Senior Hardware Engineer (Power Electronics & Firmware)

Optivolt; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Unlimited PTO

Pre-IPO equity package

Extra fun perks

Job summary

Optivolt seeks a hands-on hardware engineer to drive design, simulation, and firmware for next-generation power systems. You’ll own hardware lifecycle from schematic to layout and write embedded code to close control loops, in a hybrid setup in San Francisco.

You will develop high-efficiency power systems, simulate and validate control loops, and ensure robust performance from prototype through production, collaborating across hardware and firmware teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience with digital control loop closure (PI, PID, peak current mode, etc.) for electronic power converters.
• Proficiency in Verilog HDL design, FPGA implementation, and hardware simulation tools (LTspice, QSPICE, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Demonstrated experience in electronic converter control design and real-time controller implementation.
• Solid understanding of switching power supply dynamics, commutation, and loop stability criteria.

Responsibilities

• Design, model, and close digital control loops (PI/PID/Deadbeat) for power converters and switching topologies.
• Develop RTL in Verilog/VHDL and implement digital control logic on FPGAs or microcontrollers for cycle-by-cycle electronic converter control.
• Validate control loop stability and transient response on hardware platforms through simulation and bench testing.
• Simulate switching waveforms and the effects of parasitics on switching power supply performance and make design decisions based on these results.
• Conduct rigorous bench-top analysis, characterization, and troubleshooting of electronic converter switching waveforms and closed-loop performance.
• Collaborate with hardware and firmware teams to ensure seamless integration of control algorithms with power stage hardware.
• Design hardware for power converters including layout of high slew rate high power circuits.
• Select parts for these converters to balance cost and supply chain risk with performance requirements.

Skills

Digital control loops

PID control

Power electronics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Verilog HDL

FPGA implementation

LTspice

QSPICE

MATLAB/Simulink

KiCad/Altium

Job description

About Optivolt

Optiolt’s mission is to overshoot humanity’s energy supply by reimagining solar.

America is at an inflection point. We need reliable energy fast. The grid is aging. And solar, the only technology that deploys quickly enough, is still constrained by technology frozen in time.

To close this gap, we build intelligent solar systems that think and adapt to real world conditions. Optivolt solar systems understand the sun, the weather, shading, harsh conditions, and optimize energy flow in real time. Every Optivolt panel is designed with an aerospace power electronics brain sealed inside to make solar more powerful and cost effective than ever in any condition.

The next step is putting it everywhere. In the home as Optivolt Home Solar and in the field as Optivolt Solar Fields. Hyper performant, controllable, reliable solar that works for everyone, everywhere.

Our Team & Traction

Optivolt is a team of some of the best builders and doers in the world, drawing from incredible talent pools in aerospace, electrical engineering, design-led organizations. We ultimately will win by designing and building the world’s best solar energy products.

But chiefly important, our organization is a lab for those devoted to solving some of the toughest problems in energy. Everyone is expected to contribute to the mission meaningfully. Clear communication, rapid iteration, and strong work ethic is the floor for anyone on our team.

To date we’ve shipped over 20,000 units and have companies worth billions of dollars relying on our solar architecture.

Why we are looking for you

We are looking for a passionate, hands-on hardware engineer to drive the design, simulation, and firmware implementation of our next-generation power systems. In this hybrid role, you will own the hardware lifecycle from schematic to layout, while also writing the embedded code to close the control loops.

In this hybrid role, you will be instrumental in the end-to-end development of our next-generation power systems. You will own the hardware lifecycle, taking projects from initial schematic design and board layout through simulation and final implementation. Your work will involve utilizing advanced tools to design, simulate, and refine high-efficiency systems, ensuring that our technology meets rigorous performance standards from the prototype phase through to full-scale production.

Beyond hardware design, you will be responsible for the firmware implementation required to bring our systems to life, specifically focusing on writing embedded code to close control loops. You will play a critical role in the team, combining your expertise in circuit design, thermal mitigation, and digital control to solve complex engineering challenges. We are looking for an engineer who is ready to take full ownership of their designs, troubleshoot effectively, and contribute to building the infrastructure that allows our technology to scale reliably.

What you’ll do

• Design, model, and close digital control loops (PI/PID/Deadbeat) for power converters and switching topologies.




• Develop RTL in Verilog/VHDL and implement digital control logic on FPGAs or microcontrollers for cycle-by-cycle electronic converter control.




• Validate control loop stability and transient response on hardware platforms through simulation (LTspice/QSPICE/MATLAB) and bench testing.




• Simulate switching waveforms and the effects of paracitics on switching power supply performance and make design decisions based on these results.




• Conduct rigorous bench-top analysis, characterization, and troubleshooting of electronic converter switching waveforms and closed-loop performance.




• Collaborate with hardware and firmware teams to ensure seamless integration of control algorithms with power stage hardware.




• Design hardware for power converters including layout of high slew rate high power circuits.




• Select parts for these converters to balance cost and supply chain risk with performance requirements.
  

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.




• Hands-on experience with digital control loop closure (PI, PID, peak current mode, etc.) for electronic power converters.




• Proficiency in Verilog HDL design, FPGA implementation, and hardware simulation tools (LTspice, QSPICE, MATLAB/Simulink).




• Demonstrated experience in electronic converter control design and real-time controller implementation.




• Solid understanding of switching power supply dynamics, commutation, and loop stability criteria.
  

Preferred skills

• Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering or equivalent industry experience.




• General power electronics schematic design, PCB layout (KiCad or Altium), and component selection using Si and GaN technologies.




• General embedded firmware development (C/C++) for microcontrollers.




• Experience with isolated and resonant converter topologies (LLC, phase-shifted full bridge) or DC-AC inverters.




• Familiarity with EMI/EMC compliance, board-level mitigation strategies, and DFM experience.




• Thermal design and mitigation experience.




• A portfolio of hardware or power systems projects demonstrating practical engineering experience.
  

Additional requirements

• Willingness to work extended hours as needed to support critical milestones




• Everyone at Optivolt is required to participate in on call support for customers




• Must be based in San Francisco, CA
  

Pay and benefits

The estimated starting base salary range for this role is $160K-220K depending on level, location and experience, plus a generous pre-IPO equity package

Other benefits include comprehensive health coverage, unlimited PTO, plus extra fun perks!