JobsGenerac

Entry Level Electrical Design Engineer – Switchgear & Generator Control Systems

Generac · IL

Posted Aug 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Describe a time you had to coordinate between two groups, like production and engineering, who wanted different things from a design.

comfort acting as a bridge between departments with competing priorities

Tell me about a time you found an error in your own design or someone else's during a review. How did you handle raising it?

attention to detail and willingness to speak up even if it creates friction or delay

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical decision to someone who wasn't an engineer, maybe someone in manufacturing or a customer.

communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences

What does 'whatever it takes to get the job done' mean to you in a role where you might be pulled between the office and the manufacturing floor?

flexibility and willingness to work hands-on in a shop environment, not just at a desk

Technical

Walk me through how you'd read a customer's technical specification for a piece of switchgear and turn it into a bill of materials.

whether the candidate can translate ambiguous written requirements into concrete component selections

Tell me about a project where you created a schematic or wiring diagram from scratch. What tools did you use and how did you check your own work before handing it off?

hands-on familiarity with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Pro-E, or Eplan and whether they self-review before others catch mistakes

What do you know about NEC, NFPA, and UL standards like UL891 or UL1558, and how would you make sure a design you're working on actually complies?

depth of code knowledge versus surface-level familiarity, since compliance isn't optional in this work

How would you approach designing a one-line diagram for a medium voltage switchgear project versus a low voltage one? What changes in your thinking?

whether they grasp the practical differences between voltage classes, not just terminology

What experience do you have with lab test equipment like oscilloscopes or function generators, and can you walk me through a time you used one to troubleshoot something?

hands-on lab experience versus purely academic exposure

Situational

Say you're partway through a design and purchasing tells you a component you specified is discontinued. What do you do next?

how they handle disruptions to a design mid-project and whether they loop in the right people

You've got three projects due around the same time and one customer suddenly changes their spec. How do you decide what gets your attention first?

prioritization skills and whether they have a real method versus just working harder

If you had to design something involving a new technology you'd never worked with before, like a grid interconnect requirement or a PV integration, how would you go about learning what you need to know?

self-directed learning ability, important since this is a fast-moving technical area

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? Job Summary We are currently seeking a highly motivated, energetic engineer to join our team. In this role you will be working with a team to design custom (low & medium voltage) switchgear & control solutions to meet clients’ technical specifications.  Essential Duties & Responsibilities • Interpret project write-ups, customer specifications, drawings, and correspondence • Research & create Bill of Material • Coordinate with purchasing and suppliers to specify & approve component parts and assemblies • Create AC and DC schematics, component layouts, wiring diagrams, and one-line diagrams for project submittals, construction drawings and As-builts • Complete project design to match customer specifications • Ensure design complies with applicable codes, NFPA, NEC, and UL (UL891, UL1558, UL Medium Voltage & UL508A) • Coordinate with production, testing, and field service to make design decisions at each stage of the project • Coordinate with programmers for hardware selection and integration • Research and learn what new technology is available & applicable for projects • Establish and document standard design processes • Provide technical support to manufacturing and test • Complete design reviews to check accuracy and completeness of designs NOTE: This job description is not all-inclusive and other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as necessary.  In keeping with our corporate culture, all employees are expected to do “whatever it takes” to get the job done. Qualifications Education and Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline • 2+ years of relevant experience in power generation is preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities • Experience creating drawings, models and assemblies using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Pro-E or Eplan • Understand and read engineering drawings and schematics • Knowledge of industry standard design codes such as National Electric Code and UL • Excellent oral and written communication skills • Solid organization and planning skills. Must be able to pay attention to detail • Ability to work in a team environment as well as work independently • Strong problem solving and analytical skills • Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple projects and tasks Preferred Qualifications: • Grid interconnect requirements experience • Knowledge of PV, wind, or other distributed energy generation and storage • Hands on experience working with engineering lab test equipment such as oscilloscopes, function generators • Analog circuit design and Magnetic component design / specification • Familiarity with third party certification and testing (e.g. NRTL, environmental) • Project management experience Position Demands Physical Demands (essential functions) • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job include are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus • Travel as needed Work Environment • Office area • Manufacturing shop environment "We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law." Work Hazards • Manufacturing Environment Hazards, Noise Exposure, Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards, Ergonomic Hazards, Travel Hazards, Eye Hazards Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role based in Illinois is $82,900 - $132,600 USD. This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, certifications and geographic location. This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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