Senior Power Electronics Engineer

ABB; Napier; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

ABB is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to lead the development of high‑power converter systems for critical power applications in New Zealand. You will define architectures, validation plans, and control strategies across the full lifecycle, from concept to field support, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams in a dynamic Agile environment.

You will oversee DFMEA activities, drive improvements, and mentor junior engineers while ensuring compliance with UL, IEC and RoHS

Qualifications

• Degree in electrical engineering with power electronics focus.
• 8+ years of power electronics design experience.
• Strong background in multi-megawatt systems and power quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of high‑power converter systems; define architectures and control strategies.
• Review designs, calculations, simulations, and test plans; mentor engineers.
• Develop topologies for UPS and energy storage; work with IGBT, SiC, GaN tech.
• Lead modelling, validation strategies, and lab testing for performance and reliability.
• Drive root-cause investigations and continuous improvement; ensure standards compliance.

Skills

Power electronics

System design

Thermal design

Protection systems

Grid-connected systems

Energy storage

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

English communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering

Power Electronics focus

Tools

SPICE

PLECS

MATLAB/Simulink

PSCAD

Job description

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

Chapter Lead (ELSP Pilot)

Your Role And Responsibilities

In this role, you'll help run what runs the world, by taking on meaningful work that drives real impact. We are seeking an experienced and innovative Senior Power Electronics Engineer to join our Electrification business and lead the development of advanced power conversion and power quality solutions. This role will be responsible for technical leadership, design, validation, and continuous improvement of high-power electronic systems supporting critical industrial, utility, renewable energy, data center, and infrastructure applications.

You will work across the full product lifecycle, from concept development and system architecture through design, testing, industrialization, and field support. This is an excellent opportunity to help shape the next generation of power quality and energy management solutions while working with industry-leading technologies.

The work model for this role is onsite in either Auckland or Napier.

This role is contributing to the Critical Power product group in New Zealand.

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Lead the design and development of high-power electronic converter systems, defining system architectures, converter control strategies, and technical solutions while conducting DFMEA activities to identify and mitigate potential failure modes early in the development process.
• Review and approve designs, calculations, simulations, and test plans, while driving decision-making across multidisciplinary engineering teams and mentoring junior engineers to strengthen overall team capability.
• Develop power converter topologies (VSI, CSI, etc.) for UPS and energy storage systems, including power stage design and analysis using IGBT, SiC, and GaN semiconductor technologies.
• Lead modelling and simulation activities (SPICE, PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD, or equivalent), define validation strategies, and oversee laboratory testing to ensure products meet performance, reliability, safety, and compliance requirements.
• Lead root cause investigations, drive corrective and preventive actions, and identify opportunities for performance improvements, cost reductions, and reliability enhancements.
• Contribute to intellectual property development and drive compliance with applicable standards and regulations, including UL, IEC, RoHS, REACH, and other customer requirements.

Our team dynamics

You will join a dynamic and high-performing technical team within the Critical Power division. As a Senior Power Electronics Engineer, you will be part of an Agile Team, report to the Chapter Leader and collaborate with a diverse group of power electronics specialists, control systems engineers, and mechanical engineers. You will have the opportunity to mentor junior engineers and contribute to their professional development, while working across multi-site teams to deliver world-class solutions. This collaborative environment values technical innovation, continuous learning, and cross-functional partnerships that drive product excellence.

Qualifications For The Role

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or a related discipline, with minimum 8+ years of experience in power electronics design and development.
• Strong expertise in three-phase multi-megawatt power systems, power converter topologies, grid-connected power electronic applications, and power quality and energy storage systems.
• Extensive experience with simulation and modelling tools such as SPICE, PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of power semiconductor devices, magnetics, filters and harmonics, thermal design, and protection systems.
• Proven ability to lead complex engineering projects from concept to production.
• Strong communication skills in English, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and technical domains.
• Significant experience in working within multi-site and large engineering teams.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to the Hawkes Bay region if based in Auckland.

More About Us

ABB’s Critical Power product group, within the Smart Power Division, is a global leader in advanced UPS and energy storage solutions serving mission-critical applications worldwide. We protect the world’s most demanding operations—from data centers and semiconductor fabrication plants to pharmaceutical manufacturing, cable production, aerospace facilities, and critical infrastructure. Our solutions enable 24/7 uptime and energy efficiency for the world’s largest hyperscale data centers and enterprise customers, directly supporting the digital transformation of society.

Our engineering expertise spans over 50 years of innovation in power conversion technology. We design and deploy cutting-edge UPS systems ranging from 150 kVA to 3,000+ kVA, featuring advanced modular architectures and the latest energy storage technologies including traditional VRLA batteries, next-generation lithium-ion solutions, and innovative nickel-zinc battery systems. Our products achieve industry-leading efficiency exceeding 95-99%, with exceptional reliability standards including full online double-conversion architecture and redundant modular designs for mission-critical applications.

The Napier facility is home to our power electronics engineering hub and represents ABB’s commitment to innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. We are actively developing next-generation technologies to support the global energy transition, including PowerExchanger grid support services that unlock revenue streams from UPS energy storage assets and enable broader renewable energy integration. Our focus on sustainability is evidenced by our comprehensive portfolio of environmentally certified solutions and our commitment to helping customers achieve their carbon reduction targets.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That’s why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.