Franklin Electric is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical engineering efforts withing our Fueling, Grid, and EV (Electric Vehicle) business units. This role is critical in the design, development, and introduction of new products and in continuous improvement of existing products. The ideal candidate will drive mechanical design projects from concept through manufacturing, ensuring that all products meet regulatory standards and customer expectations. This is an opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies that support critical infrastructure across various industries.

This position is located in Saco, Maine.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the mechanical design and development of new products, ensuring alignment with project requirements and timelines.
• Conduct mechanical engineering analyses to validate designs, including stress analysis, thermal analysis, dimensional analysis, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings and specifications for all mechanical components and assemblies.
• Investigate and resolve field issues and customer complaints related to mechanical design.
• Conduct cost reduction and value engineering exercises to improve product efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Lead key development processes such as Design Reviews, DFMEA events, and product safety reviews.
• Collaborate with the manufacturing engineering team, located in Madison, WI, to ensure designs are manufacturable and meet quality standards.
• Work closely with marketing to translate technical aspects of product requirements into feasible designs.
• Ensure all products comply with relevant regulatory standards (UL, CE, FCC) and coordinate with third-party agencies for product approval as needed.
• Innovate through introducing new ideas and procedures.
• Lead new product development initiatives by collaborating with and, at times, guiding team members and managing project plans and details.
• Participate in product line maintenance to ensure safe, compliant, and cost-effective products.
• Participate in product line cost reduction initiatives and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Benchmark competitive equipment.
• Mentor new employees and interns in department on company practices and policies.
• Solve manufacturing issues (assembly, machining, etc.), quality issues (dimensional, material, and design discrepancies, etc.), and purchasing issues (vendor qualification, engineering support, etc.).
• Complete product testing as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERTISE

Skills & Abilities:

• Reads technical drawings and knows Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Knows various manufacturing processes (casting, machining, molding, etc.).
• Reads, analyzes, and understands common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, etc.
• Responds to complex or difficult inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Applies advanced mathematical concepts and operations.
• Applies principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Uses complex machines and equipment, as well as specialized or advanced software programs.
• Plans the time, method, manner, and/or performance sequence of own work; may also occasionally assist in planning work assignments performed by others within a limited area of operation.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead projects from concept to production.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related degree (required).
• Minimum of five to nine years of related experience (required).
• Master’s degree in a relevant field could substitute for years of experience.
• Experience in 3D modeling tools such as Creo and/or SolidWorks (required).
• Extensive experience with mechanical manufacturing methods, tooling, material properties, and cost drivers in manufacturing (required).
• Proven experience in designing for regulatory compliance and coordinating with third-party agencies for product approval (preferred).
• Experience in the Commercial Fueling, Grid, or EV industries (preferred).
• Familiarity with preventive maintenance and regulatory compliance of electrical power systems (preferred).