JobsGenerac

Senior Staff Engineer

Generac · Sussex, WI

Posted Aug 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

Apply at Generac

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 you had to size and select components for a power conversion system, like rectifiers or DC/DC converters, under tight cost and thermal constraints.

ability to balance competing engineering constraints and make defensible tradeoffs

Describe a project where you had to lead a cross-functional team through a complex engineering problem. What was your role and how did you keep things moving?

actual technical leadership experience versus just being a senior contributor on a team

Tell me about a time you mentored a less experienced engineer through a difficult design or testing problem.

whether mentoring is a habit or just a line on the resume

Tell me about a time a manufacturing constraint forced you to redesign something you thought was finished. What did you change and what did you learn?

whether the candidate designs with manufacturability in mind or has to be told to

What's an example of a time your analysis or recommendation actually changed the direction of a product, and how did you convince others to go along with it?

influence and communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders

Technical

Walk me through a medium-voltage system you designed from concept to production. What voltage class was it and what were the biggest design constraints?

whether the candidate has genuine hands-on ownership of MV design versus surface-level exposure

How do you approach short-circuit and arc flash studies for a new switchgear installation, and what software or methods do you rely on?

depth of practical knowledge in the specific electrical studies the role requires daily

Which codes and standards, like UL, IEC, NEC, IEEE, or CSA, have you had to design directly against, and can you give an example where two standards seemed to conflict?

real familiarity with the regulatory landscape versus name-dropping standards

How do you think about grounding and bonding schemes differently for mission-critical power systems compared to standard commercial installations?

nuanced technical judgment beyond textbook knowledge

Walk me through how you'd set up a fault injection or load flow test plan for a new medium-voltage product before it goes to a customer site.

whether the candidate can architect a full validation plan, not just execute isolated tests

Situational

Suppose a product fails hipot or partial discharge testing late in the validation cycle, right before a planned launch. What do you do?

how the candidate handles schedule pressure without cutting corners on safety or compliance

If you discovered partway through a program that a paralleling system design wouldn't meet insulation coordination requirements at scale, how would you handle telling the team and adjusting the plan?

judgment under uncertainty and willingness to raise bad news early

How would you prioritize your time if you were running three product development efforts at once, each with different deadlines and different levels of executive visibility?

ability to manage competing priorities at a staff engineering level

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Generac from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

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 Engineer V is responsible for providing expertise regarding new product development as well as continuous improvement of legacy systems. Day-to-day responsibilities include medium-voltage power design, electrical system studies (short-circuit, arc flash, and protection coordination), component selection and sizing, compliance and performance test planning, and codes and standards adherence. Additionally, candidates will facilitate product development through design, validation, and release while serving as a technical leader and mentor to the broader engineering team. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Lead product development: Own the design, validation, architecture, and market launch of new power generation and power conversion products from concept through production. • Design electrical systems: Develop power circuits, distribution, protection schemes, and medium-voltage systems (1–38 kV), including transformers, switchgear, busbars, cables, and insulation coordination. • Perform testing & analysis: Architect and execute product validation, performance, and regulatory testing, including load testing, power quality, fault injection, and electrical system studies such as load flow, short-circuit, arc flash, and protection coordination. • Ensure compliance & manufacturability: Develop specifications, schematics, wiring diagrams, and BOMs while ensuring compliance with UL, IEC, NEC, IEEE, and CSA standards and optimizing designs for cost, reliability, safety, and manufacturing. • Provide technical leadership: Drive development schedules and cost targets, collaborate across engineering and manufacturing teams, and mentor engineers to improve technical capabilities and engineering standards. Basic Qualifications: • Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline; • 10+ years of relevant work experience; Preferred Qualifications: • Power & Medium-Voltage Engineering: Extensive expertise in power generation, conversion, and distribution systems, including MV switchgear, transformers, paralleling systems, and mission-critical power solutions. • Electrical & Power Electronics Design: Strong knowledge of power circuit design, component sizing, thermal management, grounding/bonding, and integration of rectifiers, inverters, and DC/DC converters, with full ownership of complex system designs. • Testing, Compliance & Product Development: Experienced in MV standards, EMC/EMI, dielectric/hipot, partial discharge, fault injection, environmental testing, and validation, with experience taking products from concept through production. • Complex Project & Problem Solving: Independently leads large, complex, cross-functional engineering projects; applies strong analytical, conceptual, and decision-making skills to develop innovative solutions and improve products, processes, and business outcomes. • Technical Leadership & Collaboration: Provides technical guidance, coaches less-experienced engineers, drives cross-functional success, contributes to standards and procedures, and communicates effectively with technical and business stakeholders. • Business & Professional Excellence: Manages priorities and multiple assignments effectively, identifies opportunities to improve engineering’s financial impact, recommends best practices, and actively owns professional development and continuous improvement. Great Reasons to work for Generac : • Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more  • Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers  • Enjoy summer hours (Memorial Day – Labor Day)  • Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits, many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line, while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators  • Make a positive impact. Generac has always been community-minded and dedicated to giving back. The company proudly offers a Volunteer Time Off program, inviting team members to participate in charitable volunteer opportunities on company time.  • We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days.   • We’re an inclusive company that celebrates differences and keeps equity and respect at the forefront.  • We offer product loan and discount programs.  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 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. #LI-KA1   “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.”

Apply at Generac

Related jobs

New Product Sourcing Specialist - Purchasing

Generac · Waukesha, WI

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Intern Engineering - Advanced Manufacturing

Generac · Waukesha, WI

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Mechanical Engineer II

Generac · Sussex, WI

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Material Handler - Weekend Shift

Generac · Whitewater, WI

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Inside Sales Representative Residential

Generac · Pewaukee, WI

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Industrial Engineer I

Generac · Beaver Dam, WI

Posted Sep 16 · Verified Sep 20