Hybrid Project Engineering Lead – Electric Motor R&D

at Graco

• Job title: Project Engineering Lead – Electric Motor R&D
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: $93,800 - $164,200 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Flagstaff, United States

About the role

• Project Engineering Lead for developing electric motor technology at Graco. Leading R&D projects while managing a team of engineers in Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex R&D projects from concept through to technology transfer/licensing, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and technical specifications.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external customers, suppliers, and outside agencies.
• Manage project constraints, balancing product performance (torque, efficiency, thermal) against cost targets and schedule pressures.
• Manage and report status of various aspects of projects (part tracking, prototype builds, documentation creation, testing, risk assessment, process development).
• Conduct rigorous risk management (FMEA, critical path analysis) to navigate the uncertainties inherent in developing novel technologies.
• Directly manage a team of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers with a wide range of experience levels.
• Conduct performance reviews, mentor staff for career growth, and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Provide ongoing coaching to engineers, offering guidance and support as they work through challenging technical issues.
• Facilitate problem-solving sessions and encourage innovative approaches to complex engineering problems.
• Drive continuous improvement in the Flagstaff office operations, including resource leveling, engineering process development, and facility management.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for project tracking and documentation to support the licensing business model.
• Collaborate with Graco HQ (Minneapolis) to align local R&D practices with corporate quality, design, and manufacturing standards where applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
• 7+ years of engineering experience with at least 2+ years in a project management or technical leadership role
• Experience in electromechanical product development, R&D, or manufacturing environments
• Ability to "speak the language" of the technical teams, understanding the interplay between Electromagnetic modeling, Mechanical constraints, and Motor Control (PCBA/Firmware) design
• Proficiency in project management software and resource planning tools
• Exceptional ability to distill complex technical data into clear updates for executive leadership and external clients
• A demonstrated history of improving "how work gets done"—developing templates and processes, optimizing workflows, or managing facility resources.
• Experience with complex electromechanical systems
• Experience with a technology licensing business model.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks and Altium (for design review purposes).

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• stock purchase plan
• 401(k)
• tuition reimbursement