Senior Power Electronic Engineer

First Search Inc.; Connecticut; On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

LiquidPiston is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer in Connecticut to expand its Electrical Engineering team. The role focuses on hands-on hardware design and rapid prototyping for high-performance engine and generator systems.

You will own converter/inverter development, lead cross-disciplinary collaboration, and help drive reliability, EMI/EMC, and manufacturability improvements across the product lifecycle. BS/MS in EE required, with experience in high-current/high-voltage systems.

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, or related power electronics applications.
• Hardware debugging, lab testing, prototype integration, and failure analysis.
• Strong understanding of thermal management, PCB layout, EMI/EMC, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Experience working with external vendors, contract manufacturers, or third-party design firms.
• Hands-on lab work including soldering and troubleshooting.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to broader electrical/system challenges.
• Adaptable, self-motivated in a small-team environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills 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, power distribution, and battery interfaces.
• Hands-on hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, validation, and root-cause analysis.
• Address EMI/EMC, manufacturability, reliability improvements and component failures.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, embedded controls, and test engineers on integrated products.
• Oversee external vendors and contractors, reviewing designs and resolving issues.
• Execute rapid prototype development, bench testing, and in-house troubleshooting.
• Contribute to related EE efforts beyond core PE, including engine controls and wiring.
• Support product development and lifecycle improvement activities.
• Operate in a fast-paced small-company environment with broad ownership.

Skills

Power electronics design

High-current/high-voltage systems

Hardware debugging

Soldering & lab work

EMI/EMC considerations

Vendor management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Thermal management

Prototype bring-up

Reliability & manufacturability

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

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.