Electrical Engineering / System Design

Job Description:\n\nBUILT TO CONNECT\nAstec is a global, environmentally focused infrastructure and manufacturing company of asphalt road building and aggregate processing. Our mission is to design and build the most innovative products for the industries we serve. Leveraging innovative solutions and technologies, we serve customers all over the world.\n \nABOUT THE POSITION\nAt Astec, we are building a world-class electrical hardware and controls software engineering team. A team that values free thought for innovative idea generation and disciplined engineering for the realization of those ideas to drive solutions for our customers. By freeing our creative minds, we bring solutions our customers haven’t even realized they need yet. Through disciplined engineering we ensure the solutions we provide are effective, simple to use, reliable, and cost effective.\n \nThe Electrical Engineer will be a part of a dynamic team of engineers working on the development of control/automation systems for heavy construction equipment, ranging from road pavers, road mills, woodchippers, wood grinders, etc. The engineer will be involved in the creation of product requirements, decomposition to electrical hardware and software requirements, design calculations, schematic generation, PCB designs, junction box designs, wiring harness routings and designs, and electrical design reviews of the same; The engineer may also work on structured software decomposition, code development, software design reviews, and software unit and integration testing. The engineer will move from project to project as required and may be working on multiple projects within a given timeframe. All project work will be scheduled by the New Product Development Manager(s) and the Continuous Improvement Manager(s) such that the engineer will not be over allocated but will have definite deadlines and visibility into upcoming work.\The designs will predominately be composed of 24VDC control of motors, valves, pumps, actuators, relays, etc. n \nSoftware will be developed on PLCs, embedded controllers, and HMI displays. Some legacy systems are coded in Ladder Logic, but all new systems will be coded in either CodeSys or C/C++. The Control Software Engineer will work with the Electrical Engineer(s) on a project to map I/O, define necessary configurations, understand sensor input requirements as well as device output drive requirements. The Electrical and Control Software Engineers will work cooperatively with the Mechanical Engineer(s) to develop the appropriate control controls hardware design as well as controls algorithms to produce the equipment functionality required by the customer and Product Management.\n \nThe Electrical Engineer will also work with other cross-functional teams, including but not limited to sales, manufacturing, purchasing, and service to ensure the successful completion of projects and launch of equipment.\nElectrical Engineer may at times be asked to travel for project testing and system integration testing, as well as to develop business relationships with customers, dealers, and suppliers. They may also participate in product focus groups to gain critical customer application and design suggestions to assist in the development of product lines. Travel may also be required at times to troubleshoot and resolve customer equipment issues in the field.\n· Follow Structured System Design techniques to decompose the product function requirements into an effective control strategy for heavy construction equipment.\n· Uses knowledge of sensor technologies, control device technologies and process automation techniques to advance the simplicity of operation and troubleshooting of equipment to maximize productivity by enhancing operator functionality and the minimization of equipment downtime.\n· Uses knowledge of domestic as well as international electrical standards to design equipment with the widest market breadth without redesigning to minimize the number of models required to be manufactured.\n· Apply Design for Reliability processes and principles to realize desired equipment reliability and Total Cost of Ownership requirements.\n· Uses structured system design techniques to produce electrical hardware designs that are modular in nature, easy to test, easy to diagnose and simple to replace should field service repairs be required.\n· Develops and executes bench tests with the Controls Software Engineer on design modules and code units to ensure proper functionality before integration into the complete equipment design to ensure project success.\n· Uses computer-aided engineering design software and equipment to develop electrical / electronic design drawings and schematics.\n· Develops 3D Junction Box designs with plug-and-play functionality that allow manufacturing to simply plug in all harnesses and requires no landing of conductors in equipment assembly.\n· Create 3D routed wiring harnesses for all wires and cables required for a system design. All harnesses shall be terminated in a connector to allow for a plug-and-play assembly.\n· Leads cross-functional electrical design reviews, including Design for Manufacturability and Design for Reliability.\n· Contributes to the development of product documentation, including production work instructions, training manuals, troubleshooting guides, and product test plans.