Mechanical Engineer I

As a Mechanical Engineer I at Legrand, your key responsibilities will include managing multiple VAVE projects from design to production. You will coordinate with diverse teams to design parts that are easy to manufacture and assemble, ensure sales support, manage CAD modeling, and maintain compliance with relevant requirements while sustaining current product lines. Your role as a liaison between engineering and production will be crucial to support custom builds, ensuring that all processes from manufacturing to quality control are seamless.

To be successful as a Mechanical Engineer I at Legrand, you need a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minimum of 3 years' manufacturing experience, preferably in the lighting industry. Familiarity with SolidWorks, CAD modeling, and knowledge of manufacturing processes is essential. Strong communication skills for effective collaboration with global teams are necessary, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work creatively in a dynamic environment. Hands-on experience with tools and a portfolio of your projects will give you a great edge.

Legrand values the growth of its employees and provides various opportunities for professional development for Mechanical Engineers. This includes access to training programs, participation in complex projects that challenge your skills, exposure to advanced technology, and opportunities to collaborate with experienced professionals across disciplines. Legrand also encourages knowledge-sharing and provides a supportive environment where innovation thrives, helping you stay abreast of industry trends and advancements.

As a Mechanical Engineer I at Legrand, you will work on exciting projects that involve developing next-generation lighting fixtures and sustaining existing product lines. Your day-to-day will involve managing several Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VAVE) projects, conducting engineering sales support, and ensuring that products meet stringent compliance and manufacturing standards. Collaborating closely with teams, you'll also study and recommend techniques to improve current products and processes.

The work environment for Mechanical Engineers at Legrand is dynamic and supportive of creativity and team collaboration. Engineers use tools like SolidWorks for CAD modeling, alongside hands-on fabrication tools for building mockups. Familiarity with CNC machinery, 3D printers, and a range of manufacturing processes—particularly for lighting systems—will enhance your role. With a strong emphasis on quality and efficiency, you’ll be encouraged to innovate while fulfilling compliance requirements.

When addressing your experience with CAD software during the interview, focus on specific projects where you utilized SolidWorks for modeling. Describe how you handled the design process, from initial concept to detailed drawings, and any challenges you overcame. Be specific about features you used in SolidWorks, such as simulations or assemblies, and how they contributed to successful project outcomes.

In your response, detail a specific project that posed challenges—such as meeting tight deadlines or working with complex design constraints. Highlight your role, project goals, problem-solving actions, and the results achieved. Emphasize teamwork, communication with other departments, and any innovative solutions you implemented to overcome obstacles.

Discuss the importance of understanding compliance standards, particularly in the lighting industry, when answering this question. Mention your familiarity with UL and ETL requirements and how you integrate these standards into the design process from concept development to production. Providing examples of how you collaborated with quality control teams to ensure output compliance will show your diligence.

Your answer should showcase your systematic approach to product improvement. Discuss methods such as analyzing user feedback, applying LEAN principles, and leveraging design software simulations for testing. Illustrate how you have implemented design improvements and the positive impacts they had on previous projects while highlighting your collaboration with cross-functional teams.

When answering, highlight your ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including design, sales, and production teams. Share specific examples where you worked on an integral project across departments, emphasizing how collaboration led to improved efficiency or problem resolution. This illustrates not only your teamwork skills but also your understanding of the larger business context.

Explain your prioritization strategy, focusing on techniques like the Eisenhower matrix or project management software. Provide an example of a situation where you successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously, detailing how you determined priorities based on urgency, impact, and team collaboration. This shows your organizational skills and ability to work efficiently under pressure.

Detail your hands-on experiences with fabrication tools and techniques that relate to the role of Mechanical Engineer I. Mention specific tools you’ve used, such as CNC machines or 3D printers, and any projects where these skills played an integral part in product development. Highlight how these fabrication skills enhance your understanding of the manufacturing process and contribute to better engineering designs.

Use this opportunity to showcase your adaptability. Describe a specific scenario where project requirements shifted and how you quickly adjusted your engineering tasks. Discuss any communication with stakeholders and how you ensured that project timelines were still met, demonstrating your flexibility and commitment to delivering results despite challenges.

Express your passion for creating efficient, innovative designs and how that drives you in your work. Discuss how being part of a team that creates impactful products motivates you, emphasizing your enthusiasm for challenges and learning from each project. Share an example of how this motivation led to a significant contribution to a past project.

Detail your understanding of quality assurance principles and how you implement them in your engineering practices. Discuss methods you use to ensure that all aspects of your designs meet high-quality standards, including collaboration with quality assurance teams, rigorous testing, and compliance checks. Providing examples of how this focus has led to product enhancements or reduction in errors will strengthen your response.