Automation and Electrical Systems Engineer

Windworks; Renens; Vor Ort; CHF 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Windworks, based in the Lausanne area, seeks an experienced Electrical Architecture & Automation Engineer to define and validate the turbine's electrical system. You will collaborate with a small multidisciplinary team to design, prototype, and test sensors, motors, drivers, and power electronics, ensuring reliable performance in harsh environments.

The role emphasizes ownership, rigorous testing, and fast translation from concept to deployment, with strong focus on integration and grid

Qualifikationen

• 5 years of experience in electrical architecture, automation systems (PLC-based), motor sizing and generator integration.
• Experience designing low-voltage PCBs and signal processing fundamentals.
• Familiarity with safety standards (IEC 61400) and electrical safety practices.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical procurement, supplier qualification, and structured documentation.

Aufgaben

• Design, prototype, and validate the electrical system including sensors, motors, generators, drives, and power electronics.
• Implement PLC-based automation and EtherCAT architectures; integrate CAN, Modbus, and EtherCAT networks.
• Develop telemetry, data acquisition, and remote monitoring capabilities.
• Size and select motors for blade actuation and auxiliary systems; define drive architecture for the power stage.
• Ensure compliance with safety, EMC and grid integration requirements.

Kenntnisse

Electrical engineering

Power electronics

Industrial automation

PLC programming

System integration

Technical documentation

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

KiCad

Beckhoff

Siemens PLC

EtherCAT

CAN / Modbus

Jobbeschreibung

Windworks develops actively controlled vertical-axis wind turbines for clean, local and affordable energy production. We pioneeredan advanced technology control system for wind turbine blades, using sensors, control software and proprietary actuation technology to dramatically increase our machine performances .

Our turbines are designed for on-site power generation in commercial, industrial and community applications, especially where conventional wind turbines are difficult to deploy.

Based in the Lausanne area, Windworks combines aerodynamic research, experimental testing, mechanical design, electronics, control and field validation to bring a new generation of wind turbines to market.

You will participate to the definition, integration and validation of the turbine’s electrical architecture, contributing directly to a technology that must perform reliably over time in harsh conditions. This role offers a high level of ownership and impact, with the opportunity to shape key parts of the system architecture and see your work move quickly from concept to testing and deployment.

You will collaborate closely with a small multidisciplinary team, iterate rapidly, and contribute to making a technically ambitious product reliable and scalable.

Main responsibilities

The applicant will haveabout 5 years of experience in electrical architecture, automation systems (PLC-based, including industrial communication protocols), motor sizing and selection, generator sizing and integration, the dimensioning of components and integrated circuits (custom or off-the-shelf), and the design and development of low-voltage PCBs, along with a solid understanding of signal acquisition and processing.

1. Electrical Architecture

• Design, prototype, and validate the overall electrical system comprising sensors, motors, generators, drivers, AC/AC and AC/DC converters, inverters, rectifiers
• Grounding / earth connection experience

2. Automation & Communication Systems:

• Implement PLC-based automation (e.g., Beckhoff, Siemens etc.) and EtherCAT architectures.
• Integrate sensors and actuators via CAN, Modbus, EtherCAT, etc.
• Develop telemetry, data acquisition, and remote monitoring.
• Dimension and select motors for blade actuation and auxiliary systems based on torque, speed, duty cycle, environmental constraints and lifetime.
• Define drive architecture and requirements of power stage.
• Implement and validate motor control strategies (position, speed, torque control).
• Ensure compatibility with mechanical loads, power electronics, and safety constraints.

4. Safety, Standards & Documentation:

• Implement electrical safety systems.
• Ensure compliance with International Electrotechnical Commission standards (e.g., IEC 61400).
• Ensure compliance with CE requirements
• Produce structured technical documentation.

5. Grid Integration:

• Manage grid connection, anti-islanding, synchronization, relays, and protection.
• Size HV/MV cables and design electrical cabinets.

6. Generator Selection & Control:

• Dimension and select the generator technology based on power rating, speed range, efficiency, and grid requirements.
• Define electrical interface and integration with rectifier/inverter stages.
• Implement and validate generator-side control strategies (MPPT, torque control, speed regulation, power optimization).

Nice to have

1. Experience with outdoor equipment, industrial machinery or safety-critical systems.

2. Experience with energy systems (wind power, hydro power, …)

3. PCB Design

• Design, schematic capture and layout (KiCad experience preferred)
• Design verification (bring-up)
• Define test strategy for production
• Responsible for managing PCB/PCBA suppliers
• Experience with low noise analog measurements, digital signal integrity, high-voltage and high-current routing, and ensuring EMC

4. Firmware Development

• Develop low-level firmware for microcontrollers and embedded platforms.
• Implement drivers, communication stacks, and real-time control interfaces.
• Validate firmware reliability under industrial operating conditions.

Your profile

• About 5 years of experience in electrical engineering, power electronics or industrial automation.
• Comfortable working autonomously in a small engineering team.
• Team player
• Experience working on systems exposed to real-world constraints (e.g. noise, EMC, environmental conditions, reliability, safety).
• Comfortable managing engineering partners and technical procurement activities, including identifying and selecting suppliers, defining technical specifications, reviewing datasheets and validation documents, coordinating technical exchanges, and supporting supplier qualification.
• Produce structured technical documentation
• Elaborate systematic testing and verification
• Clear and pro-active communication within the team; provide structured reporting on progress and issues, expresses technical needs early.
• Well-organized with strong planning skills, able to define clear steps, anticipate resource.