Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.
Where You’ll Work – Contractor Equipment Division (CED)
The Contractor Equipment Division makes sprayers that apply paint to walls and other structures, with product models for users ranging from do-it-yourself homeowners to professional paint contractors. Contractor equipment also includes sprayers that apply texture to walls and ceilings, highly viscous coatings to roofs, and line markings on roads, parking lots, athletic fields and floors.
The future of CED is bright, with significant investments being made across the business; the division is expanding to accommodate increased demand and growth driven by an investment in new products and innovative ideas. With the global industry ramping up into high gear, CED is positioned to convert contractors accustomed to manually applying paint and other coatings by brush-and-roller to spray technology.
Ready to join us?
The Director of Advanced Electronics Engineering is a key leadership role responsible for guiding and advancing electrical engineering initiatives across the division. This position ensures that all electrical engineering strategies are fully aligned with the division's overall business objectives and long-term technological innovation goals. The Director oversees electrical and software engineering teams, drives the development and integration of emerging technologies, and ensures the successful execution of high-impact engineering projects that support the division's growth and strategic vision.
What You Will Do at Graco
Drive Growth Strategy:
- Collaborate closely with Engineering and Marketing Managers to identify and develop customer-centric New Product Development (NPD) opportunities.
- Identify and integrate innovative new technologies in electronics, electrification, and automation to enhance customer value and support Graco's IP strategy and growth objectives.
- Lead technical evaluations of concepts and technologies before NPD projects to explore potential future opportunities.
- Leverage existing technologies from both within Graco and the broader industry to drive advancements.
- Maintain a comprehensive overview of the current electrical technology landscape at Graco and across the industry.
- Develop and maintain a technology roadmap outlining future opportunities for electronics advancements.
- Promote cross-project and cross-divisional sharing of technologies, platforms, cost-saving opportunities, and process improvements across Graco.
Project Support:
- Guide and support new product development projects, including potentially leading NPD projects with an electrical focus.
- Provide technical oversight for up to 15 electrical staff, reviewing and approving electrical and software plans for NPD projects.
- Engage with customers throughout the development process to ensure alignment with electrical project goals.
- Manage electrical technical resources to ensure project success while fostering personnel development.
- Oversee product qualification, consulting on both standard and non-standard electrical requirements for customers, applications, and environments.
- Support project managers in achieving ROI goals, including labor/expense, product cost, capital investment, and launch timelines.
- Participate in project requirements and deliverables as needed, ensuring upper management is informed of project status, progress, issues, and risks.
Additional Responsibilities
- Drive efficiencies in NPD processes, providing teams with the tools, resources, and support needed for effective execution.
- Collaborate with Engineering Services to monitor and resolve field and manufacturing issues, improve first-pass testing, and support cost reduction efforts.
Team Leadership and Financial Management
- Lead, mentor, manage, and staff of global electrical and software engineering team, and other members of the team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence.
- Develop and implement strategies for talent acquisition and management, succession planning, and leadership development to build a pipeline of future leaders.
- Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.
- Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual team budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives.
What You Will Bring to Graco
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Technology, Control Systems or a related field. A Master’s degree or advanced certification is preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in engineering roles, with a focus on managing existing products, manufacturing support, quality improvements, and cost reduction.
- Excellent leadership skills: 5+ years of team leadership experience preferred.
- Extensive experience in developing and executing engineering strategies and managing engineering teams.
- Proven track record of driving long-term commercial success through electronics solutions, contributing to incremental revenue growth, reducing warranty expenses, and boosting overall earnings.
- Demonstrated expertise in strategic technical planning for the advancement of electronics, electrification, and automation, aligning with long-term business goals.
- Foster knowledge sharing and skill development to enhance team capabilities. Oversee a team of over 15 electrical engineers.
- Capable of leading technical meetings and sharing expertise across the division.
- Capable of resolving the most challenging technical questions across Graco.
- Consistently drive innovative designs and capable of designing a complete system.
- Acknowledged within the organization as a technical expert, key design resource, and leader.
- Strong leadership, team management, and project management skills.
- Proven ability to drive innovation and integrate new technologies within a across product categories and industry segments.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to travel approximately 10% of the time, domestic and internation
Accelerators
- Global industrial manufacturing knowledge and experience.
#LI-KE1
At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.
Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.
Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.