Principal Compliance Engineer

Enphase Energy•Austin, TX

6d•$130,000 - $226,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Enphase Energy SST Product Innovation Team sits in the Office of the CTO and is responsible for defining, prototyping, and scaling the next generation of Enphase power systems. We are a fast-moving, multi-disciplinary group pushing the boundaries of medium-voltage power conversion, energy density, and grid-scale deployment. Solid-state transformers (SSTs) are a fundamentally new product category. The standards landscape is fragmented, evolving, and often ambiguous — spanning power electronics, transformer, switchgear, and grid interconnection domains simultaneously. We need a Compliance Lead who does not just read standards and check boxes, but who understands why each clause exists, can track its technical origin, and can navigate the gray areas where multiple standards intersect or where no standard clearly applies. This role is for someone who thrives in ambiguity. You will lead Enphase through the full compliance lifecycle for novel medium-voltage SST products — from identifying applicable standards during early architecture, to planning and executing certification testing with NRTLs and international agencies, to negotiating interpretations with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). If you are energized by tracking down the technical rationale behind every requirement and turning that knowledge into a competitive advantage, this role was built for you.

Requirements

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field
Principal Engineer: BS + 15 yrs | MS + 12 yrs | PhD + 8 yrs
Ability to track down the technical 'why' behind standards — required: Must demonstrate the ability to read a standard clause and understand its engineering origin — what failure mode it prevents, what test condition it simulates, and what assumptions underlie it. This skill is essential for navigating ambiguous or conflicting requirements and for defending Enphase's technical position with agencies and AHJs.
Proven ability to deal with ambiguity — required: SSTs are a new product category that does not fit neatly into any single existing standard. Must be comfortable operating where standards are incomplete, contradictory, or silent. Able to develop a defensible compliance strategy from first principles when the rulebook does not have a clear answer.
Experience leading certification testing with NRTLs — required: Hands-on experience planning and executing certification test campaigns with nationally recognized testing laboratories (UL, Intertek/ETL, CSA, TUV). Includes test plan preparation, sample submission, witness testing, findings resolution, and certificate issuance. Must have a track record of successfully certifying power electronics or medium-voltage equipment.
Deep knowledge of applicable standards for MV power electronics: Working familiarity with the following standards families and the ability to apply them to SST-class products: UL 1741 / IEEE 1547 / IEEE 1547.1 (grid-tied inverters and interconnection), UL 347A (MV power conversion equipment >1 kV to 38 kV), IEC 62477-2 (MV power converters up to 36 kV AC), IEC 62109-1/-2 (PV/storage converter safety), UL 1562 / IEC 60076 (transformers), IEEE C37 series (switchgear/breakers), IEC 62271 (HV switchgear), IEEE 1584 / NFPA 70E (arc flash), NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 855 (energy storage systems), IEC 60664 / UL 840 (insulation coordination), IEC 61000 series (EMC), UL 1998 (software in programmable components).
Experience with insulation coordination and dielectric testing for MV: Understanding of creepage, clearance, partial discharge, dielectric withstand (AC, DC, impulse), and how they apply to MV equipment at 1–35 kV. Experience specifying and witnessing dielectric type tests.
Project management for certification programs: Ability to manage multi-track certification programs with parallel timelines, multiple agencies, and cross-functional dependencies. Track certification milestones, anticipate schedule risks, and drive resolution of blockers.
Solution-oriented thinking: Focus on identifying and implementing practical compliance paths rather than just identifying problems. Ability to quickly assess complex regulatory challenges, generate multiple solution paths, and select the most effective approach based on constraints, timeline, and product impact.

Nice To Haves

Prior working experience at or with an NRTL (UL, Intertek, TUV) as a project engineer or reviewer
Active participation in standards committees (OCP, IEEE, UL, IEC, NEMA) — especially OCP power standards, UL 1741, IEEE 1547, IEEE 2800, or IEC 62477
Experience with grid code compliance and utility interconnection agreements for DER or MV equipment
Familiarity with functional safety standards (IEC 61508, IEC 62061) as applied to power conversion systems
Knowledge of international certification pathways: CE marking (EU), UKCA (UK), and regional equivalents
Familiarity with arc-flash hazard analysis (IEEE 1584, NFPA 70E) and its impact on product design and labeling
Background in data center power infrastructure standards and compliance

Responsibilities

Own the SST compliance strategy end-to-end: Define the compliance roadmap for Enphase SST products from concept through certification and market launch. Identify all applicable safety, performance, and grid interconnection standards. Map the certification pathway and timeline for each product variant and target market
Track down the 'why' behind every standard: Go beyond surface-level compliance. Understand the technical rationale, test intent, and engineering origin of each standard clause. Use this deep understanding to guide design decisions, identify the most efficient path to compliance, and defend Enphase's technical position when interpretations are contested.
Navigate ambiguity in evolving standards: SSTs sit at the intersection of power electronics (UL 1741, IEC 62109), medium-voltage equipment (UL 347A, IEC 62477-2), transformers (UL 1562, IEC 60076), switchgear (IEEE C37 series, IEC 62271), and grid interconnection (IEEE 1547, IEEE 2800). Many of these standards were not written with SSTs in mind. Identify gaps, overlaps, and conflicts between standards and develop a defensible compliance strategy for each.
Lead certification testing with NRTLs and agencies: Plan, coordinate, and lead certification test campaigns with Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (UL, Intertek/ETL, CSA, TUV). Own the relationship with test engineers and project managers at the labs. Prepare test plans, manage sample submission, witness testing, and resolve findings. Drive toward certification on schedule.
Integrate compliance into the design process: Embed compliance requirements into product architecture from day one. Participate in design reviews and provide early feedback on insulation coordination, creepage/clearance, dielectric withstand, partial discharge limits, grounding, arc-flash protection, EMC, and functional safety. Prevent late-stage surprises by front-loading standards analysis.
Build and maintain the compliance knowledge base: Create and maintain a living library of applicable standards, technical interpretations, agency decisions, and test results. Document the rationale behind every compliance decision so the team can reference it across product generations and personnel changes.
Drive pre-compliance and internal validation testing: Work with the engineering team to define and execute internal pre-compliance testing (dielectric withstand, impulse, temperature rise, EMC, partial discharge) before formal agency submission. Identify and close gaps early to minimize certification risk.
Sit on OCP, IEEE, and UL committees to drive industry evolution: Represent Enphase on standards development committees and industry working groups — including the Open Compute Project (OCP) for data center power standards, IEEE committees (IEEE 1547, IEEE 2800, IEEE C37) for grid interconnection and protection, and UL Standards Technical Panels (UL 1741, UL 347A) for safety certification. Actively shape evolving compliance and regulation in Enphase's favor by driving technical contributions, proposing requirements aligned with SST technology, and building industry relationships that give Enphase early visibility into upcoming standards changes.