Senior Power Systems & Controls Engineer

Wabtec; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 121,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

Wabtec is seeking a Senior Power Systems & Controls Engineer to advance next-generation electric propulsion and power electronics for locomotive and mining platforms. You will lead cross-functional teams across engineering, product management, sourcing, and manufacturing to deliver innovative, production-ready solutions.

You will shape the technical vision for high-power inverter/converter designs, SiC devices, HIL validation, and integration with battery-electric architectures, while mentoring

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering is required.
• Ph.D. is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of high-power inverter and converter design, including closed-loop control systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical strategy and future vision for power electronics and controls systems across locomotive and mining product platforms.
• Lead the development of next-generation inverter, converter, and battery-electric powertrain technologies from concept through production implementation.
• Design, develop, and validate high-power IGBT and silicon carbide (SiC) inverter and converter architectures, including liquid-cooled power electronics systems.
• Partner with engineering, product management, sourcing, manufacturing, and field service teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions that meet customer and business requirements.
• Define system and subsystem requirements and provide technical leadership for critical power electronics components, controls, and embedded software interfaces.
• Perform system modeling, simulation, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation while supporting troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and field issue resolution.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to support future product innovation and commercialization.
• Mentor and coach engineering teams while ensuring technical quality, timely execution, and responsiveness to customer and program requirements.

Skills

Power electronics

Controls engineering

MATLAB/Simulink

HIL testing

Leadership / mentoring

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Ph.D. preferred

Tools

OPAL-RT HIL

PLECS

Job description

Who will you be working with?

The Senior Power Systems & Controls Engineer will work closely with engineering, product management, supply chain, manufacturing, and service organizations to develop and deploy advanced power electronics and controls technologies for locomotive and mining applications. This role partners with technical leaders and cross-functional teams to translate business and system requirements into innovative, production-ready solutions.

How will you make a difference?

In this role, you will help shape the strategic vision and technical roadmap for next-generation electric propulsion, auxiliary power systems, and battery-electric architectures. Your expertise in power electronics and advanced controls will drive innovation, improve product performance, and support the development of sustainable transportation solutions across Wabtec's locomotive and mining platforms.

What will your typical day look like?

• Define and drive the technical strategy and future vision for power electronics and controls systems across locomotive and mining product platforms.
• Lead the development of next-generation inverter, converter, and battery-electric powertrain technologies from concept through production implementation.
• Design, develop, and validate high-power IGBT and silicon carbide (SiC) inverter and converter architectures, including liquid-cooled power electronics systems.
• Partner with engineering, product management, sourcing, manufacturing, and field service teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions that meet customer and business requirements.
• Define system and subsystem requirements and provide technical leadership for critical power electronics components, controls, and embedded software interfaces.
• Perform system modeling, simulation, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation while supporting troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and field issue resolution.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to support future product innovation and commercialization.
• Mentor and coach engineering teams while ensuring technical quality, timely execution, and responsiveness to customer and program requirements.

What do we want to know about you?

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering required; Ph.D. preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in power electronics, controls, or electrified transportation systems.
• Expert knowledge of high-power inverter and converter design, including closed-loop control systems, electric drive systems, and gate drive architectures.
• Deep understanding of silicon and silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor technologies, device control, switching behavior, system integration, and semiconductor physics.
• Demonstrated ability to translate system-level requirements into conceptual designs, prototypes, and production-ready solutions.
• Experience analyzing complex electromechanical systems, including harmonics, common mode effects, ground currents, transient performance, and parasitic parameters.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and experience developing plant models and simulation environments for OPAL-RT Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) platforms; experience with PLECS, Simplorer, or similar tools is a plus.
• Experience with battery-electric vehicle architectures, energy storage integration, and heavy-duty transportation applications, along with established industry relationships, is preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, presentation, organizational, and technical documentation skills, with a proven ability to lead and mentor engineering teams.

What about the physical demands of the job?

• Ability to work in office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to safely perform hands‑on testing and evaluation of electrical and power electronics systems.
• Ability to remain stationary and use a computer for extended periods.
• Occasional travel to customer, supplier, and Wabtec facilities may be required.
• You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.

This role is also eligible for a performance bonus. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.

Relocation assistance may be provided if eligibility requirements are met.

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable) and fitness for duty test (as applicable).

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $120600-171700 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on off