Job Overview

We are seeking a Staff R&D Product Development Engineer to serve as a technical innovation leader for electromechanical relay development within our global R&D organization.

In this role, you will be the main contributor and thought leader for next-generation relay concepts, with a strong focus on magnetic systems, contact systems, and advanced relay architectures. You will shape the technical roadmap, create early product drafts and platform concepts, and influence relay innovation in the fields of general purpose and force-guided relay applications.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role, designed for an experienced relay development engineer who combines deep domain expertise with creativity, systems thinking, and the ability to influence across disciplines and regions. The position required working closely with international R&D, product management, simulation, laboratory, and manufacturing teams.

You will support Product Management and Sales by developing innovative, market-driven product solutions. Our products are developed for the global market and are designed for long-term availability with a market lifetime of more than 15 years.

The position reports directly to the global Engineering Manager for Relays and offers a high degree of creative freedom along with close collaboration in interdisciplinary teams.

Job Requirements

Technical Leadership & Innovation

• Act as technical lead and main innovator for new electromechanical relay concepts and platforms
• Create and evaluate innovative magnetic system designs (e.g., coil, armature, yoke, flux paths) and contact systems (e.g., contact geometry, materials, force systems, force-guided designs)
• Develop early-stage product drafts, concepts, and feasibility studies for next-generation relay solutions
• Drive technology exploration, benchmarking, and concept validation beyond existing product portfolios

Product & Platform Development

• Lead the end-to-end technical development of relay platforms from concept through industrialization support
• Define and validate architecture, performance targets, and reliability concepts for long-life products
• Ensure compliance with relevant international standards, including:
• EN 61810-1 / UL 61810-1
• EN61810-3
• EN 60335-1
• EN 60669-1
• Provide deep technical expertise for force-guided relays and general purpose relays.

Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with product management, application engineering, simulation experts, laboratory teams, and manufacturing
• Translate market and application requirements into robust technical solutions
• Serve as a technical mentor and escalation point for senior and mid-level engineers
• Contribute to global technology alignment and best practices across R&D locations

Engineering Excellence

• Oversee and contribute to 3D design and 2D drawings for critical components and assemblies
• Guide and review DFMEA, DFM, tolerance concepts, and reliability assessments
• Support simulation activities (magnetic, thermal, mechanical) and correlate with test data
• Drive structured problem-solving for complex technical challenges

What your background should look like

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degre (preferred) e in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
• Extensive professional experience in electromechanical relay development (typically 8–12+ years)
• Proven track record of innovation in magnetic systems and/or contact systems
• Deep understanding of relay physics, materials, reliability, and failure mechanisms
• Strong working knowledge of EN 61810-1, UL 61810-1, and EN 60335-1
• Experience with force-guided relays and/or general purpose relay applications for Automation Control, Climate Solution, Building Automation etc.
• Advanced experience with 3D CAD tools (preferably PTC Creo or equivalent parametric systems)
• Ability to work effectively in a global, and cross-cultural environment
• Professional-level English communication skills (German or other languages are a plus)

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

• Magnetic circuit design and optimization
• Contact system design, materials, and wear behavior
• Relay system architecture and platform thinking
• Design for reliability, manufacturability, and compliance
• Simulation-supported development and test correlation

Leadership & Ways of Working

• Innovation mindset with strong conceptual thinking
• Ability to influence without formal authority
• Mentoring and technical guidance of peers
• Structured, analytical problem-solving
• Comfort working in ambiguity and early development phases

Competencies