Power Electronics Hardware Engineer

Nidec Corporation; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nidec Corporation is seeking a Motor Power Electronics Engineer to design electric propulsion systems for battery-powered aircraft. This role involves developing high-performance motor control electronics, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and collaborating across teams.

Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in power electronics and proficiency in Altium Designer, with a solid educational background in Electrical Engineering. The position allows for potential domestic and international travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or related field.
• 7 years of power electronics design and development experience, including circuit simulation.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop functionally safe motor control power electronics.
• Write design specifications and perform design analysis.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to define system requirements.
• Conduct thermal simulations and implement cooling techniques.

Skills

New Product Development

Power Electronics

Thermal Simulations

Altium Designer

Functional Safety Standards (ISO26262)

Education

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

Job Summary

As a Motor Power Electronics Engineer with the Nidec Aerospace team, you will design electric propulsion systems for battery‑powered aircraft, applying your expertise to create high‑performance, highly reliable motor control electronics.

Location

Atlanta, GA, USA or São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop functionally safe motor control power electronics, including power stages using SiC devices, converters, gate drivers, protection circuits, and EMI/EMC suppression circuits.
• Write design specifications, perform design analysis and simulations, capture circuit schematics, lead PCB layout, create BOMs and assembly drawings, author test specifications, and oversee prototype, validation, design verification, and certification phases.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (software, mechanical, safety/certification) to define system requirements, architecture, and to conduct safety audits and reviews.
• Conduct thermal simulations, optimize thermal performance, and implement cooling and heat dissipation techniques.
• Use Altium Designer for schematic, PCB layout, and manufacturing documentation; support PCBA manufacturing partners for assembly and functional testing.
• Ensure compliance with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO26262) throughout development, including safety analyses and risk assessments.

Technical Attributes and Experience

• Experience with New Product Development and Phase‑Gate processes.
• Experience utilizing SiC devices in power electronics applications.
• Proficiency in thermal simulations and optimization.
• High proficiency in Altium Designer for schematic design, manufacturing documentation, and PCB layout.
• Experience with functional safety standards such as ISO26262 in aerospace.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally when needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with microcontroller/DSP hardware for motor control.
• Experience in electronics packaging and power electronics cooling techniques.
• Experience in design for manufacturability.
• Experience with aviation DO‑160G testing or DO‑254 development.
• Aerospace experience.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or related field.
• 7 years of power electronics design and development experience, including circuit simulation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Nidec is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, genetic information, religious creed, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.