Senior Power Electronics & Control Engineer for Airships

Ltaresearch; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) matching up to 6%

Parental leave

Education stipend

Job summary

LTA Research and Exploration seeks a Senior Power Electronics Control Engineer to design and implement control methods on the onboard electronics for an experimental lighter-than-air flight vehicle. You will work with firmware and system teams across concept, prototyping, testing, and flight phases.

Responsibilities include developing DSP/microcontroller-based control algorithms, validating through hardware-in-the-loop tests, and ensuring regulatory compliance and robust performance in aerospace

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in power electronics systems development, with motor control focus.
• Experience with DSPs and microcontrollers.
• Modeling and simulation of power electronics and electric machines (MATLAB/Simulink preferred).
• Experience in PCB design and related simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop power electronic control algorithms in firmware to meet flight vehicle requirements.
• Collaborate with firmware and hardware teams throughout development, including HIL testing and validation.
• Document controls architecture, control logic, and regulatory considerations.
• Perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality and performance under varied conditions.
• Read electrical drawings and schematics to support integration.

Skills

Power electronics

Motor control

DSP/MCU

MATLAB/Simulink

PCB design

Python

LabVIEW

Control theory

Education

BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

PCB design tools

Oscilloscopes

LabVIEW

Python

Job description

LTA Research and Exploration, an aerospace start-up, is seeking a motivated Senior Power Electronics Control Engineer to help build an experimental ‘lighter than air’ flight vehicle. You will work within a dynamic engineering and design team to conceptualize, rapidly prototype, test and implement innovative solutions for the design, fabrication, and assembly of an electric airship. We believe in fast-cycle development and approach to flight hardware development with the motto "build a little, test a little, learn a lot". This unique position allows for hand-on participation through all phases of development, from concept to flight of an experimental flight vehicle in collaboration with firmware and system teams.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Power Electronics Control Engineer to help design and implement our control methods onto the electronics/power electronics hardware of our lighter than air flight vehicles.

Develop power electronic control algorithms into firmware based on the control method and algorithms that satisfies the flight vehicle requirements

Work closely with firmware engineers to implement DSP/Microcontroller-based control algorithms according to the system standards and rules

Collaborate closely with hardware and firmware engineers throughout the development cycle (system design, prototyping and validation, system integration, and improvements)

Conduct hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, embedded simulation, and field validation to verify controls performance

Document controls architecture, control logic, and regulatory compliance considerations.

Develop comprehensive test plans and perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality, stability, and performance under various conditions

Participate in testing of the integrated electrical systems, including bring up process, debugging, and checking the signal integrity, etc.

Reading electrical drawings and schematics and help with the integration process

Collaborate with software integration teams to bring up core functions and broadcast software level requirements to electrical hardware and systems teams.

BS degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Strong understanding of power converters, electric drives, and battery management systems

5+ years of experience in power electronics systems development, with a focus on motor control and power electronics.

Knowledge of working with different digital signal processors (DSPs) and microcontrollers

Experience in modeling and simulation of power electronics and electric machines (MATLAB and MATLAB/Simulink preferred)

Experience in PCB design and its simulations tools

Proficiency with basic EE tools (Oscilloscopes, Signal Generators, etc.)

Start to finish ownership of hardware (design, prototype, and validation)

Experience in development of digital and analog interfaces for PC-based systems, especially (Labview, Matlab, Python)

Master or PhD degree in Electrical engineering is preferred

Strong understanding of power electronics principles, including modulation techniques (PWM, SVM), voltage and current control loops, and Park transform

Familiarity with ARM Cortex-M, TI C2000, STM32, or similar microcontroller families used in power control

Knowledge of environmental, reliability, and safety requirements for aerospace applications and the path to certification

Knowledge of basic control theory and its implementation in analog/digital circuits

Experience in implementing different automotive and aerospace communication protocols (CAN, RS232, etc)

Experience developing real-time control algorithms for inverters, converters, or battery systems.

Familiar with EMI/EMC standards and electrical signal integrity

Relocation assistance

Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents)

Company-paid life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances

Parental leave

Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays

401(k) matching up to 6%

Lunch and snacks provided every day, including accommodations for all dietary restrictions

Monthly wellness stipend

Monthly cell phone stipend

Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field

Fun events, swag, and the occasional airship ride

An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields

Criminal background check clearance

Drug test clearance wherever applicable

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LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve.

Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.