JobsGenerac

Senior Mechanical Engineer - Reliability & Maintainability

Generac · Waukesha, WI

Posted Aug 19, 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

Walk me through a time you took a field failure on a generator or similar equipment and traced it back to a root cause. What tools did you use and what did you change in the design?

whether the candidate has real RCA experience and can connect field data to engineering action, not just theory

Give me an example where you had to push back on a design decision because it hurt maintainability or reliability, even though it helped cost or schedule. How did that conversation go?

ability to advocate for reliability under commercial pressure and how they handle friction with other functions

Tell me about a diagnostic or service manual you contributed to or led. What made it usable for a technician who's never seen the product before?

real experience producing technical documentation that works for end users, not just internal engineering notes

Describe a Critical Design Review or Serviceability Review where your input actually changed the outcome. What did you flag and how did you make the case?

ability to influence design decisions in a formal review setting, not just attend meetings

Tell me about a project where you were mentoring or guiding a less experienced engineer while also carrying your own workload. How did you balance that?

readiness for the senior-level mentorship expectation on top of individual technical output

Technical

Tell me about a DFMEA you ran on a product. What failure modes surfaced that weren't obvious at first, and how did that change the design or the maintenance plan?

depth of hands-on FMEA experience versus box-checking familiarity

What's the difference between designing for MTBF improvement and designing for MTTR improvement, and can you give an example of a change that improved one but hurt the other?

whether they actually understand the tradeoffs between reliability and repairability rather than reciting acronyms

How have you used SolidWorks or Creo to actually drive a reliability fix, not just to update a drawing after the fact?

whether CAD skill is tied to engineering judgment or just drafting

How do you use bills of materials and ERP data, like in SAP, when you're trying to figure out serviceability or supportability issues on an existing product?

practical fluency with the systems that connect engineering decisions to real supply and service constraints

Situational

Say a genset in the field is showing a much higher than expected MTTR because technicians can't easily access a failing part. How would you approach fixing that, and who would you need in the room?

practical grasp of serviceability design and the cross-functional collaboration needed to fix it

If Tech Support hands you a cluster of field complaints on a product with no clear pattern yet, what's your first move to start narrowing down the cause?

structured troubleshooting instinct versus guesswork when the data is messy

Imagine sourcing wants to swap in a cheaper component and your analysis says it will hurt reliability. Quality and program management want to move forward anyway. What do you do?

how they navigate conflicting priorities between cost, schedule, and reliability without just capitulating or digging in stubbornly

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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  Mechanical Engineer III  is a senior-level engineering professional responsible for leading product modifications, sustaining engineering initiatives, and new product development activities for generator set (genset) products. This role serves as a key technical contributor, partnering with cross-functional teams across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Service, and Marketing to deliver innovative, reliable, and cost-effective solutions. Working with a high degree of independence, the Mechanical Engineer III applies advanced engineering principles to solve complex technical challenges, and provides technical guidance to less experienced engineers while ensuring products meet customer, quality, and business objectives. Responsibilities: • Working closely with OEMs, internal Engineers and the Technical Publications team, produce high-quality comprehensive diagnostic manuals for Generac products. • Participate and provide input relating to reliability, maintainability and serviceability into Concept Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Serviceability Reviews and Product Performance Reviews. • Working with Tech Support and Engineering groups, help troubleshoot, diagnose and resolve difficult problems seen in the field with various Generac products. • Review engineering specifications/drawings and propose design modifications to improve reliability within cost and other performance requirements. • Utilize CAD and engineering analysis tools to create and view detailed engineering drawings and technical documentation. • Develop and execute product testing, validation, and risk assessment activities to ensure fitness-for-use and compliance with design requirements. • Understanding of product specifications, bills of materials, and material requirements to support product servicing. • Collaborate with engineering team, sourcing, quality, service, and external partners to optimize designs for serviceability, maintainability and reliability and resolve technical issues throughout the product lifecycle. • Lead and support cross-functional projects, providing technical expertise, troubleshooting complex challenges, and implementing effective solutions. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related discipline • 5+ years of relevant work experience with Solidworks or Creo Preferred Qualifications • 5+ years of Service/Maintenance Engineering • Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) • Experience in product design, service and sustaining engineering within a manufacturing or industrial environment • Experience conducting engineering analyses using tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (DFMEA) • Experience working in cross-functional teams and collaborating with engineering, quality, sourcing and operations partners • Proficiency with 3D CAD modeling and engineering design software, such as CREO or SolidWorks • Knowledge of machine design principles and experience with driving equipment Maintainability, Serviceability and Reliability • Ability to drive up Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and drive down Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) of Generac products (Residential, Commercial and Industrial) • Strong project management, analytical problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently • Effective written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to translate technical information for a variety of audiences • Working knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word 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.” “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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