Staff Power Electronics Engineer

Odys Aviation•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

Odys Aviation is pioneering next-generation hybrid-electric aircraft to make sustainable regional air travel a reality. As a Staff Power Electronics Engineer, you responsibilities will revolve around technical execution for propulsion power electronics across our UAV (Laila) and eVTOL (Alta) programs-turning architectural requirements into flight-worthy hardware, control algorithms, and validated simulation models. This is a hands-on, full-stack power electronics role. You will lead the design and validation of SiC-based power stages while also developing and tuning the control algorithms and simulation models that bring them to life. You will drive hardware from concept through prototype and lab validation, build high-fidelity propulsion models in MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS, and stand up the MIL/SIL/HIL infrastructure to verify it all before it flies. You will work alongside our Staff Propulsion Systems Architect, who owns the system-level architecture. Your focus is execution depth: translating that architecture into detailed designs, closing the gap between model and bench, and getting hardware through the lab and onto the aircraft. Working closely with embedded systems, battery/BMS, thermal, mechanical, and flight controls teams, you will be central to Odys’ powertrain systems deployment.

Requirements

Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Controls, or a related field (BS with strong relevant experience considered).
8+ years of hands-on experience designing, testing, and validating high-voltage power electronics for high-power systems.
Deep expertise in SiC MOSFET-based inverter/converter design, gate driver circuitry, and HV system protection.
Strong understanding of PMSM control: d-q transforms, FOC fundamentals, SVPWM, embedded systems, and fault detection & mitigation.
Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, and SPICE for powertrain analysis and controls development.
Experience with at least one stage of MIL/SIL/HIL validation workflows and model-based development practices.
Drive power electronics subsystem from concept through hardware validation in a cross-functional program, owning design decisions, lab bring-up, and the path to close findings.
Proven ability to work independently, meet critical milestones, and manage multiple concurrent hardware and simulation workstreams.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to work effectively with a systems architect and translate high-level requirements into implementable designs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aerospace or eVTOL powertrain development and familiarity with aircraft certification processes.
Expertise in DO-178C (software) and DO-254 (hardware) compliance in regulated environments; familiarity with ARP4754B, FMEA/FTA, and requirements traceability.
Hands-on HIL toolchain experience (Typhoon / OPAL-RT / Speedgoat) with test automation (Python/MATLAB scripting, Git-based CI for models and code).
Experience implementing production-quality embedded controls via Embedded Coder or C/C++ on DSPs, including diagnostics, FDIR, safe-state behavior, and fixed-point implementation.
Sensorless control, flux-weakening across the full operating range, ride-through/derating strategies, and fault-handled limp modes.
Generator-mode and active-rectifier control for high-speed machines; multi-three-phase PWM synchronization and circulating-current mitigation.
Strong background in HV system protection strategies, EMI/EMC mitigation, and spread-spectrum/DPWM techniques for SiC stages operating >20–40 kHz.
Integration experience with BMS and flight controls over CAN/CAN-FD/Ethernet (time sync / TSN / PTP familiarity a plus).
Track record delivering production-ready power electronics and controls in fast, cross-functional hardware programs.

Responsibilities

Design and develop high-voltage (400–800 VDC) inverters, converters, motor controllers, power filters, and gate drivers for aircraft propulsion.
Own end-to-end hardware development: switching-device characterization, double-pulse test setups, DC bulk capacitor optimization, thermal management, and fault-protection strategies.
Lead hands-on lab validation, debugging, and system integration with propulsion and flight hardware through iterative prototyping.
Translate system-level architecture and performance targets into detailed circuit designs, component selections, and layout guidelines; flag implementation risks and trade-offs back to the systems architect early.
Design control algorithms for motor/generator drives, active rectifiers, and DC/DC converters; architect and tune discrete-time current/voltage/speed/torque loops (FOC with MTPA/MTPV, flux-weakening), SVPWM/DPWM, PLLs, and digital filters.
Build and maintain high-fidelity propulsion models (machines, SiC inverters/rectifiers, DC-link, batteries, turbines/propulsors, sensors/actuators) in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS; perform parameter identification from lab/rig data.
Stand up MIL/SIL/HIL environments (Typhoon HIL / OPAL-RT / Speedgoat); create automated regression and fault-injection tests; release real-time model variants and close model-vs-bench gaps.
Take algorithms from model to real-time DSP implementation; debug with lab instrumentation, correlate simulation against hardware, and iterate until performance targets are met.
Integrate hardware with embedded controllers, ensuring robust gate driver design, PMSM motor control, and real-time system monitoring.
Collaborate cross-functionally to define implementation-level ICDs and real-time comms (CAN/CAN-FD/Ethernet); support dyno/iron-bird bring-up and tuning.
Drive EMI-aware control strategies and modulation/switching-frequency schedules for SiC stages; manage DC-link ripple, torque ripple, and acoustic/noise constraints.
Ensure compliance with aerospace certification standards (ARP4754B, DO-178C, DO-254) and produce engineering deliverables—control design specs, modeling reports, calibration guides, and verification evidence.
Establish and maintain best practices, templates, and review standards for power electronics design and simulation workflows.