Power Electronics Engineer - Hardware Validation

Global Connect Technologies; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Connect Technologies is seeking a Power Electronics Engineer to design, develop and validate Gate Driver Boards and Power Boards for high-power applications in Peoria, IL. You will lead hardware bring-up, select high‑voltage components, and execute comprehensive validation plans.

Responsibilities include analyzing switching behavior, performing lab tests with advanced equipment, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to ensure reliability and manufacturability across prototypes and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field required.
• 0.5+ year hands-on experience in power electronics hardware design, development, and validation; 3+ years with a Master's degree.
• Associate degree with 10+ years of directly related power electronics hardware experience considered.
• Experience developing hardware for medium- or high-voltage applications preferred.
• Experience with utility-scale power conversion systems, BESS, renewable energy, motor drives, UPS, or inverter platforms highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate power electronics hardware including Gate Driver Boards (GDB), Power Boards, interface circuits, protection circuits, and current/voltage sensing circuits.
• Develop schematics, review PCB layouts, and support hardware bring-up for high-voltage and high-current power conversion systems.
• Select, qualify, and validate power electronic components including IGBT modules, SiC devices, isolated gate drivers, current sensors, and power supplies.
• Develop and execute hardware validation plans including DPT, switching characterization, thermal testing, fault-condition testing, and commissioning activities.
• Analyze switching waveforms, gate signals, switching losses, current sharing, voltage overshoot, desaturation behavior, and protection circuit performance.
• Perform hands-on laboratory testing using oscilloscopes, differential probes, current probes, thermal cameras, power analyzers, and data acquisition systems.
• Investigate hardware failures and perform root cause analysis of inverter, gate driver, and power module issues including shoot-through events, false turn-on, over-voltage, over-current, and thermal failures.
• Correlate laboratory test results with simulations and analytical models to improve product performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with controls, validation, mechanical, manufacturing, PCB layout, and supplier teams throughout product development.
• Support prototype builds, production launches, supplier technical reviews, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and Design for Testability (DFT) initiatives.
• Prepare technical documentation including validation reports, test procedures, engineering change documentation, and design review presentations.

Skills

Gate Driver Boards (GDB) & Power Board

IGBT & SiC power devices

Power electronics hardware for high‑/m

Double Pulse Testing (DPT) & switching

Lab testing with scopes & probes

Root cause analysis

EMI/EMC design

Altium Designer

MATLAB/Simulink

DFMEA & reliability engineering

Cross‑functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Associate degree with 10+ years of related experience

Tools

Altium Designer

MATLAB/Simulink

PLECS

LTspice

Job description

Role: Power Electronics Engineer – Hardware Design & Validation

Location: Peoria, IL (Onsite)

Duration: Full-time Employee

Duties / Responsibilitie

• sDesign, develop, and validate power electronics hardware including Gate Driver Boards (GDB), Power Boards, interface circuits, protection circuits, and current/voltage sensing circuits
• .Develop schematics, review PCB layouts, and support hardware bring-up for high-voltage and high-current power conversion systems
• .Select, qualify, and validate power electronic components including IGBT modules, SiC devices, isolated gate drivers, current sensors, and power supplies
• .Develop and execute hardware validation plans including Double Pulse Testing (DPT), switching characterization, thermal testing, fault-condition testing, and commissioning activities
• .Analyze switching waveforms, gate signals, switching losses, current sharing, voltage overshoot, desaturation behavior, and protection circuit performance
• .Perform hands-on laboratory testing using oscilloscopes, differential probes, current probes, thermal cameras, power analyzers, and data acquisition systems
• .Investigate hardware failures and perform root cause analysis of inverter, gate driver, and power module issues including shoot-through events, false turn-on, over-voltage, over-current, and thermal failures
• .Correlate laboratory test results with simulations and analytical models to improve product performance and reliability
• .Collaborate with controls, validation, mechanical, manufacturing, PCB layout, and supplier teams throughout product development
• .Support prototype builds, production launches, supplier technical reviews, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and Design for Testability (DFT) initiatives
• .Prepare technical documentation including validation reports, test procedures, engineering change documentation, and design review presentations

.Required Skill

• sStrong hands-on experience designing and validating Gate Driver Boards (GDB) and Power Boards for high-power applications
• .Experience with IGBT and SiC power devices, including switching behavior, protection circuits, desaturation protection, active clamping, and false turn-on mitigation
• .Experience designing, debugging, and validating power electronics hardware for inverter, converter, motor drive, UPS, BESS, renewable energy, or similar applications
• .Hands-on experience performing Double Pulse Testing (DPT), switching characterization, thermal testing, fault testing, and power electronics validation
• .Proficiency using laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, differential probes, high-current probes, thermal imaging cameras, power analyzers, and DAQ systems
• .Experience troubleshooting hardware failures using waveform analysis and root cause investigation techniques
• .Strong understanding of power converter topologies, thermal management, protection circuits, EMI/EMC design, creepage and clearance requirements, and electrical safety
• .Experience reviewing schematics and PCB layouts using Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD tools
• .Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, LTspice, or similar simulation tools
• .Experience with DFMEA, reliability engineering, design validation, and prototype development
• .Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

.Education / Experienc

• eBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline required
• .5+ years of hands-on experience in power electronics hardware design, development, and validation, or 3+ years with a Master's degree
• .Associate degree with 10+ years of directly related power electronics hardware experience will also be considered
• .Experience developing power electronics hardware for medium- or high-voltage applications is preferred
• .Experience with utility-scale power conversion systems, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), renewable energy systems, motor drives, UPS, or inverter platforms is highly preferred
• .Experience supporting products through the full development lifecycle, from prototype through production release, is preferred
• .Experience working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and cross-functional engineering teams in a product development environment is highly desirable