Lead Power Electronics Engineer - Solid-State Circuit Breakers

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)•Pullman, WA

3d•$107,600 - $161,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Power Electronics Engineer designs, analyzes, and develops power electronic circuits and subsystems for solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) products and related technologies. The role develops and optimizes switching, protection, sensing, and control circuits using silicon, SiC, and GaN semiconductor devices, and performs electrical, thermal, magnetic, and reliability analyses to meet performance, safety, and manufacturability requirements. The engineer creates schematics, selects components, performs simulations, and develops PCB designs for high-power and high-voltage systems. The role includes developing gate-drive circuits, fault-detection methods, current-sensing solutions, and protection algorithms; conducting laboratory testing, prototyping, characterization, and validation; troubleshooting design issues; and implementing corrective actions. Working with firmware, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineers, the position contributes to technical design reviews and product architecture decisions. It also supports certification, environmental qualification, EMC/EMI testing, safety evaluations, regulatory compliance, and documentation of designs and test results. The engineer supports research into emerging power-electronics technologies and provides environmental, health, and safety leadership while modeling and applying SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles. Other duties may be assigned. The position is based in Pullman, Washington, and is 100% on-site. U.S. citizenship is required. SEL is seeking to fill the role at the Lead Hardware Engineer level, while applicants with varying experience may be considered for another level. The stated annual pay range for the Lead Hardware Engineer level is $107,600–$161,500; the Hardware Engineer range is $89,400–$134,100. Starting pay depends on job-related factors, including experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship required.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in power-electronics design, depending on level.
Strong knowledge of power semiconductor devices, including MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC MOSFETs, and/or GaN devices.
Experience designing high-power, high-voltage, or high-current electronic systems.
Experience with circuit simulation and modeling tools such as LTspice, PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD, or equivalent.
Understanding of power conversion, switching transients, protection systems, and control techniques.
Experience with schematic capture and PCB development.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
Strong writing, documentation, and communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary engineering team.
Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
Satisfactory background check results for SEL.
Negative drug test result(s).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Power Electronics.
Experience with solid-state circuit breakers, fault-current-limiting devices, or advanced protection systems.
Experience with wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies such as SiC and GaN.
Experience with medium-voltage or utility-scale power electronics.
Experience with gate-drive design and high-speed switching applications.
Experience with thermal management, magnetics design, and EMI/EMC mitigation.
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and real-time simulation.
Experience with requirements-based development and MBSE methodologies.
Familiarity with utility, industrial, aerospace, defense, transportation, or microgrid applications.

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, and develop power-electronic circuits and subsystems for SSCB products and related technologies.
Develop and optimize switching, protection, sensing, and control circuits using silicon, SiC, and GaN semiconductor devices.
Perform electrical, thermal, magnetic, and reliability analyses to support product performance, safety, and manufacturability.
Create schematics, select components, conduct simulations, and develop PCB designs for high-power and high-voltage electronic systems.
Develop and evaluate gate-drive circuits, fault-detection methods, current-sensing solutions, and protection algorithms.
Conduct circuit simulation and system modeling using MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, LTspice, PSCAD, or equivalent tools.
Plan and execute laboratory testing, prototype development, characterization, and validation.
Investigate design issues, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Collaborate with firmware, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineers throughout product development.
Participate in technical design reviews and recommend architecture, performance tradeoffs, cost, reliability, and compliance approaches.
Support product certification, environmental qualification, EMC/EMI testing, safety evaluations, and regulatory compliance.
Document designs, analyses, test results, and engineering decisions according to company standards and development processes.
Assist with technology research and evaluation of emerging power-electronics solutions.
Provide environmental, health, and safety leadership and maintain safe engineering and laboratory practices.
Model, teach, and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Employer-funded employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
Medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
10 paid holidays.
Annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days.
9 paid sick days.
Paid family and medical leave covering 90% of pay.
STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
Wellness benefits.
Fertility benefits.
Adoption benefits.
Flexible spending benefits.