Principal Engineer

Nidec Motor Corporation; Missouri; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nidec Motor Corporation is seeking a seasoned electronics engineer with over 10 years of experience, focusing on power electronics hardware. The successful candidate will act as a technical lead, ensuring optimal designs for efficiency and safety in high-frequency circuits. Responsibilities include circuit simulations, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and supporting product launches. A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering is required. This role offers opportunities for strategic impact within the organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in electronics engineering.
• Proven hands-on experience with power inverter topologies from 1 kW through 10 kW.
• Extensive experience designing high-frequency power electronics.
• Practical exposure to deploying advanced MEMS-based sensors.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical lead and design authority for power electronics hardware.
• Provide technical support during pilot builds and validation.
• Analyze test and field failure data.
• Collaborate with firmware and controls engineers.

Skills

Clear written communication skills

Ability to communicate complex technical concepts

Strong time management skills

Confidence to challenge assumptions constructively

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Responsibilities

• Act as technical lead and design authority for power electronics hardware across multiple products and platforms
• Design switching power converters with a strong focus on efficiency, thermal management, EMI, reliability, and safety
• Develop schematics and guide PCB layout for high-frequency and high-power circuits, ensuring optimal current loops, grounding, isolation, and thermal paths
• Drive adoption of EMC-compliant hardware and layout practices from concept phase onward. Specify and validate current, voltage, and advanced sensors (including MEMS-based solutions) for control, protection, and diagnostics
• Perform detailed electrical simulations, including circuit-level simulations (functional, signal transient, power losses)
• Collaborate with firmware and controls engineers to ensure optimal hardware–software interaction and system-level performance
• Support the definition and implementation of hardware safety functions aligned with applicable standards
• Design electronics with a strong focus on long-term reliability under electrical, thermal, mechanical, and environmental stresses
• Lead DFMEA and contribute to system-level risk assessments
• Analyze test and field failure data, contributing to root-cause analysis and corrective design actions
• Ensure robustness against electrical overstress, thermal stress, EMC disturbances, and misuse scenarios
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT) principles throughout the development process
• Support PCBA fabrication, assembly, and end-of-line testing strategy definition
• Work closely with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to resolve electronics assembly, yield, and test issues. Support ramp-up and production readiness activities
• Provide technical support during pilot builds, validation builds, and mass production launches
• Support preparation of technical documentation and test evidence required for certification and compliance activities
• Participate in pre-compliance testing and troubleshooting to ensure successful formal certification
• Lead or support technical engagement with key suppliers for Power semiconductors
• Guide procurement on component selection, balancing performance, reliability & cost
• Support value engineering and cost optimization initiatives without compromising robustness or compliance

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in electronics engineering
• 10+ years of experience in electric motors, industrial equipment, and drives design
• Proven hands-on experience with power inverter topologies from 1 kW through 10 kW
• Practical design ownership of active PFC hardware, implementing and supporting more than one topology across production programs
• Repeated success in designing hardware that meets EMC emission and immunity requirements, including layout execution and pre-compliance validation
• Extensive experience designing high-frequency power electronics, including switching devices, magnetics, and gate drive circuits
• Experience implementing and validating hardware safety functions for motor control applications
• Hands-on involvement in PCB layout collaboration and design reviews for high-power and high-speed boards released to manufacturing
• Applied experience using circuit analysis and simulation tools to predict losses, transient behavior, and design margins
• 5+ years of experience applying current and voltage sensing technologies in power electronics and control systems
• Practical exposure to deploying advanced MEMS-based sensors in industrial or embedded electronics products
• Direct involvement with PCBA manufacturing, including PCB fabrication, SMT/THT assembly constraints, and test strategy definition
• Participation in product industrialization activities, including prototype builds, pilot runs, and production ramp-up support

Skills

• Clear written communication skills for technical documentation, design rationale, and engineering review
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely across diverse audiences, including nontechnical stakeholders
• Confidence to challenge assumptions and decisions constructively using data, experience, and engineering judgment
• Strong time management skills to balance deep technical work with cross-functional engagement
• Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or related field

Organizational Impact

• Implements strategic goals for the business unit, with significant impact on the department and job family
• Industry thought leader; communicates with executive leadership and external stakeholders
• Establishes operational plans for the job area with mid-to long-term impact (e.g., 3–5 years); typically works independently on complex projects
• Develops and provides measurable input into new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans with significant impact on results
• Is seen as an industry expert within the role’s field
• Leads and influences others, negotiates to align with the organization’s views and practices
• Communicates with executive leadership regarding matters of significant, long-term importance to the organization
• Works on state-of-the-art solutions; accountable for highly specialized projects and strategies
• Responsible for improving technical and business processes, leveraging extensive experience and market best practices
• Serves as spokesperson for the organization at industry events related to major technical advances
• Investigates root causes of problems; handles complex issues across business units
• Provides guidance, coaching, and training to other employees; may manage large, cross-functional projects
• Typically requires bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and long-standing relevant experience (often 15+ years); advanced degrees may be required