Electrical Designer

ABOUT SAR AUTOMATION

SAR Automation LP is the US subsidiary of the SAR Group (SAR Elektronic GmbH, Germany), a leading company in automation and control systems with around 700 employees worldwide. From our facility in Greer, South Carolina, we work in two fields. In system integration we deliver controls, electrical design, installation, and commissioning of automation and material-handling systems for automotive OEMs and general manufacturing, and we provide technical training for plant maintenance teams. In machine building we design and build complete automation cells - robots, end-of-arm tooling, and upstream and downstream equipment for injection molding and plastics processing - from concept through factory acceptance, installation, and customer buy-off.

Our goal is to provide quality, elegant solutions that ensure the success of each of our customers. We offer the stability and long-term prospects of an international group together with the flat hierarchies, short decision paths, and personal responsibility of a 25-person team.

This position supports projects in both divisions: Automation & Integration (controls, electrical, and system-integration projects for automotive and general manufacturing) and Plastics Automation (robot cells and downstream automation for injection molding and plastics processing).

THE ROLE

Designs the electrical side of automation cells, material-handling systems, retrofits, and reconfigurations - schematics, control-system architecture, panel design, and Bills of Materials - and carries that design through purchasing, panel build, installation, labelling, and as-built documentation. Applies SAR standards and customer standards (automotive OEM and logistics specifications included) and supports commissioning on the shop floor and at customer sites.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Design

• Develop electrical concepts and control-system architectures for automation and material-handling systems in line with customer requirements, SAR standards, and applicable codes
• Create and maintain electrical schematics, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, network architecture drawings, cable schedules, and I/O lists using ePlan or other industry-standard CAD software
• Perform electrical calculations (load, short-circuit, cable sizing, protection) and select components, drives, and power-supply equipment
• Review customer specifications, vendor quotes, drawings, and procedural manuals to determine critical design attributes; revise designs for change orders and customer requests
• Ensure all designs comply with NFPA 79, NEC, UL 508A, CSA, OSHA, machine-safety standards, and customer requirements

Materials & Project Execution

• Generate and maintain Bills of Materials, electrical component databases, and ERP material records, including creation of new part numbers; support procurement activities
• Manage the electrical scope of assigned projects from concept through detailed planning, material purchasing, panel build, installation, labelling, and as-built documentation
• Provide quality control of drawings released for panel manufacture and installation; coordinate with mechanical contractors and installation teams and support site management during installation phases

Commissioning & Technical Support

• Support all phases of project execution: design reviews, kickoff meetings, FAT and SAT, commissioning, training, and customer support
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support to engineering, assembly, integration, service, and customer teams during build, start-up, and operation
• Collaborate with mechanical, robotics, software, production, and project-management teams to ensure efficient workflow and successful system integration

Standards, Team & Commercial

• Apply and further develop SAR internal standards and customer-specific standards (for example pluggable and monorail standards for automotive logistics)
• Create and maintain project documentation: drawings, network diagrams, cable schedules, spare-parts lists, and operating manuals
• Guide and train lower-level designers and electricians; support sales with technical input and quotations
• Perform additional duties, special projects, and assignments as directed by management

WHAT YOU BRING

Education / Training

• Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, electrical design, or equivalent training and experience; a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is welcome but not required

Experience

• Minimum two years of electrical design for industrial machinery or automation; five or more years for the senior levels, with full ownership of a project's electrical scope
• Proficient in EPLAN Electric P8 - or in AutoCAD Electrical and willing to convert; we train on EPLAN
• Experience with electrical installation and troubleshooting in the industrial field
• ERP and Microsoft Office experience; experience designing for automotive OEM, logistics (e.g. electrified monorail), or injection-molding environments a plus

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of PLC hardware, drives, drive controllers, servo systems, and power-supply equipment, and the ability to size and specify them for industrial machinery
• Able to produce a complete panel design package - schematic, layout, and bill of materials - to a released standard
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 70E and 79, UL 508A, and machine-safety standards (ISO 13849, EN 60204)
• Proficient in industrial controls (electrical, pneumatic, mechanical, software); able to troubleshoot industrial electrical systems
• Knowledge of robotic and automation cell design, including linear and articulated robots and upstream and downstream equipment in the plastics industry
• Strong communication skills internally and externally; detail-oriented with accurate documentation; German language skills a plus

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Travel time per year: 10-30%
• Travel period: Up to 2 weeks per trip
• Occasional travel to customer sites and to our parent company in Germany; a valid passport is required.
• Valid driver's license required

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match (after one year of service)
• 19 days paid time off, 5 sick days, and 10 paid holidays per year
• A secure position with long-term prospects in an international engineering group
• Flat hierarchies, short decision paths, and a high degree of personal responsibility
• Ongoing technical training and development

WORK AUTHORIZATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. SAR Automation LP does not sponsor employment visas for this position, now or in the future.

SAR Automation LP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $32.00 - $46.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Work Location: In person