. Our commitment to ongoing career development and growing an inclusive culture ensures that you have the support to thrive. Whether through mentorship, training, or leadership opportunities, we invest in your success so you can make a lasting impact. We believe that diverse teams, working together are key to driving growth and delivering business results.

We recognize the importance of employee wellbeing. We prioritize providing flexible, competitive benefit plans to meet you and your family’s physical, mental, financial, and social needs. We provide a variety of medical insurance plans, with dental and vision coverage, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, employee resource groups, recognition, and much more. Our culture offers flexible time off plans, including paid parental leave (maternal and paternal), vacation and holiday leave.

Learn more about our Culture & Values.

Our compensation philosophy is simple: we pay a competitive base salary, within the local market in which we operate, and reward performance during our annual merit review process. The salary range for this role is $140,000 - 178,000 annually, commensurate with the skills, talent, capabilities, and experience each candidate brings to a role.

Sign on bonus available for well qualified candidates. 

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