Power electronics engineer

Electrical Engineer 4 - (105981-1)
Chillicothe, IL
12 months

Job Description
Position Summary
We are seeking a hands-on Power Electronics Engineer to support the design, development, validation, and troubleshooting of power electronics hardware for medium-voltage and utility-scale power conversion systems. The primary focus of this role will be design and testing of Gate Driver Boards (GDB), Power Boards, and associated power electronics circuitry used in high-power inverter and converter applications.
The successful candidate will work closely with electrical, controls, validation, and manufacturing teams to develop robust hardware solutions, execute laboratory testing, and support root-cause investigations throughout the product development cycle.


Key Responsibilities
Hardware Design & Development
- Design, analyze, and debug power electronics hardware including:
- Gate Driver Boards (GDB)
- Power Boards
- Interface circuits
- Protection circuits
- Current and voltage sensing circuits
- Develop schematics and review PCB layouts for high-voltage and high-current applications.
- Support component selection and qualification for:
- IGBT power modules
- SiC devices
- Isolated gate drivers
- Power supplies
- Current sensors and protection devices
- Conduct design reviews and implement design improvements based on testing results.

Power Electronics Testing & Validation
- Develop and execute validation plans for power electronics hardware.
- Perform:
- Double Pulse Testing (DPT)
- Switching characterization
- Thermal testing
- Fault condition testing
- Protection verification
- Power-up and commissioning activities
- Measure and analyze:
- Switching losses
- VCE overshoot
- Current sharing
- Desaturation performance
- Switching waveforms
- Short-circuit response
- Utilize laboratory equipment including:
- Oscilloscopes
- Differential probes
- Current probes
- Thermal cameras
- Power analyzers
- Data acquisition systems

Root Cause Analysis & Troubleshooting
- Investigate inverter and power module failures.
- Analyze gate drive performance and switching behavior.
- Support root cause analysis of:
- IGBT failures
- Shoot-through events
- False turn-on conditions
- Over-voltage and over-current events
- Thermal reliability concerns
- Correlate test results with analytical models and simulations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with:
- Controls engineers
- PCB layout designers
- Mechanical engineers
- Validation engineers
- Manufacturing teams
- Suppliers
- Support prototype builds and engineering validation activities.
- Contribute to Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Testability (DFT) initiatives.

Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
- 5+ years of experience in power electronics hardware development.
- Hands-on experience with inverter, converter, motor drive, UPS, BESS, or renewable energy systems.
- Strong understanding of:
- IGBT and SiC power devices
- Gate driver design
- Power converter topologies
- Switching behavior
- Protection circuits
- Thermal management
- Experience designing and debugging power electronic PCBs.
- Proficiency using oscilloscopes and high-speed measurement techniques.
- Experience with laboratory power electronics testing.


Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with emphasis in Power Electronics.
- Experience with medium-voltage power conversion systems.
- Familiarity with:
- MATLAB/Simulink
- PLECS
- LTspice
- Altium Designer
- Experience performing Double Pulse Testing (DPT).
- Knowledge of:
- EMI/EMC mitigation techniques
- UL and IEC standards
- DFMEA
- Reliability engineering
- Experience supporting contract manufacturers and production launches.


Desired Skills
- Power Electronics Hardware Design
- Gate Driver Board Design
- Power Board Design
- Double Pulse Testing
- Root Cause Analysis
- High-Power Inverter Development
- PCB Design Review
- Hardware Validation
- Technical Problem Solving
- Cross-Functional Collaboration

