Power Distribution & Controls Engineer for Autonomous Systems

First Order Effects; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

First Order Effects is building America's infrastructure prime for the robotic era. We’re seeking an Electrical Engineer focused on power distribution and controls for MESH systems on autonomous vehicles.

You will design command and control PCBA, power distribution, sensing, and protection to reliably move energy from genset and batteries to loads. Ideal candidates have experience with high-voltage DC, battery systems, and EMC design, plus exposure to maritime or defense hardware.

Qualifications

• Experience with high-voltage DC, battery systems, or genset controls.
• Background in functional safety, protection coordination, or EMC design.
• Exposure to maritime or defense hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design the command and control PCBA that orchestrates MESH: generator start/stop, contactor and relay control, interlocks, and I/O.
• Design power distribution from genset and battery through to the loads: busbars, contactors, breakers, fusing, and protection.
• Design current/voltage sensing and metering the firmware reads with required accuracy.
• Own schematic capture, drive PCB layout, DFM, bring-up, and test.
• Collaborate with power electronics, battery, and firmware on interfaces, protection, and safety.

Skills

high-voltage DC experience

battery systems

EMC design

functional safety

maritime/defense exposure

Tools

Altium

KiCad

Job description

First Order Effects is building America's infrastructure prime for the robotic era. We’re seeking an Electrical Engineer focused on power distribution and controls for MESH systems on autonomous vehicles.

You will design command and control PCBA, power distribution, sensing, and protection to reliably move energy from genset and batteries to loads. Ideal candidates have experience with high-voltage DC, battery systems, and EMC design, plus exposure to maritime or defense hardware.