Project Mechanical Engineer

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

ETM develops transverse flux electric motors with torque density and efficiency that conventional motor architectures can't match. Our business model is technology development and licensing; our products are the IP, the engineering, and the manufacturing knowledge we transfer to partners. We stay involved beyond technology transfer, supporting partners through production, ongoing development, and a flexible licensing model that evolves with the relationship. It's a rare model, and it attracts engineers who want to see their work scaled without being tied to a single production line.

We're part of Graco Inc. (NYSE: GGG), a Fortune 1000 industrial manufacturer with 3,000+ employees worldwide. That backing gives us resources and stability without sacrificing the pace and focus of a specialized R&D team.

We are seeking a Project Engineer for our R&D Center of Excellence in Flagstaff, Arizona. You'll join a specialized team as a mechanical generalist who carries hardware the whole way: analyzing, designing, drawing, sourcing, building, testing, and troubleshooting. A lot of what we do has no established playbook, so you'll be writing the procedures as often as you're following them.

• Produce conceptual designs for motor and drive hardware, then carry them to detailed design: models, drawings, tolerance stacks, and the applicable standards.
• Bracket problems with first-principles physics
• Provide appropriate structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis of designs using FEA and hand calculation
• Contribute to product specifications and translate customer and partner requirements into mechanical requirements.

• Define and lead prototype builds and lab testing.
• Verify assumptions with quick prototypes.
• Troubleshoot motors and assemblies that don't behave as modeled, in the lab, on the line, or at a partner site — and drive the corrective action.
• Build and improve fixtures, tooling, and test setups.

• Create manufacturing-ready prints and work with machine shops, stampers, molders, and specialty suppliers.
• Drive DFM and DFA on metal and plastic parts across machining, casting, stamping, extrusion, and injection molding.
• Work with manufacturing and partner engineering teams on process development, first articles, and documentation.

• Define and lead prototype development and lab and field tests.
• Report project status and identify threats to schedule and cost early and communicate them clearly to the project team and to management before they become surprises.
• Help build new standards, templates, and procedures

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• 4+ years of mechanical design and new product development experience, with demonstrated repeated success producing innovative and successful products.
• Hands-On Capability: real time building, instrumenting, and testing your own hardware.
• Design Tools: proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and the ability to produce manufacturing-ready drawings with sound GD&T.
• Manufacturing Judgment: experience driving DFM and DFA on metal and plastic parts across processes such as machining, casting, stamping, extrusion, and injection molding.
• Communication: articulate and concise in oral and written communication to a varied audience.
• Ability to travel within the US and internationally on occasion.

• Electric motor design or manufacturing experience — laminations, windings, magnets, rotor and stator assembly.
• Global industrial manufacturing experience.
• Master's degree preferred.

Flagstaff is a deliberate choice for a lot of people on our team. At 7,000 feet in the Arizona high country, it offers four seasons and immediate access to hiking, biking, skiing, and climbing. Downtown is a hub of activity with galleries, theaters, live music, and a genuine small-city community with a strong sense of place. If that kind of environment appeals to you, it's worth factoring in. This is a full-time, in-person role based in Flagstaff.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and unrestricted basis. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, L-1, or employment-based permanent residence sponsorship). Candidates working under temporary employment authorization, including F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, or similar programs, are not eligible for this position. 

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation.  If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience.  In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees.  Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role.  Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.