Motor / Electromechanical Applications Engineer, Vandrel

About the role

Material behavior from Vandrel defines performance boundaries for motors used in defense, aerospace, and EV applications.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

Quantification of performance gains for specific motor topologies emerges from thermal, electromagnetic, and dielectric modeling.

First products and qualification strategy for demanding applications are defined through partnerships with customer engineering.

High-power motor viability depends on strong grasp of thermal and dielectric constraints.

Connection between material behavior and motor and system domains is enabled by comfort with polymer chemistry and bus voltage interfaces.

Defined next steps and project progress are secured through technical reviews with chief motor engineers.

Practical bias toward shipping solutions is expected in this role.

Requirements

Confirmation of the exact bachelor's degree field is stated Candidates must bring 5+ years of experience in motor design, electrical machines, power electronics, or traction drive engineering.

Fluency in winding design and insulation systems, including magnet wire, enamel, impregnation, slot liner, and phase paper, is required.

Strong grasp of thermal and dielectric constraints in high-power motors is required.

Comfort with polymer chemistry and bus voltage interfaces across material, motor, and system domains is required.

Technical reviews with chief motor engineers are conducted, and next steps are secured.

Preference is given to candidates with experience in defense or aerospace motor programs, 800V+ systems, or high-speed motors above 20,000 rpm.

A bias toward expected shipping solutions is required.

Practical notes

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Clear communication shapes outcomes as much as technical skill in small, cross-functional teams.

Small teams iterate in short cycles, review work frequently, and prioritize practical implementation over theoretical exploration.

Questions to ask

Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.

About the company

Interplay is a startup ecosystem that supports founders via venture capital, an accelerator, a studio, incubation, a platform of core business services, and a multi-family office. TEAMS AT INTERPLAY

Venture Capital

Ascend Interplay

Platform

Accelerator

Studio WHO YOU ARE

A self-starter and motivated to learn.