Job Description

Business Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer
Reports to: Director of Engineering
Leadership Scope: Individual Leader

Company Info: With a heritage of nearly 120 years, we aren’t just a company; we are a brand of trust. But more than anything, we are a collection of individuals who, together, give Grote Industries a decisive competitive advantage. At Grote, our shared vision is clear – to meet the needs of the customers we serve. We accomplish that mission every day by following a set of core values that makes us who we are.

Innovation has been the hallmark of Grote Industries from the start. From durable, easy to see stop lights to the latest in LED lighting technology, Grote has been leading the way in advanced vehicle system solutions from early in the last century right up to today. With these innovations, Grote has helped millions of people throughout North America and the world benefit from the innovation and design excellence of Grote products.

We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical design and durability of our connected-vehicle hardware. Working on-site in Madison alongside our embedded software, electrical, and product teams, you will design the harnessing and enclosures of our electronics, ensuring that our mechanical products are robust, manufacturable, and ready for the field. When something fails — in testing or in the field — you will be the one who digs in, finds the root cause, and closes the loop. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who likes to design, build, test, and take ownership of results.

Position Duties: - Design harnessing for connected trailer and vehicle products — routing, connector selection, strain relief, wire gauge and protection — balancing electrical requirements, serviceability, and manufacturability.
- Design and test electronic enclosures, including environmental sealing, thermal management, mounting, and mechanical durability, and validate them against real-world vibration, shock, and environmental conditions.
- Review mechanical products for robustness and feasibility, providing design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly feedback across the product portfolio and helping the team make sound mechanical decisions early.
- Lead root cause analysis of mechanical failures and warranty claims — investigating returned units and test failures, identifying the underlying cause, and driving corrective and preventive actions to closure.
- Partner cross-functionally with electrical, embedded software, and product teams to ensure mechanical designs integrate cleanly with the rest of the system.
- Create and maintain documentation, including CAD models, drawings, tolerances, usage guides, and test reports that support production and supplier communication.

Requirements: Candidates for this position must possess a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, along with demonstrated experience in mechanical design, including structured risk analysis, engineering drawings, and tolerance analysis. A strong understanding of design for manufacturability and assembly is essential, as is knowledge of common materials and manufacturing processes such as injection molding, machining, PCB assemblies, fasteners, and seals. The ideal candidate will have experience taking a product from concept through prototype, testing, and validation, while applying strong analytical and problem-solving skills to investigate root causes and develop effective solutions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to collaborate effectively across engineering disciplines, and a willingness to work on-site in Madison, Indiana are also required.

Preferred candidates will have experience in the U.S. automotive or commercial vehicle industry and a strong understanding of vehicle electrical systems, including wire harness design and connector applications. Familiarity with environmental and durability testing standards, such as SAE J1455, ISO 16750, and MIL-STD-810, as well as experience with vibration, shock, thermal, and ingress-protection testing, is highly desirable. Experience investigating field failures or warranty returns and applying root cause analysis to drive corrective actions is also preferred. Additionally, candidates with knowledge of electronics packaging, including PCB assemblies, connectors, sealing methods, and potting processes, will be well suited for this role.