Principal Engineer Sr. - Optical Engineer

Position Objective

• Develops effective and innovative optical solutions to highly complex and diverse scope engineering problems and issues.
• Responsible for analyzing light sources such as leds and provides a strategic plan for product platforms and the business general managers.
• Maintains the capabilities of our light lab and ensures AMECA certification.
• Takes on an active role in SAE and other standards organizations that impact optical specifications within our industries.
• Guides large scale project/ research efforts and coordinates major product designs and/ or implementations.
• Contributes to the development of innovative concepts and ideas through the application of advanced principles. Work output may result in new products, product lines and/ or patents.
• Mentors’ others, in optical designs, guiding, channeling, facilitating and transferring knowledge.

Key Activities/Responsibilities:

• Develops layouts concepts, parameters and designs for new and existing product re-designs.
• Uses mathematics, statistics, dynamics and other engineering disciplines for calculations and evaluation of alternatives for current product design and their functionality in current product designs.
• Performs analysis as required to insure meeting product performance and reliability requirements.
• Conducts feasibility studies and prepares preliminary cost estimates of designs and redesigns.
• Assists in generating detail specifications of the individual components of the new design and replacement components in end of life and in cost reductions projects.
• Communicates with vendors where engineering is required to develop specifications for components and processes.
• May write rough draft of changes to customer instruction sheet.
• Fabricates mockups and builds working prototypes of new products.
• Works with Quality Control in approving vendor's parts.
• Writes Engineering Change Requests and product structures.
• May assist Purchasing, Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Assurance in vendor selection.
• Perform product evaluations to determine if engineering standards are met
• Works with and assists operations, industrial/test engineering, and other engineering function personnel during the course of design projects to achieve desired outcome.
• Flexibility to perform other duties and assignments as required.
• Summarizes research and development work in a report and specification.
• Provides design guidance and instructions on design principles for Engineer I level engineers.
• Develops engineering specifications for materials or processes through research and/or supervision of tests programs.
• Assist in the development of work instructions that convey design intent to the assembly process.
• Coordinates project progress by monitoring performance of designers, drafters, and other personnel.
• Troubleshoot product systems as required and works directly with technicians and assemblers to resolve issues.
• Provide engineering support to Field Service to assist in resolving warranty and performance issues.
• Understand multi-level product Bill of Material structure to effectively develop options and/ or accessories to support product sales.
• Evaluate product cost reduction proposals to determine feasibility.
• May include travel to the field and/ or trade shows.
• Perform product evaluations to determine if engineering standards are met.
• Reviews and approves Service Publications
• Develop project plan(s) for small-to-medium engineering projects
• Serve as a resource to others in the Engineering Department
• Develop new engineering standards based upon revised product criteria
• Develops, revises, and maintains product specifications for product developments and communicates these requirements to individuals and groups.
• Determines, specifies, and incorporates design requirements into the design specifications to achieve optimum efficiency at consistent quality levels.
• Participates with other departments and functions and/ or leads project teams on a broad range of business unit processes, projects, and coordinates activities on the assigned product lines.
• Conceives, creates, devises, and supervises the design of parts, subassemblies, and final assemblies.
• Initiates and evaluates new product ideas and concepts to determine feasibility with respect to technological availability, life cycle, and cost.
• Develops, revises, and maintains new product development and team guidance plans in terms of product cost estimates, project cost estimates, and schedules.
• Develop comprehensive project plan(s) for medium-to-large type projects
• Responsible for maintaining system commonality amongst all product lines
• Summarizes research and development work in a report and specification and makes recommendation on findings.
• Provides guidance and technical help to other engineers and instructs on design principles for both Engineer II and Engineer I level engineers.
• Conducts feasibility studies and prepares and recommends cost estimates of new products and major redesigns.
• Apply advanced engineering theory in the development and test of products
• Conducts/ coordinates training in area of expertise to other departments within the organization
• Apply advanced engineering theory in the development and test of products
• Leads complex project planning. Guides and manages design teams on large scale technology product development, research projects and/ or implementations.
• Provides guidance, technical help and instructs on design principles to other engineers .

Job Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in related engineering discipline from an accredited university. Masters Degree a plus
• 10+ years engineering experience
• Knowledge of basic principles, theories, and concepts
• Broad application of principles, theories, and concepts in applicable discipline, plus working knowledge of other fields.
• Sufficiently understands customer requirements and delivers
• results that meet these needs.
• Extensive expertise as a technical “generalist” or “specialist”. May be highly skilled in one field or have a general understanding of several.

Wage: $102,418 - $146,311 Plus bonus opportunity

Benefits of Employment

In addition to excellent career growth opportunities, Federal Signal Corporation offers a wide array of benefits including: annual bonus potential, insurance (life, medical, dental, vision), paid holidays, paid vacation, 401(k) with matching contributions and tuition reimbursement. We provide our employees with a smoke-free, drug-free workplace.

About Us

Federal Signal in University Park is a leading manufacturer and supplier of comprehensive systems and products used to protect people and property. Our products and integrated solutions include systems for campus and community alerting, emergency vehicles, first responder interoperable communications, industrial communications, and command and municipal networked security. Specific products include: lightbars and sirens, public warning sirens and public safety software.

Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) builds and delivers equipment of unmatched quality that moves material, cleans infrastructure, and protects the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and commercial customers. Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates two groups: Environmental Solutions and Safety and Security Systems. For more information on Federal Signal, visit:

The Company is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category, characteristic, or trait under applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at [email protected]. All other applications must be submitted online.