senior Electrical Engineer - Project Manager

Lectra is the world leader in integrated technology solutions to automate, streamline and accelerate the design, development and manufacturing processes of products for industries using soft materials. Lectra develops the most advanced software and automated cutting systems and provides related services specifically for a range of major markets including fashion (apparel, accessories, footwear), automotive (car seats and interiors, airbags), and furniture, as well as for a broad spectrum of other industries such as aeronautics, the marine industry, wind energy, and personal protective equipment. With a workforce of 2,500, Lectra supports 23,000 customers in over 100 countries and generated revenues of 387,6 million in 2021. Lectra is a French group, listed on Euronext Paris.

Within the framework of our program of permanent renewal of its product offer of automatic cutting machines, we wish to bring customer value to our range of equipment, in particular by the evolution of the performances of the products in the catalogs and the development of the consumable offer and spare parts.

The mission of the Product Line, within the R&D department is:

• Design, develop and manufacture increasingly innovative, high-performance and reliable industrial technological solutions (i.e., those that can be mass-produced and easily assembled) at the best overall cost for Lectra and in line with our environmental and social responsibilities.
• Maintain the installed base of plotters and cutters of different generations installed worldwide.
• Prepare the future of our offering.

The teams are driven by a common approach: progress at all levels, through continuous improvement, in a Lean development perspective. Our strategy is to bring value to our customers and to optimize their satisfaction in the long term: our solutions are positioned on a high-end segment: high technology, high added value and quality.

Job description

Context and team

Reporting to the Director Electrical and Electronics based in France, you will join the team located in Tolland (CT). The Director manages three teams located in Tolland, Cestas (France) and Shanghai, totaling approximately 17 people. The local team is small and highly versatile (4 people), covering the entire product lifecycle: design, validation, industrialization and field support. On-site presence in Tolland is required at least 3 days per week. Opportunity to progress toward a team management role.

Main mission

Take responsibility for the design, qualification and improvement of the electrical and electronic architectures of industrial systems (plotters / cutters and associated equipment), ensure their compliance and reliability, lead project activities (V-model and Agile methods), and provide technical expertise on sourcing, obsolescence and cost reduction. You will contribute directly to modernizing and optimizing Lectra products to deliver sustainable customer value and prepare future generations of equipment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the detailed definition of electrical & electronics system architecture in relation with other practices, purchasing team, and the mechatronics architect.
• Design electronic/electrical system components (control-command, power electronics, power supplies, protections, interfaces).
• Design electronic boards (schematics, PCB layout, component selection) and manage manufacturing files (Gerber, BOM, DRC).
• Execute and supervise test campaigns, validation/qualification activities and produce compliance documentation (environmental tests, EMI/EMC, safety).
• Write calculation notes, reliability analyses (FMEA, MTBF), technical specifications and test plans.
• Manage projects using V-model and Agile approaches: planning, cross-functional coordination, risk management and reporting to the Director.
• Handle sourcing and obsolescence issues: supplier evaluation, component equivalence, qualification of replacements, BOM optimization for cost reduction.
• Conduct technical investigations (failure analysis, root cause analysis) and propose corrective/preventive actions.
• Develop and validate FPGA / VHDL solutions for real-time functions when required.
• Work closely with embedded firmware (real-time), mechanical and software teams to ensure system integration.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and act as a technical reference within the team; ability to progress to a team manager role.

Candidate profile

Education and experience

• Engineering degree in electronics, electrical engineering, automation or equivalent.
• 7+ years' experience in industrial electronic design (control systems and/or power electronics). Proven industrial experience strongly preferred.
• Experience managing projects (V-model and Agile methods) on complex programs.

Technical skills

• Electronic board design: schematic capture, PCB routing (e.g. Altium, Mentor, KiCad).
• Component selection and qualification, BOM management and DFM/DFMEA.
• Execution and supervision of qualification tests, test bench design, instrumentation.
• Writing calculation notes (power supplies, dissipation, protection sizing, thermal).
• Electronic/electrical system architecture and integration (PLC, sensors, actuators, I/O).
• VHDL and FPGA experience preferred.
• Knowledge of variable frequency drives (VFD) and power electronics (inverters, DC-DC converters, MOSFET/IGBT).
• Familiarity with standards and compliance (EMC, machinery safety, CE, etc.).
• Reliability skills (FMEA, MTBF analysis) and continuous improvement mindset.
• Understanding of embedded / real-time software (interfaces with firmware, RTOS) is a plus.

Behavioral skills (soft skills)

• Technical leadership, sense of responsibility and decision-making ability.
• High autonomy, proactivity and commitment.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in multidisciplinary and international teams.
• Industrial pragmatism and results orientation (cost reduction, reliability).
• Documentation rigor and quality awareness.

Languages

• English: working language (mandatory).
• French: a plus.
• Chinese (Mandarin): a plus.

Conditions

• Location: Tolland, Connecticut (CT), USA.
• On-site presence: minimum 3 days per week.

Career progression

• Opportunity to evolve to a team manager or technical expert role within the Electrical and Electronics department.

** Lectra is an Equal Opportunity Employer **

It is our policy to foster a workforce that accepts and respects differences. We provide equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, language, religion, age, sex, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, ancestry, citizenship, or political opinion.