Technical Specialist - Aircraft Power Electronics

Eaton; Saffron Walden; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global collaboration

Career progression

Competitive compensation

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Eaton MSD Cheltenham is seeking a Tech Specialist - Aircraft Power Electronics to provide senior technical leadership for architecture, design, verification, and certification of safety-critical power electronics for aircraft power distribution and conversion. The role focuses on HVDC/AC conversion, wide-bandgap devices, and certifiable production-ready solutions within ARP/DO standards.

The candidate will lead strategic programmes, manage suppliers, and collaborate across software, mechanical,

Qualifications

• Degree or higher in Electronics Engineering with relevant industry experience.
• Specialisation in power electronics or aerospace electrical systems is preferred.
• Chartered Engineer status is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define and solve complex multi-disciplinary problems in HVDC/AC conversion, protection, thermal design, EMC, insulation, reliability, and certification risk.
• Lead power electronics strategy and technology roadmap with Technical Authority.
• Provide leadership to engineering teams to deliver on time, cost, and quality targets.
• Act as senior technical authority and customer-facing escalation point for HV power systems.
• Sponsor or lead strategic programmes (e.g., intelligent PDUs, IPS controllers, motor drives).
• Translate emerging SiC/GaN tech into product engineering standards and HV design rules.
• Lead trade studies across converter topologies, motor control, and protection bid activities.
• 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.

Skills

HV power electronics design

Safety requirements traceability

EMC design for high-speed switching

Leadership and cross-functional team

Architecture definition for power subs

Technical reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR)

HV architectures (270-800 VDC)

System-level verification and cert

Education

Master's in Electronics Engineering

Chartered Engineer (desirable)

Tools

SPICE

PLECS/PSIM

Thermal/EM modelling tools

PCB design for HV/HC

Job description

Eaton MSD Cheltenham is looking for a Tech Specialist - Aircraft Power Electronics. In this role you'll provide senior technical leadership for the architecture, design, verification, and certification support of safety-critical power electronics systems for high-voltage DC and AC aircraft power distribution and conversion. Key applications include electrothermal ice protection power controllers (up to 160 kW), HVDC power distribution units, DC-AC motor drives, and power supplies in the 2 kW to 10 kW range. Drive the adoption of advanced power electronics technologies, including wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN), high-voltage isolation, digital control, and model-based design, ensuring robust, certifiable, and production-ready solutions. Operate within safety-critical development frameworks aligned to ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C, DO-254, and DO-160, up to DAL A where required.

What you’ll do

• 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 engineering standards, including design rules, derating, HV spacing, protection methods, and EMC practices.
• Lead trade studies across converter topologies, motor control, and protection bid activities, including technical input, estimation, and risk engineering across technical, product, and lifecycle domains.
• 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.

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.
• Desirable: postgraduate study or training in power electronics, EMC, high-voltage safety, or safety-critical systems.

Skills

• 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 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).

We offer

• Opportunity to work in a global, highly collaborative environment.
• Challenging projects in dynamic collaborative team.
• Strong focus on learning, development, and career progression.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• A culture that promotes inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• #LI-NK2

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates' privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for job applicants and employees. Our recruitment processes use balanced selection criteria and avoid unlawful discrimination against applicants on the basis of their age, colour, disability, marital status, national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, race or racial origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other status protected or required by law.

Hiring Manager: Christopher Biggadike
Recruiter: Nicole Louise Kelly
HR Business Partner: Imogen Winney
Function: Research & Development Engineering
Work Type: Onsite
Career Category: Expert
Job ID: 75142
Referral Program: Global Program
Location: Cambridge, GBR, CB25 9PB
Department: Research & Development Engineering