Position's Contributions to Work Group:
The Power Electronics Engineer will be a key contributor to the MPCS (Modular Power Conversion System) product development team, supporting the design, validation, and continuous improvement of power electronics hardware used in utility-scale energy storage and power conversion applications.
This position will provide hands-on technical expertise in Gate Driver Board (GDB), Power Board, and power module development, helping accelerate design maturity, prototype validation, and issue resolution throughout the product development cycle. The engineer will work closely with electrical design, controls, validation, manufacturing, and supplier teams to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
The role is expected to contribute directly to:
- Development and validation of power electronics hardware for next-generation MPCS products.
- Design improvements to gate drive and power board circuitry to enhance system reliability and robustness.
- Execution of laboratory testing, including switching characterization, double-pulse testing (DPT), thermal validation, and fault-condition testing.
- Investigation and root-cause analysis of inverter, gate drive, and power module failures.
- Support of product releases by identifying risks, validating corrective actions, and improving design quality.
- Technical collaboration with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure successful prototype and production builds.
- Achievement of project milestones by providing timely technical solutions to complex power electronics challenges.
This position plays a critical role in helping the team deliver safe, reliable, and high-performance power conversion products while supporting schedule commitments and long-term product quality objectives.

Reason/motivation for request:
- Backfill

Why Client? "Whether it be ground-breaking products, best in class solutions or a lifelong career, you can build what matters to you at Client. With 150 locations in countries around the world, what you create at Client travels and helps people around the world. You can collaborate with the best minds in the industry, complete meaningful work and continuously grow and develop through our various opportunities. Here, you can do the work that matters."

Why this Role?
- Exciting cut edge work on electrification
- Fast paced work environment
- Work ownership
- Nurturing environment for professional growth (mentored with Senior/Chief engineer and SMEs)

Typical task breakdown:
Typical Task Breakdown
Activity Percentage
Design and development of Gate Driver Boards (GDB), Power Boards, protection circuits, and supporting electronics 35%
Laboratory testing and validation including DPT, switching characterization, thermal testing, fault testing, and hardware bring-up 25%
Root cause investigation and troubleshooting of inverter, gate drive, and power module issues 15%
Schematic review, PCB layout review, design updates, and documentation release activities 10%
Cross-functional collaboration with controls, validation, mechanical, manufacturing, suppliers, and contract manufacturers 10%
Technical reporting, design reviews, and project support activities 5%

Day-to-Day Activities
- Design and debug gate driver and power board circuits for high-power inverter applications.
- Review schematics, simulations, and PCB layouts for performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
- Perform bench testing using oscilloscopes, current probes, differential probes, thermal cameras, and power analyzers.
- Execute switching characterization and Double Pulse Testing (DPT) on IGBT and SiC power devices.
- Analyze switching waveforms, gate signals, current sharing, voltage overshoot, and protection responses.
- Investigate hardware failures and support root cause analysis activities.
- Develop and execute validation plans, test procedures, and engineering reports.
- Support prototype builds and production issue resolution with suppliers and contract manufacturers.
- Participate in technical reviews and provide recommendations to improve product reliability and performance.
- Collaborate with system, controls, validation, and manufacturing engineers to resolve technical issues and meet project milestones.

Interaction with team:
- Control team
- Validation team
- Cooling team

Team Structure
- Chief Engineer -> Tech Lead -> PE Engineer

Work environment:
- Office and Lab , Occasionally may travel to Tucson Proving Ground or Field for support
- Will need PPE gear
- It fluctuates. But office work can be 25%-75% the rest is lab.

Education & Experience Required:
- Years of experience: BS with 5 years work, or MS with 3 years of work
- Degree requirement: BS
- Open to 2 year degree with 10+ years of experience
- Do you accept internships as job experience: yes
- Are there past or additional job titles or roles that would provide comparable background to this role: Charging System Engineer

Top 3 Skills
- Gate Driver Board (GDB) Design and Validation
- Design and debug gate driver circuits for IGBT and SiC power modules.
- Gate drive optimization, protection circuits, desaturation protection, active clamping, and switching performance validation. [Electrical...lectronics | Word]
- Power Electronics Hardware Design
- Design and troubleshooting of power boards, sensing circuits, protection circuits, and high-power inverter hardware.
- Schematic development, PCB review, component selection, and hardware bring-up. [Power_Elec...erpillar 1 | Word], [Electrical...lectronics | Word]
- Power Electronics Testing & Root Cause Analysis
- Hands-on experience with Double Pulse Testing (DPT), switching characterization, thermal testing, fault testing, and inverter troubleshooting.
- Proficient with oscilloscopes, current probes, thermal cameras, and failure analysis techniques. [Electrical...lectronics | Word], [2-Pulse Te...resources | Loop]

