Power Electronics Engineer, Energy Storage

NextGenEnergyJobs; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGenEnergyJobs is searching for a Power Electronics Engineer in San Francisco, California. This role involves designing high-voltage converters tailored for energy storage systems. Qualified candidates will possess an MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering and 3–5 years of related experience.

The position requires hands-on expertise in hardware design, collaboration with diverse teams, and the ability to drive product development from concept to mass production.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in electrical engineering with focus on energy storage.
• Experience with gate drive design and hardware protection circuits.
• Strong understanding of power electronics topologies.

Responsibilities

• Design converters for utility-scale BESS and industrial infrastructure.
• Conduct topology comparison and trade-off analyses.
• Collaborate with Mechanical and Firmware teams for product optimization.

Skills

High-voltage hardware design

Power semiconductor selection

Circuit simulation

Lab equipment proficiency

Analytical problem-solving

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Simulink

LTspice

Ansys Maxwell/Q3D

Altium Designer

Job description

Power Electronics Engineer, Energy Storage

• Design high-voltage (800V–1.5kVdc, 480–800Vac) and high-power (10kW–200kW) converters tailored for utility-scale BESS and industrial infrastructure.
• Conduct comprehensive topology comparison and trade-off analyses evaluating efficiency, power density, cost, and manufacturability.
• Perform power-stage component sizing and Si/SiC MOSFET selection based on loss modeling and thermal management.
• Design robust gate driver circuits and dedicated gate driver power supplies to ensure safe, high-frequency switching operations.
• Lead the design, modeling, and specification of custom magnetic components, including transformers and inductors utilizing Litz-wire or PCB-winding architectures.
• Architect the low-voltage (LV) subsystem, including auxiliary power supplies, sensing circuitry (voltage/current/temperature), and hardware-level protection.
• Design and optimize EMI filters, including differential-mode and common-mode inductors, X/Y-caps, and damping elements.
• Drive high-voltage, high-power PCB/PCBA layout design, ensuring clearance/creepage rules and signal integrity under high-noise environments.
• cross-functional collaboration & productization
• Review, define, and amend system requirements for power electronics products.
• Work with the Mechanical Engineering team to optimize cooling methods and thermal stack-up analysis and product geometry.
• Collaborate with the Control and Firmware teams to develop, simulate, and implement converter control algorithms.
• Define test specifications and verification methodologies with the validation team.
• Work with the Supply Chain team to identify alternative components for dual-sourcing and define technical requirements for critical components (e.g., MOSFETs, film capacitors).
• Identify test scopes and technical specifications for mass production testers (ICT, FCT, EOL) in close collaboration with the Manufacturing team.
• Provide component-level data and operational profiles to the Reliability team to support rigorous product life cycle and failure analysis.
• Work with the Compliance team to achieve industry certifications (e.g., IEEE 1547, UL 1741).

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, with a focus on power electronics.
• 3–5 years of experience in electrical engineering, with a strong focus on power conversion or energy storage products, ideally for mass production.
• Hands‑on experience in high-voltage (up to 1.5kVdc and 480Vac) hardware design.
• Experience with power semiconductor selection, gate drive design, and hardware protection circuits. Deep understanding of power electronics topologies and fundamentals (AC/DC, DC/DC).
• Proficiency with circuit simulation, FEA simulation, and CAD tools (e.g., Simulink, LTspice, Ansys Maxwell/Q3D, Altium Designer).
• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed layout of high-power, noise-sensitive PCBs in Altium or equivalent CAD software.
• Proficiency with lab equipment, including oscilloscopes, impedance analyzers, network analyzers, and signal generators. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate across diverse cross‑functional teams.
• Foundational knowledge of control theory and embedded systems.
• Strong analytical and systematic problem‑solving skills.
• Proven track record of rapid prototyping and hardware iterations based on cross‑functional and supplier feedback.
• Strong ability to select circuit components considering both electrical performance and manufacturability (DFM).
• Experience mentoring test technicians to execute design verification, interpret test data, and define component maturity criteria.
• 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.