Senior Power Electronics Engineer

Senior Power Electronics Engineer

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to join our growing spacecraft payload development team. In this position, you will contribute across the entire development lifecycle of next-generation power electronics hardware for satellites and space power systems payloads —from leading the definition of power system architectures and trade studies to detailed circuit design, simulation, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, verification and integration testing, production transition, and manufacturing support.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Define electrical power system architecture, and derive power subsystem requirements
• Design DC-DC power converters, power conditioning, power management and control circuits from concept to production release
• Perform detailed design for low to high complexity analog and power electronics circuits ranging from single DC-DC power converters to multi-output power supply modules
• Perform modeling and analysis of analog and power electronics designs including worst-case circuit analysis (WCA), stress analysis, small signal modeling analysis, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), reliability analysis, and power integrity analysis
• Develop design verification test plans, requirement compliance matrices, system integration and qualification test plans, and production acceptance test plans for power converters and power supply designs
• Lead board bring-up and design verification testing of power electronics circuits and modules
• Lead system integration, qualification campaigns, and release of analog and power electronics designs into production
• Mentor younger engineers and foster knowledge sharing
• Perform research and monitor power electronics industry trends to drive innovation and generate intellectual property in this area

Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree or higher in Electrical Engineering (or related) from an accredited university
• Minimum of 5 years of experience designing analog and power electronics
• Experience working with electrical power systems and subsystems, including developing power architecture and power requirements, performing trade studies for size, weight, power, and cost optimization (SWAP-C), selecting power converter topologies, and defining power management and control blocks
• Experience with power stage design of common DC-DC power converter topologies (e.g. discrete linear regulators, Buck, Boost, Buck-boost, Flyback, Forward)
• Experience with voltage mode control and peak current mode control modeling and characterization for DC-DC converters
• Knowledge of control theory and stability of power electronics, including experience characterizing control loops and impedances in the laboratory
• Experience designing power filters for low noise outputs and for power line electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
• Experience developing design verification test plans, requirement compliance matrices, system integration and qualification test plans, and production acceptance test plans
• Experience performing worst-case circuit analysis (WCA), stress analysis, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), and reliability analysis for power supplies
• Extensive hands-on experience with testing and troubleshooting electronics and power converters using laboratory instruments such as oscilloscopes, impedance analyzers, spectrum analyzers, electronic loads, and signal generators
• Experience with electronics schematic capture and printed circuit board (PCB) layout tools such as Altium, OrCAD, Allegro or Xpedition
• Experience with analysis and simulation tools such as SPICE, LTSPICE, SIMetrix/SIMPLIS, PLECS, Simulink, MATLAB, MathCAD, ANSYS Q3D and SiWave, or HyperLynx
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Experience

• Master of Science or PhD in Electrical Engineering with research focus in power electronics
• Experience designing high-reliability analog and power electronics for automotive, space or defense applications
• Knowledge of space radiation environments and radiation effects in electronics
• Experience in power electronics applications utilizing GaN or SiC wide bandgap power semiconductor devices
• Experience running board-level power integrity simulation using tools such as Ansys SiWave, or HyperLynx
• Experience designing custom signal and power magnetics, and power filters for low noise and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
• Knowledge of soft switching and resonant power converter topologies (e.g. LLC, CLLC, series resonant, phase shifted full bridge, dual active bridge, etc.)
• Knowledge of power stage design for inverters and motor drives
• Knowledge of modeling and control of inverters and motor drives
• Experience with advanced control schemes for DC-DC power converters (e.g. voltage mode with feedforward control, constant on-time control, V 2 constant on-time control, phase shift modulation, average current mode control)
• Experience with isolation and grounding, failure mode effects analysis and fault tolerant design, and thermal management of power electronics
• Programming skills to support hardware test and data processing (Python, MATLAB, etc.)

$140,000 - $168,000 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.