Additional Technical Skills
- Experience with IGBT and SiC power module applications, including switching behavior, SOA, thermal performance, and protection design.
- Hands-on experience with Double Pulse Testing (DPT) and switching characterization.
- Knowledge of gate drive circuits, desaturation protection, soft shutdown, active Miller clamp, and false turn-on mitigation.
- Experience designing and debugging high-voltage and high-current PCBs.
- Schematic capture and PCB design review experience using Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD tools.
- Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, LTspice, or similar simulation tools.
- Experience with power electronics laboratory equipment:
- Oscilloscopes
- Differential probes
- High-current probes
- Power analyzers
- Thermal imaging cameras
- Data acquisition systems
- Knowledge of:
- EMI/EMC design practices
- Creepage and clearance requirements
- Electrical safety and insulation coordination
- Thermal management and cooling systems
- Experience with root cause analysis and failure investigation of power electronic systems.
- Understanding of reliability engineering tools such as DFMEA, fault tree analysis, and design validation methodologies.
- Experience supporting prototype builds, manufacturing, and supplier technical reviews.
- Familiarity with utility-scale energy storage systems (BESS), grid-tied inverters, motor drives, UPS, or renewable energy conversion systems.
- Knowledge of industry standards such as UL 1741, IEEE 1547, IEC 61800, IEC 62477, or related power conversion standards.

Preferred (MPCS-Specific)
- Experience with multi-level inverter topologies (NPC/T-Type).
- Experience with medium-voltage power conversion systems.
- Experience with power module failure analysis, IGBT reliability testing, and thermal characterization.
- Familiarity with grid-forming and grid-following inverter applications.
- Experience developing and validating power electronics products from prototype through production release.

Soft Skills
Required:
- Strong Communication Skills - Ability to clearly convey technical concepts to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
- Problem-Solving & Analytical Thinking - Skilled at diagnosing complex system issues and proposing effective solutions.
- Collaboration & Teamwork - Comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers.
- Attention to Detail - Ensures accuracy in design reviews, documentation, and compliance with standards.
- Adaptability - Can manage changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced development environment.

Desired:
- Leadership & Mentoring - Experience guiding junior engineers or leading small technical teams.
- Conflict Resolution - Ability to navigate differing viewpoints and drive consensus.
- Project Management Awareness - Understanding timelines, resource allocation, and risk mitigation.
- Customer-Focused Mindset - Ability to translate customer requirements into technical solutions.
- Continuous Learning - Proactive in staying updated with emerging technologies and industry trends.

Disqualifiers/Red Flags/Overqualifications:
Disqualifiers
- No hands-on experience with power electronics hardware design or testing.
- Experience limited to controls/software engineering with minimal exposure to hardware development.
- No experience working with high-voltage, high-current, or inverter-based systems.
- Inability to independently use laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, differential probes, and current probes.
- No experience troubleshooting hardware failures or analyzing electrical waveforms.
- Lack of schematic interpretation and circuit debugging skills.
- Candidate is looking for a purely analytical, simulation-only, or project management role.

Red Flags
- Resume emphasizes management responsibilities but provides limited evidence of hands-on engineering work.
- Unable to clearly explain previous hardware designs, test setups, or troubleshooting activities.
- Limited understanding of switching behavior, gate drive circuits, or power semiconductor devices (IGBT/SiC).
- Little or no laboratory experience within the last several years.
- Difficulty interpreting oscilloscope waveforms or explaining root cause analysis processes.
- Frequent job changes without completing significant project deliverables.
- Reluctance to work hands-on in a lab environment for a substantial portion of time.

Overqualified Candidates
- Senior Technical Fellow, Chief Engineer, or Engineering Manager primarily seeking architecture, strategy, or leadership responsibilities rather than detailed design and testing work.
- Candidates whose recent experience has been primarily people management with limited direct technical contribution.
- Individuals seeking ownership of a full product architecture rather than focused GDB/Power Board development and validation work.
- Candidates whose compensation expectations significantly exceed the contractor budget for the role.