Senior Power Electronic Engineer

First Search Inc.; Connecticut; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

LiquidPiston is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to join its Electrical Engineering team in the United States. You will design, simulate, prototype, and test power electronics hardware for advanced engine and generator systems, and work with cross-functional teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on lab work, EMI/EMC, thermal management, and collaboration with vendors; you will own hardware issues from design to resolution in a fast-paced, small-company environment.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience designing and developing power electronics hardware.
• Experience with converters, inverters, motor drives, and high-current/high-voltage systems.
• Experience with hardware debugging, lab testing, prototype integration, and failure analysis.
• Understanding thermal management, PCB layout, EMI/EMC, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Experience working with external vendors or contract manufacturers.
• Willingness to perform hands-on lab work including soldering and instrumentation.
• Ability to work across disciplines and drive hardware issues to resolution quickly.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, prototype, debug, and improve power electronics hardware for engine and generator systems.
• Develop and support converters, inverters, motor drives, and related hardware.
• Perform hands-on hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, validation, and root-cause analysis of electrical and thermal failures.
• Address EMI/EMC issues, manufacturability concerns, and reliability improvements.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, embedded controls, and test engineers to deliver integrated products.
• Oversee external vendors and contractors, reviewing designs and resolving integration issues.
• Execute rapid prototype development, bench testing, and in-house troubleshooting to meet timelines.
• Contribute to related electrical engineering efforts beyond core PE, including engine controls and wiring.
• Support product lifecycle with continuous improvement activities.
• Work in a fast-paced small-company environment with broad ownership.

Skills

Power electronics design

Hardware debugging

Lab testing

EMI/EMC knowledge

PCB layout

Vendor coordination

Cross-disciplinary work

Problem solving

Soldering

Thermal management

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium/OrCAD

Job description

Our client, LiquidPiston, is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to expand their Electrical Engineering team. Due to the nature of their work, only U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, or H-1B visa holders will be considered for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, prototype, debug, and improve power electronics hardware for advanced engine and generator systems
• Develop and support converters, inverters, motor drives, power distribution systems, battery interfaces, and related hardware
• Perform hands-on hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, validation, rework, and root-cause analysis of electrical and thermal failures
• Address real-world hardware challenges including EMI/EMC issues, component failures, manufacturability concerns, and reliability improvements
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, embedded controls, and test engineers to develop fully integrated products
• Oversee external vendors and contractors, including reviewing designs, identifying issues, and resolving integration or quality problems
• Execute rapid prototype development, bench testing, and in-house troubleshooting to support development timelines
• Contribute to related electrical engineering efforts beyond core PE, including engine controls, genset controls, instrumentation, wiring, and general EE tasks
• Support iterative product development and continuous improvement activities throughout the product lifecycle
• Operate effectively in a fast-paced small-company environment where priorities may shift and engineers are expected to take broad ownership

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Strong hands-on experience designing and developing power electronics hardware
• Experience with converters, inverters, motor drives, high-current/high-voltage systems, or related power electronics applications
• Practical experience with hardware debugging, lab testing, prototype integration, and failure analysis
• Strong understanding of real-world electrical engineering tradeoffs including thermal management, PCB layout, EMI/EMC, reliability, and manufacturability
• Experience working with external vendors, contract manufacturers, or third-party design firms
• Comfortable performing hands-on lab work including soldering, rework, instrumentation, and troubleshooting
• Ability to work across disciplines and contribute to broader electrical and system-level engineering challenges
• Adaptable, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a highly collaborative small-team environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to drive hardware issues to resolution quickly and effectively
• Passion for building and improving real-world hardware products

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with weight-and-efficiency-critical designs (e.g., aerospace, defense, UAVs).
• Background in hybrid power systems, gensets, and MIL-STD compliant systems (e.g., AMMPS).
• Knowledge of CANBUS/MODBUS communication protocols.
• Hands-on experience with PCB layout and design tools such as Altium or OrCAD.
• Project management skills with experience coordinating across teams and with external stakeholders.