Lead Engineer - Solid-State Circuit Breakers

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Health insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. seeks a technical leader for solid-state circuit breaker development. You will guide architecture, design, and product integration of next‑generation protection technologies, working across hardware, firmware, controls, reliability, and test teams.

You will oversee lab testing, fault-current analysis, and qualification activities, collaborating with customers and utilities to shape future SSCB requirements and manufacturing readiness.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years in power electronics, protection systems, or related areas.
• Experience leading complex product development from concept to production.
• Strong understanding of power system protection principles and fault interruption.
• Experience with modeling, simulation tools (SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, PSCAD).
• Strong technical leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and learn new skills.
• Background check satisfactory; negative drug test.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for SSCB development in solid-state power switching and protection.
• Serve as technical authority for SSCB architecture and product integration.
• Lead research and development of next-generation protection tech and algorithms.
• Direct design reviews, oversee schematic/PCB, simulations, and EMI/EMC compliance.
• Lead lab testing, environmental qualification, and product validation.
• Collaborate with customers and partners to guide future SSCB needs.
• Support manufacturing readiness and design-for-manufacturing initiatives.
• Uphold safety and promote SEL values and world-class manufacturing.

Skills

Power electronics

Protection systems

Circuit simulation

Technical leadership

Team leadership

Electrical engineering

Education

BS degree in Electrical Engineering

MS degree (preferred)

Tools

SPICE

MATLAB/Simulink

PLECS

PSCAD

Job description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, specialists, and technicians engaged in the development of solid-state power switching and protection technologies. Serve as the technical authority for solid-state circuit breaker architecture, power electronics design, system protection strategies, and product integration. Lead the research, innovation, and development of next-generation solid-state protection technologies, including semiconductor switching systems, gate drive circuits, sensing technologies, and protection algorithms. Lead cross-functional development efforts involving hardware, firmware, controls, reliability, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineering teams to ensure successful product delivery. Establish technical requirements, development plans, and risk mitigation strategies for SSCB development programs. Direct design reviews and provide technical oversight for schematic design, PCB development, simulations, thermal analysis, EMI/EMC compliance, reliability assessments, and system validation activities. Lead laboratory testing, prototype evaluation, fault-current testing, environmental qualification, and product validation efforts to ensure compliance with applicable industry standards. Collaborate with customers, utilities, research organizations, and industry partners to identify emerging requirements and guide future SSCB product development. Support manufacturing readiness, design-for-manufacturing initiatives, product launches, and continuous improvement activities. Responsible for environmental, health, and safety leadership, maintaining a safe workplace, promoting safety awareness, conducting investigations, and implementing safe work practices. Model, teach, and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles. Understand. Create. Simplify. Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in power electronics, protection systems, power conversion, solid-state switching technologies, or closely related fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex product development programs from concept through production.
• Strong understanding of power system protection principles and fault interruption methods.
• Experience with electrical system modeling, circuit simulation, and design tools such as SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, PSCAD, or equivalent.
• Strong technical leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Strong writing, documentation, and presentation abilities.
• Ability to effectively lead multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Background check results satisfactory to SEL.
• Negative drug test result(s).

Preferred Qualifications

• MS degree in Electrical Engineering with emphasis in Power Electronics, Power Systems, or Controls.
• Experience developing medium-voltage or high-power switching equipment.
• Experience with solid-state circuit breakers, hybrid circuit breakers, grid protection devices, or advanced power conversion systems.
• Experience with requirements-based development and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Experience with functional safety, reliability engineering, FMEA, and fault-tree analysis.
• Familiarity with utility, industrial, aerospace, defense, microgrid, or transportation power systems.
• Supervisory or technical leadership experience in product development organizations.

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees. We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options. We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay. We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs. Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees. We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401K options. We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay. We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs. Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees. We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options. We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay. We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs. Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range: $107,600 - $161,500 annually

Hardware Engineer: $89,400 - $134,100 annually Lead Hardware Engineer: $107,600 - $161,500 annually

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100 percent employee-owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers worldwide. Our mission is simple: to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.