Controls Engineer, Power Electronics

Harbinger; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision coverage

Early-stage stock options

401k retirement savings

PTO & parental leave

Annual vacation bonus

Wellness benefits

Cell phone stipend

Meals & stocked kitchens

Job summary

Harbinger is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to lead power electronics control systems for its medium-duty EV platform. You will model, develop, and validate advanced embedded controls for high-power solid-state converters and inverters, impacting charging and drivetrain efficiency.

As a technical leader, you will drive DFSS-based reliability improvements, oversee firmware from C/C++ to HW-SW integration, and align with battery teams on CCS/NACS protocols and BMS integration.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in power electronics, solid-state converters, and embedded control systems.
• Model-based design using MATLAB/Simulink; HIL validation.
• Proficient in C/C++ and microcontroller programming (TI C2000).
• Knowledge of high-power converter topologies and inverter control strategies.
• Strong technical leadership with track record in leading R&D projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of control algorithms for high-power electronics (AC-DC, DC-DC, AFE, multi-level inverters).
• Design model-based embedded control architectures using MATLAB/Simulink; validate with Typhoon HIL and real-time platforms.
• Oversee firmware lifecycle from C/C++ development to hardware-software integration.
• Improve reliability and quality using DFSS methodologies.
• Collaborate with battery/integration teams to implement fast DC charging protocols and ensure BMS integration.

Skills

Power electronics

Embedded control systems

MATLAB/Simulink

HIL validation

C/C++

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Power Electronics

Tools

Typhoon HIL

TI C2000

Job description

About Harbinger

Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.

Role Overview

As the Controls Engineer, you will serve as the technical leader for our power electronics control systems. Joining our multi-disciplinary engineering team, you will drive the modeling, development, and validation of advanced embedded controls for high-power solid-state converters and inverters. Your expertise will directly impact the reliability and efficiency of our medium-duty EV platform's charging and drivetrain systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of advanced control algorithms for high-power electronics, including AC-DC, DC-DC, AFE, and multi-level inverters.
• Design model-based embedded control architectures using MATLAB/Simulink and validate them utilizing Typhoon HIL and real-time platforms.
• Manage and oversee the firmware engineering lifecycle for power electronics, from C/C++ development to hardware-software integration.
• Drive system reliability and quality improvements across solid-state converter designs utilizing Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies.
• Collaborate with battery and integration teams to implement fast DC charging protocols (e.g., CCS, NACS) and ensure seamless BMS integration.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in power electronics, solid-state converters, and embedded control systems.
• Proficiency in model-based design (MATLAB/Simulink), HIL validation (Typhoon), and microcontroller programming (C/C++, TI C2000).
• Strong understanding of high-power converter topologies (DAB, resonant converters) and advanced inverter control strategies.
• Excellent technical leadership skills with a proven history of managing complex R&D projects and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with megawatt-scale EV charging infrastructure and energy storage control systems.
• Familiarity with automotive communication protocols (CAN, J1939) and relevant safety standards (UL 3141, IEC 62619).
• Proven track record of scaling high-voltage power electronics systems (480V+) from initial architecture to production.
• Advanced certification in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS).

Key Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) – 100% employee covered
• Early-stage Stock Options
• Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave
• Annual Vacation Bonus
• Wellness & Fertility Benefits
• Cell Phone Stipend
• Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens

California Pay Range

$160,000—$200,000 USD

Equal Opportunity

Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy

Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.