Senior Staff Motor Design Engineer
Location: Chaska, MN (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $138,000 – $185,000/year
Our client is a leading aerospace and defense manufacturer seeking an expert-level Senior Staff Motor Design Engineer to design and optimize electric motors and drive next-generation motor technology across their product portfolio. This role covers the full scope of electric motor engineering — magnetics, materials, GD&T, assembly, manufacturability, analysis, inspection, test, and verification — with regular interaction across engineering, program management, procurement, supply chain, and outside suppliers and test facilities.
This is a senior technical leadership role for someone who wants to shape breakthrough motor technology in a high-performance, AS9100-certified aerospace/defense environment.
What You'll Do- Design, prototype, assemble, and test electromagnetic topologies for high-performance, high-reliability aerospace and defense motors and products
- Develop breakthrough motor technologies that help win new business in served market segments
- Apply expert-level materials selection and GD&T to optimize designs for manufacturability and cost
- Perform electromagnetic analysis, simulation, and modeling (including Finite Element Analysis)
- Serve as a technical leader/facilitator in design and manufacturing trade-offs — cost, efficiency, mass, thermal performance, and more
- Apply deep knowledge of motor subcomponent design: magnet wires, insulation systems, laminations, magnets, shafts, bearings, enclosures, EMI, and sealing
- Collaborate closely with actuation systems and test engineering to drive manufacturable designs on new programs
- Work directly with suppliers to ensure conformity to contract requirements, drawings, and specifications
- Inspect, witness, and verify in-process and final inspections to ensure product conformity
- Audit and review supplier processes to ensure proper risk mitigation during manufacturing
- Review technical documents (prints, specifications) to identify manufacturing challenges or design-related cost drivers early
- Stay current on competitive landscape and evolving motor technologies
- Some travel to client facilities and supplier manufacturing sites as needed
- B.S. in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience — other degrees considered)
- 5-10 years of experience in electromagnetic motors, windings, products, and systems engineering
- Strong experience with electromagnetic principles and analysis (FEA, simulation, modeling)
- Expertise in materials selection, secondary processing, and workmanship principles for high-performance motor manufacturing
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional and external stakeholder interaction
- Strong computer literacy, including MS Office
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical ability
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (ITAR/export control requirement)
- Split between professional office and manufacturing/machine shop environments
- Full-time; additional/weekend work may be required as job duties demand
- Infrequent travel required
Equal Opportunity Employer.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
- 5-10 years of experience in electromagnetic motors, windings, products, and systems engineering
- Strong experience with electromagnetic principles and analysis, including FEA, simulation, and modeling
- Expertise in materials selection, secondary processing, and workmanship principles for high-performance motor manufacturing
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical ability
- Must be a U.S. citizen due to ITAR/export control requirements
What We Do
The company’s Chaska operation is an aerospace and defense manufacturer focused on advanced brushless DC electric motors and related actuation solutions. Its activities include engineering, production engineering, machining, assembly, and testing, supporting high-performance motor technologies for demanding aerospace applications. The facility is located in Chaska, Minnesota, and is associated with AS9100 aerospace quality standards, indicating a specialized, vertically oriented manufacturing operation serving mission-critical customers.
