Job Description
WE'RE HIRING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
American Crane & Equipment Corporation · Douglassville, PA
Department: Engineering | Reports To: Manager of Electrical Engineering | Travel: Up to 10%
Full-Time | On-Site | Exempt
What This Role Really Is
This is a full-lifecycle electrical engineering role at a company that designs and builds custom overhead cranes, hoists, and heavy lifting equipment — not a desk job where your drawings disappear into a queue. You’ll take a project from customer specs and code requirements through schematic design, panel layout, PLC programming, manufacturing support, factory acceptance testing, and site commissioning. Then you’ll stand next to the equipment and watch it lift.
Every project here is custom. Different loads, different environments, different code requirements — including nuclear, military, and other critical-application standards. That means real engineering judgment on every design, not pulling templates off a shelf. You’ll work alongside mechanical and structural engineers, collaborate directly with manufacturing electricians building your designs, and travel to customer sites to commission and test the finished equipment.
We’re looking for an engineer who’s past the entry-level learning curve and ready to own complex designs with minimal supervision. The team is small, the work is technical, and the impact of what you design is visible every time a crane moves a load.
What Makes This Role Stand Out
- Custom engineering on every project — no two cranes are the same, and neither are the design challenges
- Full-lifecycle involvement from concept through commissioning — you see your work come to life
- Exposure to nuclear, military, and critical-application standards that most EEs never touch
- Small, experienced engineering team where your contributions are visible and valued
- Travel to customer sites to commission equipment you designed — not many engineering roles offer that
What You’ll Do
Electrical Design & Engineering (80–90%)
- Review project technical documents — proposals, estimates, customer specifications, and applicable codes — to determine the full scope of electrical design work
- Develop complete design packages: electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, interconnection drawings, conduit routing, device layouts, and electrical bills of materials
- Select electrical components and devices in accordance with project requirements, applicable codes (NFPA NEC, UL 508A, CMAA, ASME NOG-1/NUM-1), and QA standards
- Develop PLC code, drive parameters, and HMI programming as required by project scope
- Support manufacturing electricians during construction — answering questions, resolving field issues, and ensuring your designs are built correctly
- Lead and participate in design review meetings with internal teams and customers — provide technical responses to reviewer comments and incorporate feedback into design documents
- Originate test plans for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
- Serve as Test Conductor for FAT and SAT — startup, troubleshooting, and test completion per customer contract and QA requirements
- Balance multiple active projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and schedule adherence
Field Commissioning & Technical Support (5–10%)
- Travel to customer sites to commission equipment, complete startup activities, and execute test plans — up to 10% travel (approximately 6 weeks per year)
- Troubleshoot electrical systems in the field, collaborating with Field Service Technicians when needed
- Represent American Crane technically during customer interactions on-site
Team Development & Collaboration (5–10%)
- Mentor other electrical engineers as requested by the Electrical Engineering Manager
- Review design documents originated by other engineers and provide constructive technical oversight
- Contribute to department meetings, cross-functional problem-solving, and continuous improvement of design processes
- Share technical knowledge and help build the team’s collective capability
Who Thrives Here
This is a role for an engineer who wants to see the full picture — from the customer’s requirements document to the moment the crane makes its first lift. The work is technical, varied, and directly consequential. If your designs have only ever lived on paper, this is the job where they come to life.
You’ll do well here if you:
- Want to own a design from concept through commissioning, not just hand off drawings to someone else
- Can read a customer spec and a code book and figure out what the design needs to do — without someone handing you a template
- Are comfortable walking into a panel you designed and troubleshooting it with a meter in your hand
- Enjoy working directly with manufacturing electricians and field techs — you see them as collaborators, not an afterthought
- Want variety in your work — nuclear cranes, military applications, standard industrial lifts — every project is different
- Take pride in clean, code-compliant designs and aren’t satisfied until the system runs right
This probably isn’t the right fit if:
- You want a purely desk-based design role with no shop floor or field involvement
- You prefer highly repetitive design work with established templates for every project
- You’re not comfortable working independently on complex designs with minimal supervision
- You’re looking for an entry-level position — this role requires demonstrated engineering experience
What We’re Looking For
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET/EAC-accredited program
- 3+ years of electrical engineering experience, preferably in industrial, controls, or power systems design
- Experience in heavy equipment manufacturing, material handling, industrial controls/systems integration, or other custom engineered-to-order environments
- Proficiency in electrical schematic design, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts
- Working knowledge of PLC programming, VFDs, servo drives, and industrial motor control techniques
- Ability to read and apply industry codes: NFPA NEC, UL 508A, and relevant CMAA/ASME standards
- Hands-on comfort with electrical test equipment — oscilloscopes, multimeters, megohmmeters, data loggers
- Strong communication skills — you’ll interact with customers, manufacturing, and cross-functional engineering teams daily
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Project)
- Willingness to travel up to 10% for site commissioning and startup activities
Preferred
- 7+ years of electrical engineering experience in heavy equipment, crane, or custom manufacturing
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Experience with ASME NOG-1, NUM-1, NUREG 0554, or other nuclear-application electrical standards
- Experience as a Test Conductor for Factory and/or Site Acceptance Testing
