Technical Specialist - Aircraft Power Electronics

Eaton; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton in the United Kingdom seeks an senior power electronics engineer to define and lead HVDC/AC conversion, protection, and thermal design while driving EMC, insulation and reliability standards.

You will mentor engineering teams, act as a technical authority, lead major programmes and shape product architectures, including SiC/GaN devices and reliability-focused design practices.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering or equivalent with substantial industry experience.
• Specialisation in power electronics, motor drives, high-voltage engineering or aerospace electrical systems preferred.
• Chartered Engineer desirable.
• Eligible for required security clearances.
• Postgraduate study or training in power electronics, EMC or safety-critical systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and solve complex engineering problems with focus on HVDC/AC conversion, protection, thermal design, EMC, insulation, reliability and certification risk.
• Lead the power electronics technical strategy and technology roadmap in collaboration with the Technical Authority.
• Provide leadership, supervision and coordination to engineering teams to deliver work on time, cost and quality targets.
• Act as a senior technical authority and customer-facing escalation point for HV power systems, ensuring high-quality engineering delivery.
• Sponsor or lead strategically important programmes (e.g., intelligent PDUs, IPS controllers, motor drives, HV demonstrators).
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and translate developments (SiC/GaN devices, sensing, magnetics, thermal management, EMI) into product strategies.
• Define engineering standards, including design rules, derating, HV spacing, protection methods, and EMC practices.
• Lead trade studies across converter topologies, motor control, and protection strategies.
• Support bid activities, including technical input, estimation, and risk identification.
• Mentor engineers across technical, product, and lifecycle domains.
• Collaborate effectively across software, mechanical, systems, manufacturing, and test disciplines.
• Contribute to architecture definition for key products (PDUs, converters, inverters, motor drives).
• Provide technical leadership and influence engineering direction within the organisation.

Skills

Power electronics

High-voltage design

EMC design

System architecture

Technical leadership

Education

Master's in Electronics Engineering

Chartered Engineer (desirable)

Tools

SPICE

PLECS/PSIM

Thermal modelling

Job description

• Define and solve complex, multi-disciplinary engineering problems, with focus on HVDC/AC conversion, protection, thermal design, EMC, insulation, reliability, and certification risk.
• Lead the power electronics technical strategy and technology roadmap in collaboration with the Technical Authority.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and coordination to engineering teams to deliver work on time, cost, and quality targets.
• Act as a senior technical authority and customer-facing escalation point for HV power systems, ensuring high-quality engineering delivery.
• Sponsor or lead strategically important programmes (e.g., intelligent PDUs, IPS controllers, motor drives, HV demonstrators).
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and translate developments (SiC/GaN devices, sensing, magnetics, thermal management, EMI) into product strategies.
• Define engineering standards, including design rules, derating, HV spacing, protection methods, and EMC practices.
• Lead trade studies across converter topologies, motor control, and protection strategies.
• Support bid activities, including technical input, estimation, and risk identification.
• Mentor engineers across technical, product, and lifecycle domains.

General Responsibilities

• Investigate equipment failures and recommend solutions.
• Prepare and review engineering estimates, identifying risks and dependencies.
• Produce reports and present technical findings to stakeholders.
• Maintain professional competency and support continuous development.
• Adhere to company values, policies, and procedures.
• Perform off-site duties as required and support broader business needs.
• Advanced expertise in high-voltage power electronics design, including conversion, control, sensing, protection, and gate drive systems.
• Ability to define requirements and ensure full traceability from safety requirements to verification evidence (including DAL A).
• Strong experience in EMC design and compliance for high-speed switching systems (SiC/GaN), including emissions, susceptibility, filtering, shielding, and layout.
• Proficiency in simulation and analysis tools (e.g., SPICE, PLECS/PSIM, thermal/electromagnetic modelling, stability analysis, worst-case and reliability analysis).
• Experience with validation and test methods including switching loss, thermal characterisation, insulation testing, HIL, load testing, and qualification.
• Solid understanding of PCB design for high-voltage/high-current systems, including creepage/clearance, parasitics, and manufacturability.
• Component selection expertise across power semiconductors, magnetics, capacitors, sensors, and insulation systems.
• Experience with HV architectures including DC distribution (270–800 VDC), inverters, motor drives, SSPCs, and power supplies.
• Ability to lead technical reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, qualification, production readiness).
• Manage and support suppliers for key components and subsystems.
• Collaborate effectively across software, mechanical, systems, manufacturing, and test disciplines.
• Contribute to architecture definition for key products (PDUs, converters, inverters, motor drives).
• Provide technical leadership and influence engineering direction within the organisation.

Qualifications

• Degree (typically Master’s) in Electronics Engineering or equivalent experience, with significant relevant industry experience.
• Specialisation in power electronics, motor drives, high-voltage engineering, or aerospace electrical systems preferred.
• Chartered Engineer (or equivalent) desirable.
• Eligible for required security clearances.
• Desirable: postgraduate study or training in power electronics, EMC, high-voltage safety, or safety-critical systems.

Experience

• Substantial experience in a complex engineering environment, particularly in power electronics and safety-critical systems.