Senior Power Electronics Engineer

Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult; Newport; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Life Assurance x4

Pension scheme

28 days leave + 8 bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Eye care and dental cashback

Professional membership allowance

Job summary

CSA Catapult in Newport is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to lead and deliver across internal programmes and customer projects. You will translate requirements into converter architectures, design and test power electronic systems, and collaborate across Advanced Packaging, RF/Microwave and Photonics teams.

You will possess a PhD or postgraduate degree in power electronics or equivalent industrial experience, with hands-on experience in converters, wide-bandgap devices, and

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in power electronics or related discipline.
• Industrial experience delivering converter/inverter projects.
• Hands-on design, build, test of power electronic converters.

Responsibilities

• Lead power electronics work packages from requirements to delivery.
• Translate requirements into converter architectures and topologies.
• Model, simulate and validate power conversion circuits.
• Select semiconductor devices and components with trade-offs.
• Develop schematics, PCB layouts, and design documentation.
• Plan prototype build, verification testing and improvements.
• Provide technical guidance to engineers and technicians.
• Manage risks and maintain engineering records and reviews.
• Communicate progress and recommendations to customers and teams.
• Collaborate with packaging, RF, photonics and other teams.

Skills

Power electronics

Converter design

Thermal management

EMI/EMC awareness

Circuit modelling

PCB design

Schematic capture

Engineering judgment

Education

PhD in power electronics

Postgraduate degree in electrical engineering

Tools

SPICE

PCB design tools

EDA software

Schematic capture tools

Job description

CSA Catapult is the UK’s authority on compound semiconductor applications and commercialisation. We work with start-ups, SMEs, large organisations, and academia to de-risk innovation, remove barriers to market, and accelerate the adoption of compound semiconductor technologies.

If you thrive in a growing organisation, enjoy contributing to diverse projects, and value cross-team collaboration, you’ll fit right in. Our work supports the technologies shaping the future from AI hardware and infrastructure, electric vehicles and satellite communications to remote health monitoring and net zero— compound semiconductor applications offer unrivalled power to help us thrive, connect, and explore.

As a Not‑for‑Profit organisation, we exist to drive UK economic growth. We work across sectors including automotive, medical, digital communications, and aerospace. By bringing together leading expertise and investing in cutting‑edge technology, we bridge the gap between industry and academia to help commercialise innovation and deliver national impact.

We look beyond the status quo and hire for ability and attitude. We value collaboration, innovation and trust and we measure outcomes, and champion diverse perspectives. Diversity, equality, and inclusion are central to who we are, and every role plays a part in upholding these commitments.

The Role

The Catapult is currently recruiting a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands‑on delivery across internal development programmes and external customer projects. As Senior Power Electronics Engineer, you will:

• Lead power electronics work packages from requirements capture and concept selection through detailed design, build, test and technical reporting.
• Translate system and customer requirements into suitable converter architectures and circuit topologies, balancing efficiency, power density, thermal performance, reliability, cost and delivery risk.
• Design, model and simulate power conversion circuits, and use analysis and test evidence to support technical decisions.
• Select appropriate semiconductor devices, passive components and supporting technologies, demonstrating the application‑level benefits and limitations of different solutions.
• Develop or technically review schematics, PCB layouts and associated design documentation, with particular attention to electrical, electromagnetic, thermal and safety requirements.
• Plan and undertake prototype build, commissioning, verification testing, fault investigation and design improvement.
• Provide technical coordination and guidance to engineers and technicians contributing to assigned projects.
• Manage technical risks, maintain appropriate engineering records and contribute to project planning and progress reviews.
• Communicate technical progress, results and recommendations clearly to customers, project teams and wider audiences.
• Collaborate with Advanced Packaging, RF/Microwave, Photonics and other engineering teams to deliver multidisciplinary projects and engineering demonstrators.

The Candidate

• A PHD, degree or postgraduate qualification in power electronics, electrical/electronic engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant suitable industrial experience.
• Substantial industrial experience in power electronics, with evidence of successfully delivering converter, inverter, power‑supply or motor‑drive projects or work packages.
• Hands‑on experience of designing, building, commissioning and testing power electronic converters or related systems.
• Strong understanding of power‑converter topologies and the ability to evaluate their operating principles, benefits, limitations and suitability for different applications.
• Sound theoretical knowledge combined with the ability to apply engineering judgement to practical design and troubleshooting.
• Experience with circuit modelling and simulation tools and the interpretation of simulation and test results.
• Experience of schematic development and PCB design or technical review for power electronic systems.
• Understanding of switching behaviour, gate‑drive requirements, parasitic effects, electromagnetic compatibility and thermal management.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary projects and managing interfaces with PCB, packaging, mechanical, thermal and embedded‑control activities.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, including the ability to investigate complex technical issues and develop practical solutions.
• Able to plan and take ownership of technical work packages, risks, documentation and delivery.
• Able to communicate complex technical subjects clearly to engineering, customer and non‑specialist audiences.
• Able to provide technical guidance and constructive support to engineers and technicians.
• Collaborative and comfortable working across teams, with customers and with external partners.
• Postgraduate research experience or a PhD in power electronics or a relevant discipline.
• Solid‑state transformer, medium‑voltage converter or high‑power conversion experience.
• Practical experience of wide‑bandgap semiconductor technologies, including SiC or GaN devices.
• Systems‑engineering approaches to requirements, interfaces, verification and technical risk.
• Embedded control and digital implementation of power‑converter control.
• Engineering lifecycle, configuration management or design‑review processes.
• Translation of research outputs or early concepts into functional prototypes.
• EDA, PCB design or embedded‑programming experience.
• Structured problem‑solving methodologies, such as 8D.

Additional Information

• Up to £70,724 annual full‑time salary
• A non‑contractual bonus scheme to allow everyone to share in our success
• Life Assurance – x4 times your annual salary
• Scottish Widows pension scheme – you put in 5% and we’ll put in 10%
• 28 days leave in addition to 8 bank holidays
• 37.5‑hour full time working week
• A generous private medical insurance scheme for you and your family (enrolment window once a year)
• A cashback scheme for your eye tests and dental treatment
• Payment for a professional membership each year
• Flexible working – we operate core hours of 10-4. The balance of your hours can be worked around what works for you
• Electric Vehicle and Cycle to work schemes

The closing date for applications is 20th September 2026. We reserve the right to amend the closing date should we need to extend the advertising period, or if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications early.