Electrical Design Engineer – Material Handling Systems

Electrical Design Engineer – Material Handling Systems

Location: Ashland, VA (Onsite)
Job Type: Contract-to-Hire
Schedule: Monday–Friday | 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
Starting Pay: From $39.00 per hour (higher compensation may be available based on experience)
Overtime: Not Available

Position Overview

We are looking for an Electrical Design Engineer to support the design, installation, and ongoing improvement of electrical systems used in industrial material handling equipment. This onsite position focuses on developing electrical designs, assisting with equipment startup, troubleshooting control systems, and ensuring compliance with applicable industry codes and standards.

This opportunity is ideal for someone with experience in industrial electrical engineering, overhead crane systems, and manufacturing automation.

Primary Responsibilities

Electrical Design

• Design electrical systems for bridge cranes, gantry cranes, monorails, workstation cranes, and other material handling equipment.
• Develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and control panel layouts using CAD software.
• Select and integrate electrical components, including Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), conductor bars, festoon systems, relays, limit switches, and safety devices.
• Perform electrical load calculations, develop control logic, and support power distribution for hoist, trolley, bridge, and below-the-hook equipment.
• Ensure designs comply with CMAA 70, CMAA 74, NFPA 70 (NEC), and ASME B30 standards.

Installation & System Startup

• Assist with installation, startup, commissioning, and modernization of crane systems.
• Configure and test VFDs, soft starters, relays, and HMI interfaces.
• Perform functional testing to verify equipment performance before production.

Technical Support

• Troubleshoot electrical issues involving motors, control panels, communication networks, limit devices, and control systems.
• Support repairs, equipment upgrades, retrofits, and corrective actions to improve system reliability.
• Maintain accurate documentation for electrical revisions, repairs, and design changes.

Safety & Collaboration

• Promote compliance with electrical safety requirements and industry standards.
• Participate in safety reviews, inspections, and risk assessments.
• Work closely with engineers, project managers, technicians, maintenance personnel, and production teams.
• Provide technical guidance to operators and maintenance staff.
• Support continuous improvement efforts focused on increasing reliability and reducing equipment downtime.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Three to seven years of experience designing, installing, or maintaining electrical systems for overhead cranes or similar industrial equipment.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • CMAA overhead crane classifications
  • Motor control systems for hoist, trolley, and bridge motion
  • Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), soft starters, and motor protection systems
  • Ability to create, review, and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
  • Experience with conductor bar systems, festoon systems, pendant controls, radio remote controls, and collision-avoidance systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting custom crane design, modernization projects, or equipment retrofits.
• Knowledge of crane automation, sway control technology, and load monitoring systems.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work safely in industrial manufacturing environments, including elevated work areas when required.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Work Environment

• Full-time onsite position in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Occasional travel to customer locations or project sites may be required.