Power Electronics Controls Engineer, Energy Storage San Francisco, California, United States

Redwood Materials, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 248,500; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy solutions company is seeking a Power Electronics Controls Engineer specializing in energy storage. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in electrical engineering, focusing on power conversion and high-voltage design. Responsibilities include creating control models, designing prototypes, and managing PCB layout for high-power electronics. With a competitive annual salary range of $153,000 to $248,500, this full-time position offers a dynamic startup environment and chance to shape engineering function.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in electrical engineering focused on power conversion.
• Experience in high-voltage design up to 2000VDC.
• Proven track record in medium-to-high volume production.

Responsibilities

• Create accurate control and thermal models for circuits.
• Design and prototype high-power circuitry.
• Perform detailed layout of high-power electronics PCBs.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Power Conversion

Efficiency Optimization

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Prototyping

Mentoring

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

Oscilloscopes

Network Analyzers

Signal Generators

Job description

Power Electronics Controls Engineer, Energy Storage

About Redwood Materials

Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain that seamlessly integrates recovery, reuse, and recycling—keeping critical minerals in circulation and driving the energy transition. Founded in 2019, we’re delivering low-cost and large-scale energy storage and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time, all from batteries we already have.

You will be an early member of a product design team, responsible for the detailed power electronics design, prototype, and launch into high-volume production of an efficient, cost effective, highly manufacturable, and technologically leading-edge power converter.

Familiar with high voltage (up to ~1,000 – 2,000VDC and 480VAC) and high power (~10 – 200kW) power converters, you can quantitatively compare and select topologies, control algorithms, semiconductors, and magnetics while respecting engineering constraints (efficiency, cost, reliability, simplicity, etc). You understand both hard- and soft-switched topologies.

Responsibilities include:

You can create highly accurate time-domain control and thermal models of your circuits to inform software and mechanical development, and while your core specialty is high-power circuitry design, you have a working understanding of microprocessor selection, electrical insulation, and thermal interface. Knowing how important circuit board layout is in high-power conversion, you’re willing to jump in and do the most critical parts of the powertrain layout yourself.

The ideal candidate is highly self-driven, adaptable to a startup environment, and eager to take on technical challenges. You’re a doer, excited about working in a dynamic, fast-paced setting, and want to shape the electrical engineering function within a new department at Redwood.

If necessary, we will adjust the job level to suit your experience and responsibilities. The qualifications below are just that – desired – if you feel you’re highly qualified for this role but are missing a few of the below line items, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Desired Qualifications:

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, with a focus in power electronics
• 7+ years of experience in electrical engineering, with a strong focus in power conversion or energy storage products, ideally for mass production
• Experience in high-voltage (up to 2000VDC, and 480VAC) design
• Intimately familiar with techniques for efficiency optimization
• Basic knowledge of control theory and embedded systems
• Strong analytical / problem solving skills
• Experience in rapid iterations on prototypes based on customer, supplier, and co-worker feedback
• Strong understanding of power electronics topologies and fundamentals (AC/DC, DC/DC)
• Experience with semiconductor selections, gate drive, and protection circuit design
• Skilled in mentoring test technicians to design tests, interpret test results, and define part maturity criteria
• Skilled at working with basic EE tools like oscilloscopes, network analyzers, signal Generators, etc
• Proven track record as an electrical engineer, with hands‑on design, prototyping, and launch experience in medium‑to‑high volume production (10,000 units/yr or higher)
• Able to select circuit components for manufacturability as well as electrical function
• Able to perform detailed schematic capture in Altium or related CAD software
• Able to supervise (and occasionally perform) detailed layout of high-power electronics PCBs in Altium or related CAD software

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform the essential job functions safely and consistently with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards

Working Conditions:

• Environment, such as office or outdoors
• Ability to work in challenging working conditions which may include exposure to noise, dust, chemicals, and temperature extremes, while protected by PPE, for extended periods of time
• Essential physical requirements, such as climbing, standing, stooping, or typing
• Occasional work on weekends, nights, or be on-call as a regular part of the job

In accordance with California pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is listed below. Actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and skills.

$153,000 - $248,500 USD

The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.