Senior Electrical Design Engineer
Department: Engineering
Reports To: Electrical Department Head
Direct Reports: Electrical Design Engineer I
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Summerville, SC
Industry: Marine / Boat Manufacturing
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Design Engineer to lead the design, documentation, validation, and production support of electrical systems across our boat lineup.
This position owns the electrical architecture of new and existing models, from early concept and component selection through harness release, production launch, and continuous improvement. The Senior Electrical Design Engineer sets the technical standard for the electrical engineering function, ensures compliance with marine electrical standards, and mentors and directs the Electrical Design Engineer I.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who understands both the engineering and the build. They are comfortable at a CAD workstation and on the production floor, communicate clearly with engineers, technicians, suppliers, and leadership, and take pride in building systems that are safe, reliable, serviceable, and efficient to manufacture.
Key Responsibilities
Electrical System Design & Architecture
• Lead the design and development of complete electrical systems for new and existing boat models, including DC distribution, AC shore power and generator systems, battery and charging systems, and engine integration.
• Define the electrical architecture for each model, including power distribution, circuit protection strategy, grounding and bonding, and network topology.
• Create, review, and approve electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, harness drawings, and related documentation.
• Perform and verify electrical calculations, including load analysis, wire sizing, voltage drop, circuit protection, battery capacity, and charging system sizing.
• Select and specify electrical components, connectors, terminals, wire, circuit protection devices, switching, and electronics.
• Design and integrate NMEA 2000 networks, digital switching systems, displays, and marine electronics packages.
• Design and specify lithium battery systems, inverters, chargers, and related power management equipment.
• Lead the design of electrical enclosures, panels, and component mounting.
• Collaborate with mechanical, structural, and design engineering on wire routing, component locations, chase sizing, and serviceability.
Leadership & Mentoring
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, and day-to-day guidance to the Electrical Design Engineer I.
• Review and approve work prepared by the Electrical Design Engineer I and provide constructive feedback.
• Establish, document, and maintain company electrical design standards, drawing standards, and best practices.
• Lead electrical design reviews and represent electrical engineering in cross-functional engineering meetings.
• Plan and prioritize electrical engineering workload to support model year launches and production schedules.
Standards & Compliance
• Serve as the company's technical authority on marine electrical standards, including ABYC, USCG, NMMA, and other applicable requirements.
• Ensure all electrical designs comply with applicable standards, including ABYC E-11 (AC and DC Electrical Systems on Boats), ABYC E-13 (Lithium Ion Batteries), ABYC A-31 (Battery Chargers and Inverters), and 33 CFR 183 Subpart I (Electrical Systems).
• Support NMMA certification and respond to compliance findings.
• Stay current on revisions to marine electrical standards and update company practices accordingly.
Production & Manufacturing Support
• Partner with the Electrical Department to resolve build issues, improve installation methods, and reduce rework.
• Design harnesses and systems with manufacturability, installation time, and serviceability in mind.
• Support prototype builds and production launches of new models, including first-article inspection of harnesses and electrical installations.
• Work with harness suppliers and component vendors on specifications, quality, cost, and lead times.
• Investigate warranty claims, field failures, and dealer feedback, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
Testing & Validation
• Develop electrical test procedures and acceptance criteria for production and prototype boats.
• Lead validation and troubleshooting of new electrical systems and components.
• Verify that installed systems match released documentation and engineering intent.
Documentation & Change Control
• Own electrical bills of materials, wire lists, component lists, and harness documentation for all models.
• Manage revision control and the engineering change process for electrical drawings and documentation.
• Ensure accurate and timely release of electrical documentation to purchasing, production, and suppliers.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related field. Significant relevant industry experience can be considered in place of a degree.
• 4+ years of professional electrical design engineering experience, including at least 3 years designing electrical systems for boats or other vehicles.
• Strong working knowledge of ABYC electrical standards and USCG electrical requirements.
• Proven experience designing complete DC electrical systems, with working knowledge of AC shore power and generator systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing wiring harnesses and producing harness drawings, wire lists, and electrical BOMs.
• Proficiency in electrical load analysis, wire sizing, voltage drop, circuit protection, and battery and charging system design.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, SolidWorks, SolidWorks Electrical, EPLAN, or similar.
• Experience with engineering change control and revision management.
• Experience troubleshooting electrical systems using a multimeter and other test equipment.
• Ability to mentor, review, and develop less experienced engineers.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with engineering, production, purchasing, quality, and suppliers.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
The following are helpful but not required:
• Experience at a production boat manufacturer.
• ABYC Electrical Technician certification and/or ABYC Marine Systems certification.
• NMEA 2000 network design experience; NMEA certification a plus.
• Experience with digital switching systems (for example CZone, EmpirBus, or similar), including configuration and programming.
• Experience with marine lithium battery systems and ABYC E-13.
• Experience integrating modern digital outboard engine controls and gauges.
• Experience working with harness suppliers, including supplier drawings, quoting, and quality issues.
• Familiarity with ERP and PLM systems.
• Experience with root cause analysis tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, or FMEA.
• Prior supervisory, lead, or formal mentoring experience.
Relationship with Electrical Design Engineer I
The Senior Electrical Design Engineer will provide technical direction, mentoring, design review, and approval for the Electrical Design Engineer I. The Senior Electrical Design Engineer will be expected to:
• Assign and prioritize engineering tasks appropriate to the Electrical Design Engineer I's experience and development.
• Review preliminary designs and documentation and provide clear, constructive feedback.
• Teach company electrical design standards, applicable marine electrical standards, and sound engineering judgment.
• Be available as a resource when unfamiliar or complex design issues arise.
• Gradually expand the Electrical Design Engineer I's responsibilities as their skills develop.
• Retain final technical approval of electrical designs released to production.
Relationship with the Electrical Department
The Senior Electrical Design Engineer will work closely with the Electrical Department and production leadership to make sure electrical designs can be built correctly, efficiently, and consistently on the production floor. This includes regular time on the floor, open communication with electrical technicians and supervisors, and timely response to build questions and engineering issues.
This structure provides strong technical ownership of production boat electrical systems while building the long-term capability of the electrical engineering team.