Electrical Engineer, Inverter Systems Engineer

Mainspring Energy•Menlo Park, CA

1d•$114,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

The technology that powers Mainspring’s Linear Generator is unlike any other generator technology on the market. The Linear Generator relies on innovative electrical power and control hardware systems to achieve its best-in-class efficiency while meeting the world’s strictest emissions requirements. You will join a talented team responsible for our electrical system architecture. Your primary focus will be the integration and performance of high-power conversion hardware as it interfaces with both the Linear Generator and the customer’s grid. We have a highly impactful opportunity for an electrical engineer to be part of the team that is responsible for the Linear Generator’s power delivery and integration into customers’ power systems. This role focuses on system-level architecture and validation rather than ground-up power converter or PCB design. This is a deeply hands-on position; you will be the technical authority in the lab, personally putting grid-interactive inverters through rigorous characterization and stability testing to ensure they meet our high standards before they ever reach a customer site. Your ownership extends through the entire product lifecycle from fine-tuning firmware parameters in a controlled environment to monitoring fleet performance and leading root-cause analysis for complex system-integration challenges in the field.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
3+ years of hands-on experience working with power inverters or power conversion systems
Strong troubleshooting skills with AC power systems, including waveform analysis, fault behavior, and system stability
Comfort working on high voltage systems (400-800 Vac, up to 1500Vdc) in both a laboratory and industrial field environment
Experience with industrial communication protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU, CANbus, SunSpec) for power electronics control
Working knowledge of NEC (NFPA 70), specifically regarding grounding, conductor sizing, and overcurrent protection for power generation systems.
The ability to work independently and own complex technical problems from initial identification through final resolution

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience in the development, deployment, or optimization of grid-scale energy projects
Expertise in Protection & Control (P&C), including programming SEL or Basler relays and coordinating with utility engineers for grid interconnection

Responsibilities

Lead the selection, sizing, and configuration of industrial grid-interactive off-the-shelf (OTS) inverters
Lead the troubleshooting and root cause analysis of complex hardware issues arising in the field, lab, or during testing of grid forming and grid following inverters and AC power systems
Configure and tune inverter parameters for stable operation across grid-forming and grid-following modes
Design system-level tests to validate grid-edge behaviors, including low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) and frequency response
Analyze AC power waveforms, power quality, and fault behavior to diagnose system issues
Ensure system compliance with grid interconnection standards such as IEEE 1547, UL 1741, and local utility requirements
Perform critical design reviews and collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, thermal, controls, test engineering and software engineers to ensure holistic system performance and manufacturability