JobsGenerac

Senior Engine Code Engineer

Generac · Waukesha, WI

Posted May 18, 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

Tell me about a time your simulation results disagreed with what a colleague or test engineer expected. How did you handle that conversation?

ability to defend technical findings and navigate disagreement without being dismissive or capitulating

Give me an example of when you had to present complex simulation results to someone without an engineering background. What did you cut out and what did you keep?

ability to translate technical detail for non-technical stakeholders, called out explicitly in the posting

Tell me about a code design review that didn't go well. What happened and what did you change afterward?

self-awareness and whether they actually learn from cross-functional friction, not just avoid it

What's an example of a documentation format or standard reporting practice you've used or helped build, and why did it matter?

whether they take documentation seriously as part of the job, since it's called out as a duty, not an afterthought

Technical

Walk me through a time you built system-level engine control code in Simulink for a gaseous fueled engine. What was the architecture and what were you trying to control?

whether the candidate has hands-on depth building real Simulink models for engine control, not just theoretical familiarity

Tell me about your experience with SAE J1939 CAN networks. What kind of fault codes and SPNs have you worked with, and how did you use that data?

real exposure to the specific communication protocol and diagnostic standards named in the posting

Have you set up a Software-in-the-Loop or Hardware-in-the-Loop environment before? Tell me about one and what problems it caught before hardware testing.

depth of co-simulation experience versus just knowing the acronyms

Describe a project where you used ATI Vision to set or adjust calibrations. What were you calibrating and how did you know it worked?

whether ATI Vision experience is genuine and applied, since it's named specifically in the posting

Explain how you'd apply machine learning or predictive analytics to forecast engine performance or emissions. What data would you need and what would trip you up?

whether ML familiarity is real and grounded in engine data realities, not buzzword-level

What automotive standards have you had to design or test against, and how did they shape your approach to code validation?

real familiarity with automotive standards mentioned as a requirement, not just a checkbox

Situational

Say you've got an engine that's stable at steady state but oscillating during transient load pickup. How would you go about diagnosing and fixing that in code?

practical troubleshooting approach for transient performance issues, a core job duty

If you inherited an existing Simulink codebase for engine control with no documentation, what's your first move before changing anything?

discipline around understanding legacy code and risk before modifying safety-relevant control systems

Tell me about a time you had to balance getting a result fast against getting it fully validated. How did you decide where the line was?

judgment about rigor versus speed in engineering validation, relevant to a senior individual contributor role

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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? The Senior Engine Code Engineer plays an important role in advancing the design and performance of internal combustion engines (ICE), through code creation, embedded software, and code validation. This position leverages CAN, ATI Vision, and Matlab/Simulink tools to optimize system behavior, improve engine control, and increase engine performance across a range of gaseous fueled applications. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Create system-level engine code using Matlab/Simulink to support engine and generator design and development. • Conduct simulated and functional analyses to evaluate engine performance of mechanical and energy systems. • Conduct system evaluation and testing to aid in optimizing an engine’s steady state and transient performance. • Interpret testing results and collaborates with cross-functional teams through code design reviews and technical discussions to guide product development. • Contribute to the development of software and code analysis best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy. • Document code objectives, methods, and results using standardized reporting formats. • Apply data analysis techniques, including Matlab/Simulink modeling and Python-based scripting and machine learning, to support code performance forecasting. • Stay informed on relevant technologies, tools, and industry trends to support continuous improvement. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related discipline • 5+ years of relevant work experience Knowledge Skills and Abilities: • Proficiency in applying Matlab/Simulink to internal combustion engine related systems, including steady state, transient, fault codes, SPNs, SAE J1939 CAN networks, sensor integration, and embedded systems. • Experienced in automotive standards. • Experience with co-simulation environments, including Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL). • Familiarity with machine learning and predictive analytics techniques applied to engine performance and emissions modeling. • Familiarity with generator design. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a deep understanding of internal combustion engine design, operation, and testing. • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly interpret and present complex simulation results to technical and non-technical audiences. Preferred Qualifications: • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field of study. • Advanced engine and engine system code writing in Matlab/Simulink. • Advanced experience applying MATLAB/Simulink and Python to internal combustion engine design. • Advanced experience using ATI Vision to set calibrations in internal combustion engines. • Advanced experience in applying MATLAB/Simulink and Python in engineering analysis and simulation. • Advanced proficiency in applying Matlab/Simulink code to complex propulsion systems, with demonstrated success in optimizing transients, steady state, and overall performance. • Deep expertise in internal combustion engine control code, operational dynamics, and advanced testing methodologies. • Extensive experience designing and executing co-simulation workflows, including SiL and HiL integration for real-time system validation. • Exceptional ability to synthesize and present complex code insights to diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders, influencing design decisions. • Proficient in applying machine learning and advanced predictive analytics to optimize engine performance with experience developing custom code. • Superior analytical acumen and strategic problem-solving capabilities, with a track record of delivering high-impact engineering solutions. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly interpret and present complex simulation results to technical and non-technical audiences. • Familiarity with gaseous fuel systems for internal combustion engines. Physical Demands:   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 are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel.   “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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