Senior Power Electronics Engineer

Salient Motion•Torrance, CA

16h

About The Position

We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries, and passionate about building next generation technology, let's chat! We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future. We are hiring a senior Power Electronics Electrical Engineer to lead the design and integration of high-power (>10 kW) power conversion hardware for aerospace motion and electrical systems. You will own key power-stage architecture decisions, drive prototype bring-up and verification, and partner with controls, firmware, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to deliver flight- and mission-ready hardware.

Requirements

7+ years (or equivalent depth) in power electronics design and product development, with demonstrated work on high-power systems (>10 kW)
Strong experience with power converter/inverter architecture, device selection, gate-drive design, protection, and high-current PCB/layout practices
Hands-on bring-up and debug experience with high-power hardware (safe lab practices, oscilloscopes, HV differential probes, current probes, power analyzers)
Ability to take designs from concept through prototype, verification, and production readiness with clear documentation

Nice To Haves

Aerospace experience: qualification mindset, configuration control, and familiarity with relevant test practices and EMI/EMC test workflows
Motor drive experience: three-phase inverters for BLDC/PMSM, sensing, DC bus design, regen handling, and protection timing considerations
High-voltage design experience (e.g., 200-800 VDC class) including isolation strategy and creepage/clearance design
EMI/EMC success in shipped products (e.g., MIL-STD-461/DO-160 concepts) and ability to design for compliance early
Simulation familiarity (LTspice/PLECS/Simulink or similar) for validation and trade studies

Responsibilities

Architect and design high-power converters/inverters (>10 kW) for aerospace electrical and motion control products, balancing efficiency, density, and reliability
Select and apply Si, SiC, and/or GaN devices (as appropriate) and design gate-drive, sensing, and protection (short-circuit, overcurrent, over/undervoltage, thermal, desaturation)
Design the power stage (DC bus, precharge/discharge, snubbers/clamps, current sensing, filtering) and define safe operating envelopes and derating
Drive thermal design with mechanical engineering (heatsinks, cold plates, airflow/liquid cooling) and validate junction-to-ambient performance
Own EMI/EMC strategy for aerospace environments: grounding, shielding, layout constraints, conducted/radiated mitigation, filter design, and test readiness
Lead schematic capture and review PCB layout for low-inductance, high-current/high-voltage design; ensure creepage/clearance, isolation, and safety best practices
Plan and execute prototype bring-up and high-power lab testing with safe procedures; debug failures and perform root-cause analysis
Define verification plans and acceptance criteria and produce clear, review-ready test reports and evidence packages; support supplier/parts selection and DFM/DFT as designs transition to manufacturing