Senior Power Systems Engineer

ABB; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

ABB in Napier, New Zealand, seeks an experienced power electronics engineer to lead design, testing, and deployment of UPS, BESS, AVC, and SFC systems. You will work on power conditioning technologies, drive innovation, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

The role emphasizes hands-on engineering, system integration, and collaboration across multi-site teams to optimize performance and reduce costs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience designing/maintaining power electronic systems in specialist teams.
• Solid understanding of three-phase systems and power electronics in grid-connected applications.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and circuit simulation tools (PSCAD, Matlab/Simulink) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive functional, performance, and safety testing on UPS, Battery Energy Storage Systems, AVC, and SFC systems; ensure IEC/UL compliance.
• Contribute to design, analysis, and validation of low/medium-voltage power conditioning and energy management systems.
• Develop, maintain technical documentation including test procedures, commissioning guides, user manuals, and interface specifications.

Skills

Power electronics

Team leadership

English communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Electronics

Tools

AutoCAD

PSCAD

Matlab/Simulink

Job description

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner-and every person here makes that happen. You'll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

Chapter Lead (ELSP Pilot)

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In this role, you'll help run what runs the world, by taking on meaningful work that drives real impact. You will contribute significantly to successful project outcomes within technology, product, and solution development, including associated Intellectual Property (IP). You will act as a key point of expertise in Research & Development, troubleshooting, and product engineering support. You will also apply your deep technical knowledge to propose and implement innovative ideas that strengthen our technology roadmap.

Our product portfolio spans UPS systems, Battery Energy Storage Systems, Active Voltage Conditioners, and Static Frequency Converters, ranging from 125 kVA to 6 MVA. Your focus will be on developing and enhancing Power Conditioning core technologies, driving innovation to improve performance, reduce cost, and increase operational efficiency.

The work model for the role is: onsite #LI-Onsite

Location: Napier, New Zealand.

This role is contributing to the Critical Power product group in New Zealand.

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Conduct comprehensive functional, performance, and safety testing on UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), AVC (Active Voltage Conditioner), and SFC (Static Frequency Converter) systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards (IEC/UL certifications).
• Contribute to the design, analysis, and validation of low and medium-voltage power conditioning and energy management systems, including system protection schemes, electrical calculations, power quality optimization, energy storage integration, and evaluation of magnetic components.
• Develop, improve, and maintain accurate technical documentation including test procedures, commissioning guides, user manuals, as-built drawings, and interface specifications for switchgear and battery systems; create and refine inspection and test plans for all power systems.
• Plan and execute system commissioning activities on customer sites, including pre-commissioning inspections, power-up sequences, functional verification, performance optimization, and troubleshooting across all product lines.
• Troubleshoot and diagnose electrical faults, power quality issues, and system performance problems; develop improvement strategies and provide technical guidance to support customer applications.
• Develop deep expertise in ABB's power conditioning portfolio (HiPerGuard, BESS, AVC, and SureWave SFC) and stay current with emerging power and energy management technologies.

Qualifications for the role

• Minimum 5 years of experience designing/maintaining power electronic systems within specialist teams; capable of leading engineering projects and guiding junior colleagues.
• Solid understanding of three-phase systems and power electronics, grid-connected power electronic applications, active and reactive power flow, power quality conditioner and energy storage systems is advantageous.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and circuit simulation tools (e.g., PSCAD, Matlab/Simulink) is a plus.
• Understanding of control methods with ability to communicate effectively with control engineering teams to ensure seamless system integration.
• Proven ability to apply innovative thinking and technical creativity across complex R&D assignments and challenging engineering problems.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and/or Power Electronics Engineering; postgraduate qualifications are desirable.
• Strong English communication skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across multiple functions, technical domains, and multi-site engineering teams.

More about us

ABB Smart Power provides energy distribution solutions for data centers, industrial and manufacturing plants, critical infrastructure and commercial buildings. The Division's technical teams work closely with industry partners, delivering advanced solutions that support rapid growth, energy transition, and sustainability objectives. The Division's portfolio includes industrial circuit breakers, low-voltage systems, motor starting applications, and safety devices like switches and relays. Its Power Protection unit supports the world's largest data center companies with advanced energy-efficient UPS solutions. The Division's ABB Ability Energy Manager provides a scalable, easy-to-use platform that helps organizations save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?