Power Engineer Intern

Archer; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Archer invites motivated engineering students to join the Power Electronics team for a 10-week summer internship in San Jose, CA. You will assist in designing and testing inverter systems for the all‑electric eVTOL aircraft, supporting performance, efficiency, and safety analyses.

This full-time, paid internship targets 2026 summer dates and requires working at Archer HQ with no relocation or housing provided.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering.
• Coursework in Power Electronics, inverters, and motor drives.
• Simulation experience with PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, or LTSpice.
• PCB design experience with Altium, KiCAD, or Cadence.

Responsibilities

• Simulate inverter topologies and modulation strategies to optimize propulsion performance.
• Estimate losses and thermal performance to validate components.
• Select power semiconductors (MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC/GaN) for high‑power eVTOL apps.
• Design PCBs with low noise, high-voltage isolation for aerospace use.
• Build and test prototypes using oscilloscopes and power analyzers.
• Debug designs by analyzing switching, EMI, and thermal aspects.

Skills

Power electronics

Inverter design

Motor drives

MATLAB/Simulink

PLECS

Education

Electrical engineering (BSc/MSc/PhD)

Tools

Altium

KiCAD

Cadence

LTSpice

Job description

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.

Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.

This internship is a part of a 10-week full-time summer internship program opportunity. This role will be based at Archer’s headquarters in San Jose, California and relocation or housing will not be provided.

Archer is seeking a motivated intern to join the Power Electronics team. You will support the design and testing of inverter systems for our eVTOL aircraft, powering electric motors, generators, and flight actuators. Your work directly impacts flight performance, efficiency, and safety.

What You’ll Do:

• Simulate inverter topologies and modulation strategies using PLECS or MATLAB/Simulink to optimize performance for propulsion motors, generators, and actuators.
• Estimate losses and thermal performance to validate component selection and predict efficiency across flight profiles.
• Select power semiconductors (MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC/GaN) based on electrical and thermal requirements for high-power eVTOL applications.
• Design PCBs focusing on low noise, minimal parasitics, and high-voltage isolation for aerospace environments.
• Build and test hardware prototypes using oscilloscopes, power analyzers, and electronic loads to validate simulation results.
• Debug and improve designs by analyzing switching behavior, EMI issues, and thermal performance.

What You Need:

• Pursuing a Bachelor's (3rd or 4th year), Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering.
• Coursework in Power Electronics, inverters, and motor drives.
• Simulation experience with PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, or LTSpice.
• PCB design experience (Altium, KiCAD, or Cadence).
• Hands-on lab skills with oscilloscopes, power supplies, and soldering.
• Understanding of power semiconductors (MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC/GaN).
• Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills.
• Experience with motor drives, actuators, or student competitions (Formula SAE, Solar Car, etc.) is a plus.

Summer 2026 Internship Program Details:

• This internship is a part of a 10-week full-time summer internship program opportunity. Program dates are:
  • May 26, 2026 - July 31, 2026
  • June 15, 2026 - August 21, 2026
  • *We will not be able to accommodate interns outside of these two program dates.
• This role will be based at Archer HQ in San Jose, CA.
• Relocation and housing will not be provided.

Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications.

At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $25.00 - $35.00 per hour. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at [e-mail]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Information collected and processed as part of any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Archer's Candidate Privacy Policy.

Archer is unable to provide work visa sponsorship for this position at the present time.

Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Archer Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. Archer reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with Archer, please reach out to [e-mail]. All employment processes are managed by the Archer People Team.