- Demonstrated experience mentoring junior engineers
- Familiarity with industrial networking and communication protocols
What Success Looks Like
First 30 Days — Learn Our World
- Complete company onboarding, safety orientation, and facility tours (engineering offices, manufacturing floor, test areas)
- Meet the Electrical Engineering team, Mechanical/Structural Engineering, Manufacturing, QA, and Project Management contacts
- Review ACECO’s design standards, drawing templates, BOM processes, and ERP/PDM systems
- Study active projects to understand the range of equipment, code requirements, and customer expectations
- Shadow experienced engineers through design reviews, manufacturing support, and testing activities
Days 31–60 — Start Designing
- Take ownership of your first project — develop electrical design deliverables with oversight from the Engineering Manager
- Demonstrate your ability to translate project specs and code requirements into working designs
- Build working relationships with manufacturing electricians — your designs should make their jobs easier, not harder
- Begin contributing to design reviews and providing technical input on other engineers’ work
- Get familiar with ACECO’s component standards, preferred suppliers, and QA documentation requirements
Days 61+ — Own Your Projects
- Manage multiple active design assignments with increasing independence
- Deliver complete, code-compliant design packages that pass internal review with minimal revision
- Support your first FAT or manufacturing build — demonstrating hands-on capability beyond the drawing
- Establish yourself as a reliable, technically strong contributor the team can count on
- Have a clear development path outlined with your manager for the next 6–12 months
What’s In It for You?
- Competitive salary aligned with experience and qualifications
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance — available day one
- 401(k) with company match
- Generous paid time off with rollover each year
- 10 paid company-observed holidays
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development support
Work Environment & Schedule
- On-site in Douglassville, PA
- 1st Shift: Monday–Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM
- Primarily office/engineering environment with regular time on the manufacturing floor and in test areas
- Occasional exposure to shop floor conditions — noise, moving equipment, and varying temperatures
- Travel to customer sites for commissioning and startup (up to 10%, approximately 6 weeks per year)
- Ability to work near moving mechanical parts and at heights when required during field activities
Requirements & Compliance
Employment in this position is contingent upon the ability to meet the following requirements:
- Authorization to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship
- Ability to verify identity and employment authorization in compliance with Form I-9 requirements
- Eligibility to access information or technology governed by U.S. export control laws, including 10 C.F.R. Part 810, EAR, and/or ITAR, where applicable. If government authorization is required for access to controlled technology, employment or start date may be delayed or withdrawn in accordance with applicable law
- Certain positions and projects may require the ability to obtain and maintain unescorted access to nuclear facilities in compliance with NRC regulations (10 C.F.R. Parts 26 & 73)
- Willingness to undergo a background check in accordance with applicable laws
- Willingness to undergo a pre-employment drug screen and randomized drug screening during employment
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to customer sites as required
- Ability to lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds
- Ability to work at heights, on ladders, or in precarious places during field commissioning activities
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation
Ready to Apply?
Apply online through our Career Center
What to Expect From Our Hiring Process
We keep it straightforward and respectful of your time:
- Application review — we actually read them
- Phone screen with our Talent Acquisition team
- Technical interview with the Electrical Engineering Manager
- Facility walkthrough so you can see the engineering office, manufacturing floor, and test areas firsthand
- Offer and onboarding — typically within 2 weeks of final interview
All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screen, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
American Crane & Equipment Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The company maintains and observes employment policies that do not discriminate against any person because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, age, ancestry and any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. This applies to recruiting, hiring, training, compensation, overtime, job classifications, work assignments, promotions, demotions, layoffs, terminations, transfers, and all other conditions of employment.
This position requires:
- Valid proof of identity and authorization to work in the U.S. (Form I-9)
- Eligibility to access information or technology governed by U.S. export control laws, including 10 C.F.R. Part 810. If government authorization is required for access to controlled technology, employment or start date may be delayed or withdrawn in accordance with applicable law
- Certain positions and projects may require the ability to obtain and maintain unescorted access to nuclear facilities in compliance with NRC regulations (10 C.F.R. Parts 26 & 73)
The pay for this position is dependent on circumstances including an applicant’s skills and qualifications, certain degrees and certifications, prior job experience, market data, and other relevant factors.
American Crane & Equipment Corporation offers a wide array of comprehensive benefit programs and services including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts to our benefits-eligible employees. Additional benefits include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid time off, paid holidays, and disability coverage. Some benefits offerings are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works.
NOTE: American Crane & Equipment Corporation is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for employment opportunities, unless they have a written agreement for the position they are contacting us about. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at American Crane & Equipment Corporation without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of American Crane & Equipment Corporation, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by American Crane & Equipment Corporation as a result of the referral or through other means.
Full-time
On-site hours
Douglassville PA
Monday through Friday
8:00AM-4:30PM