\n· Contributes to project teams by championing the successful completion of project objectives, including schedule, budget, and feature set.\n· Contributes to the development of new processes and procedures to enhance the software and hardware design capabilities and work products of the engineering team.\n· Develops the electrical and software test plans for new designs and changes to existing designs and coordinates the testing and validation using these plans.\n· Participates in cross-functional software and HMI design reviews.\n· Participates in software design reviews for developed control software.\n· Assists customers, via telephone or on site, to resolve function and/or application issues.\n· Works with the Service Department to resolve field and warranty issues.\n· Works with the Technical Publications Department to develop and update operation/parts/service manuals.\n· Adheres to all Astec design and coding standards.\n· Performs engineering calculations as required during design cycle.\n \nMINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED\n· Bachelor of Science (4-year) degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.\n· Minimum of three (3) years of experience in the design and development of industrial or mobile equipment controls.\nSKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED\n \nJob-related Skills and Abilities\n· Knowledgeable of structured system design techniques.\n· Proficient with computer-aided design software.\n· Knowledge of network protocols such as CAN, Ethernet, Wireless 802.11, etc.\n· Proficient in the development, reading, and interpretation of electrical engineering drawings.\n· Proficient in electrical engineering systems design and troubleshooting, D/C controls design required, A/C design highly desired.\n· Ability to think creatively and propose innovative solutions to engineering challenges.\n· Ability to show competence in assessing, managing, and mitigating risks within a project and design.\n· Proficiency with personal computer and Microsoft Office Suite software applications.\n· Proficiency with Electrical CAD software, specifically EPLAN, is highly desirable.\n· Adept at problem solving and root-cause analysis.\n· Ability to represent the electrical and software design team in cross-functional meetings by being the voice of good engineering practice.\n· Ability to step into a leadership void and lead a team to proper completion of tasks, projects, and investigations while encouraging others and moving toward a best solution for all involved.\n· Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.\n· Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and effectively present information to customers and/or employees of organization and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.\n \nReasoning Ability Skills\n· Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.\n· Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.\n· Occasional travel (including international).\n \nPREFERENCES\n· Proficiency with Solidworks, EPLAN.\n· Experience with CodeSys, C++, Telematics, hydraulic circuits, 12V/24V DC electric circuits and/or control systems for off-road construction equipment or heavy industrial equipment.\n· Experience in the design and manufacture of off-road construction equipment.\n· Notify area supervisor of product discrepancies or equipment malfunctions.\n· Adhere to established company policies and procedures paying special attention to safety regulations.\n· Report defective materials, equipment, or questionable conditions to the area supervisor/manager to identify and correct the root cause.\n· Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with training guidelines.\Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\n \nWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position a minimum of 50% of the time, move and frequently operate a computer and other office equipment and occasionally properly employ objects, tools and/or controls. Lifting devices must be used or help must be requested for anything over 25 pounds. \nAbility to travel by land and/or air for extended periods of time.\n· Continuous devotion to meeting the needs of our customers.\n· Safety, quality and productivity as means to ensure success.\Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\n \nWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a climate-controlled office environment and is occasionally exposed to a shop manufacturing environment. \n \nOffice environment exposures include frequent and extensive telephone and computer use. The noise level in the office setting is usually moderate consistent with an office environment. \n \nShop manufacturing environment exposures include exposure to moving mechanical parts, machinery, tools and equipment, vibration, fumes or airborne particles, motorized vehicles, welding and machining operations, outside weather conditions and exposure to the risk of electric shock. The employee may occasionally be exposed to varying levels of dirt, dust, toxic or caustic chemicals, very warm and/or very chilly temperatures. The noise level in the shop can be very loud at times consistent with an industrial assembly facility and may require hearing protection.\n \nMines, road construction and forestry job site exposures include exposure to climate condi