Lead Power Electronics Engineer, Robotics & Automation

Gradient Robotics; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Gradient Robotics is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer in San Francisco to own the electrical and power architecture of our autonomous robots. You will define the power system from input power to motor drives, run trade studies, and take boards from schematic to production.

You’ll partner with mechanical and software teams and shape every machine we ship. The role requires leading high-power design, safety, and EMI/EMC practices, plus hands-on PCB work, firmware for controls, and

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of electrical design experience, including power electronics designs you’ve taken to production.
• Deep power electronics fundamentals: converter topologies (buck, boost, flyback, etc.), sizing discrete components, protection circuitry, and common failure modes.
• Motor drive design experience: gate drivers, H-bridges, BLDC/PMSM, FOC.
• Hands-on PCB design and layout for power and mixed-signal boards with thermal and EMC considerations.
• Experience with high-power and high-voltage safety principles and EMI/EMC testing and safety certification.
• A track record of defining requirements yourself and driving cross-system problems to resolution when the spec is unclear.
• Strong hardware debugging: document, diagnose, and fix issues efficiently.
• Able to work on-site in San Francisco 5 days/week (6 days/week during crunch time).

Responsibilities

• Own power architecture end-to-end: define power distribution, conversion, and protection across the robots and run the trade studies behind key design decisions.
• Systems design and integration across mechanical and software teams.
• Design and validate power electronics including DC/DC converters, motor drives, gate drivers, and protection circuitry from schematic through bring-up and test.
• Own instrumentation and controls: build electronics with PCBs or industrial components and write firmware for reliable software control interface.
• Take designs to production: drive thermal performance and manufacturability; collaborate with vendors and CM for yield.
• Ensure electrical safety and compliance: EMI/EMC, harmonics, arc flash; drive certification for safe installation and service.

Skills

Power electronics

PCB design

High voltage safety

Hardware debugging

Motor drives

Thermal management

System integration

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

B.S./M.S. Electrical Engineering

Tools

LTspice

PLECS

EMC testing

Job description

Gradient Robotics is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer in San Francisco to own the electrical and power architecture of our autonomous robots. You will define the power system from input power to motor drives, run trade studies, and take boards from schematic to production.

You’ll partner with mechanical and software teams and shape every machine we ship. The role requires leading high-power design, safety, and EMI/EMC practices, plus hands-on PCB work, firmware for controls, and