Power Electronics Engineer - Prototype Development
About The Position
The Power Electronics Engineer will own the power electronics for American Turbines' first turbine, responsible for converting the generator's output into the 800VDC delivered to load, and making every electrical component choice along the way. This role involves designing for a variable shaft speed, as the machine's speed is likely to change with load. The engineer will design the power stage, select and procure components, and ensure its operation alongside a live turbine on the test rig, considering real-world constraints such as thermal limits, fast load transients, and the need for reliability over hundreds of hours of testing. Collaboration with the Controls Engineer on telemetry and sensing handoff between the power stage and embedded controls is also a key aspect. This is a hands-on role where the engineer will be involved in testing, observing performance under engine conditions, and iterating based on findings, rather than working in isolation.
Requirements
- Experience designing power electronics for variable-speed or high-frequency rotating machinery, motor drives, or similarly demanding electromechanical systems.
- Comfort working when the electrical architecture is not fully specified.
- Ability to reason from first principles about tradeoffs (e.g., direct-drive vs. geared, motoring-capable vs. separate starter).
- Understanding of tradeoffs between efficiency, thermal margin, and component cost.
- Ability to make decisions under time pressure.
- Experience debugging and fixing hardware failures during testing.
Responsibilities
- Design the power electronics for the turbine, converting generator output to 800VDC.
- Select and procure all necessary electrical components.
- Integrate and test power electronics with a live turbine on a test rig.
- Address real-world constraints including thermal limits and fast load transients.
- Ensure power electronics reliability for hundreds of hours of testing.
- Collaborate with the Controls Engineer on telemetry and sensing handoff.
- Be present for testing, observe performance under engine conditions, and iterate on designs.
Benefits
- Medical care
- Vision care
- Dental care
- 2% matching on 401(k)
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
