The Principal Engineer provides technical leadership across one or more business groups by exploring existing and new technologies to optimize market opportunity and fuel business growth.

The role interfaces with the cross functional teams across the organization consisting of engineering, operations (industrial engineering, production, and material procurement), sourcing, quality, service, and marketing.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related discipline
• 15 years of relevant work experience in power generation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering
• Excellent writing skills
• Ability to perform detail-oriented work with a high degree of accuracy on multiple, complex projects.
• Broad design experience with a variety of materials (i.e. plastics, aluminum castings, sheet metal) and basic knowledge of material specs and use;
• In-depth experience in new product design and development;
• Ability to conduct complex analysis using FEA, CFD, etc;
• Experience sitting on a regulatory committee in a technical role;
• Published papers and or holder of one or more patents
• Ability to translate technical information to all audiences;
• Applies engineering knowledge and experience to improve products, services and processes;
• Well-developed technical skills to include 3D modeling (ProE or SolidWorks);
• MS Excel, MS Word;
• Experience with machine design
• Previous experience using SAP or equivalent ERP.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Research new specialized technologies for potential to provide competitive advantages.
• Lead innovation teams in developing patents and creating technical papers for publication.
• Develop new techniques, practices and processes utilizing new and existing technologies to enhance organizational performance.
• Serve as an expert resource within the organization to guide and mentor engineering staff
• Support the leadership team with respect to technical strategy
• Support and represent the organization as an industry leader in areas of personal and team specializations.
• Support and assist teams in addressing difficult and complex technical challenges by stimulating cooperation and joint effort
• Participate in the transfer and optimization of technology and ideas across one or more business groups.
• Designs, validates, and brings new products and technologies to market.
• Matches new technologies to market needs and opportunities resulting in substantial business growth.
• Specifies precise new product and technology functional requirements; designs, tests and integrates the most complex components to produce final designs; and evaluates the design's overall effectiveness, cost (including cost/benefit analysis), reliability (risk analysis), and safety.
• Perfects existing specialized technology.
• Ventures into new specialized or “leading edge” technology across one or business groups that provides competitive advantage.
• Collaborates with internal manufacturing partners, contract manufacturers, designers and product specialists to optimize the most unique and complex designs and technologies.
• Drives substantial business growth as a direct result of their activities.
• Acts as a resource to mentor and teach less experienced engineers.
• Travel to other Generac facilities as necessary.

Level of Independence:

• Operates with little or no supervision in a complex environment;
• Is recognized as an expert within the organization, both within and beyond own function;
• Regularly publishes work (e.g. patents, technical articles);
• Is currently or has had active participation in relevant industry organization(s);
• Anticipates internal and/or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues;
• Recommends process, product or service improvements;
• High level of business acumen;
• Solves unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on the business;
• Strong decision-making skills;
• Contributes to the development of functional strategy;
• May lead cross-functional technology development teams to achieve milestones and objectives;
• Ensures success cross-functionally;
• Progression to this level is typically restricted on the basis of business requirements;
• Coaches, mentors less experienced engineers;
• Offer recommendations and implement solutions;
• Take ownership of designs;
• Writes standards and procedures;
• Generates learning tools for others.
• Excellent conceptualization, visualization, and creativity
• Excellent time management, prioritization, and analytical problem solving