Senior Power Electronics Controls Engineer

Astro Mechanica; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with stock options

Flexible time-off

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Ast ro Mechanica CORP. is seeking a Power Electronics Controls Engineer to join our growing team in San Francisco. The ideal candidate will own the control of the 800-volt, 1 MW propulsion system and contribute to ground power systems with governors and synchronization capabilities.

You will work alongside mechanical and electrical engineers on inverter hardware, DC-DC converters, and related power electronics, bringing concepts to validated hardware in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in power electronics controls.
• Hands-on experience designing controls for DC-DC converters, motor controllers, or inverters.
• Proven track record of building complete systems, not just modeling.
• Working knowledge of motor control including Field Oriented Control (FOC).
• Experience with three-phase electrical systems and high-voltage, high-power-density applications.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and tune control systems for the inverters that drive the motors on our 800 V, 1 MW propulsion system.
• Develop controls for related power electronics, including DC-DC converters and motor controllers.
• Own bus control and governor design for our electrical systems.
• Support ground power by synchronizing and governing coupled systems, such as turbines and generators or grid connections.
• Take systems from concept through hardware, validating control performance on real equipment.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and propulsion engineers from design to test.

Skills

Power electronics controls

5+ years experience

Motor control (FOC)

Three-phase systems

High-voltage systems

Education

Bachelor in Electrical Engineering

Job description

ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

WHO YOU ARE:

Astro Mechanica is seeking a Power Electronics Controls Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is a controls engineer at heart who is excited to own the control of the power electronics that drive our propulsion: an 800-volt system delivering 1 megawatt of electrical power to the motors on our Gen 5 engine. You will bring that same controls expertise to our ground power systems, where large turbines and generators must be governed and kept in sync. You will work on a small, tight team alongside a mechanical engineer focused on the liquid-cooled inverter enclosure and an electrical engineer focused on the inverter hardware. Your work at Astro Mechanica will have a direct impact on the configuration and performance of our engine.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Design, implement, and tune control systems for the inverters that drive the motors on our 800 V, 1 MW propulsion system

• Develop controls for related power electronics, including DC-DC converters and motor controllers

• Own bus control and governor design for our electrical systems

• Support ground power by synchronizing and governing coupled systems, such as a 13 MW turbine and generator or a connection to grid power

• Take systems from concept through hardware, validating control performance on real equipment

• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and propulsion engineers to bring the inverter from design through test

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field and 5+ years of experience in power electronics controls

• Hands‑on experience designing controls for power electronic systems, such as DC-DC converters, motor controllers, or inverters

• Proven track record of building one of these systems, not just modeling or analyzing it

• Working knowledge of motor control, including Field Oriented Control (FOC) and related techniques

• Experience with three‑phase electrical systems and machines, such as permanent magnet motors

• Experience with high‑voltage, high‑power‑density systems, such as EV traction or eVTOL propulsion

• Inverter design experience is a plus

• Experience synchronizing and governing coupled, complex power systems, such as multiple inverters, or turbines and generators for bus‑tied or grid‑tied power, is a plus

PERKS & BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self‑managed and flexible time‑off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in‑office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.