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Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Generac · East Peoria, IL · $100,300–$160,500 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found an error in your own design during a review, after it had already gone out. What did you do next?

What they are checking: honesty and ownership when their own work is the source of the mistake

Tell me about a project where you had to coordinate closely with purchasing and suppliers to get the right components approved. What went wrong and how did you fix it?

What they are checking: cross-functional coordination skill and how they handle supply chain friction

Describe a time you had to work with contractors, consultants, and end users who all wanted different things on the same project. How did you keep the design moving?

What they are checking: ability to manage competing stakeholder demands without stalling delivery

Tell me about a time you had to learn a new technology or standard quickly to apply it to a project. What was it and how did you get up to speed?

What they are checking: self-directed learning ability, since the role explicitly expects them to track new technology on their own

What would you do

A customer's specification conflicts with what NEC or UL891 requires. How do you handle that conversation with them?

What they are checking: comfort acting as the technical face of the company and pushing back on a client without damaging the relationship

You're mid-project and priorities suddenly shift because another project needs urgent attention. How do you decide what gets your time?

What they are checking: how they actually triage under the deadline-driven, multi-project environment described in the posting

About the work

Walk me through a low or medium voltage switchgear design you developed from customer spec to final drawings. What was the scope and what made it technically tricky?

What they are checking: whether the candidate has actually led a design end to end, not just contributed pieces of one

Tell me about a project where you had to design a control scheme for paralleling multiple generators with one or more utility sources. How did you approach the control logic?

What they are checking: depth of hands-on experience with the specific application this role centers on, not generic power systems knowledge

How do you handle grounding scheme design differently between a low voltage system and a medium voltage system?

What they are checking: whether their MV knowledge is real or they've only worked LV and are stretching the resume

Describe your process for building out AC and DC schematics and one-line diagrams for a project submittal. What do you check before it goes to the customer?

What they are checking: quality control habits and familiarity with the actual deliverables this job produces daily

What's your experience programming or integrating PLCs and HMIs into a switchgear control system, and what platforms have you actually worked with?

What they are checking: concrete platform experience versus surface-level familiarity with automation

How would you troubleshoot a fault in a load management or generator control scheme once it's already installed in the field, working with limited information from the site?

What they are checking: practical debugging skill under real-world constraints, not just design-desk competence

What do you know about Modbus and CANbus, and where have you had to make one of those protocols work correctly in a design?

What they are checking: whether communication protocol knowledge is applied experience or just something they read about

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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 the “technical face” on projects and will be working with clients to design custom (low & medium voltage) switchgear & control solutions to meet their technical specifications. Essential Duties and Responsibilities • Interpret project write-ups, customer specifications, drawings, and correspondence • Develop detailed electrical designs for low & medium voltage switchgear & controls for systems that control multiple generators and parallel to one or more utility sources • Research & create Bill of Material • Create AC and DC schematics, component layouts, wiring diagrams, and one-line diagrams for project submittals, construction drawings and As-built’s • Coordinate with purchasing and suppliers to specify & approve component parts and assemblies • Design and implement power system control schemes including switchgear transfer control, load management control, generator control, microgrid control and SCADA system development. • Ensure designs comply with applicable codes, NFPA, NEC, and UL • Provide Engineering/Technical support to manufacturing, test and product support • Complete design reviews to check accuracy and completeness of designs • Research and learn what new technology is available & applicable for projects 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 (BSEE) or related field is preferred • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in work related to electrical power and controls preferred. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities • Knowledge of low and medium voltage power systems design including grounding schemes. • Knowledge of installation, troubleshooting, design and programming of automated control systems using PLC’s, HMI’s, PC controls, and distributed processing • Ability to read schematics and blueprints for power control and automation at a Power Systems level • Experience creating drawings in AutoCad or AutoCad electrical • Knowledge of Electrical codes is essential • Knowledge of UL891, UL1558, UL Medium Voltage & UL508A would be a plus • Experience in dealing with multiple disciplines such as contractors, consultants, engineers, end users, etc. • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to work effectively within cross functional teams • Attention to detail, efficient time management, and effective planning skills • Ability to quickly adapt to multiple and often changing schedules and priorities in a deadline driven environment • Knowledge of PLC platforms and communication protocols such as Modbus and Canbus Salary: $100,300.00 - $160,500 Position Demands Physical Demands (essential functions) • Sit for long periods of time, talking, seeing, primarily sedentary work in an office with desk with chair, long periods of use of computer mouse and long periods of looking at monitors and drawings. • 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, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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