Senior Pulsed Power Engineer

SARA; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Generous PTO program

Tuition & certification reimbursement

Flexible work schedules

Discretionary employee bonuses

401(k) match/profit sharing

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Job summary

SARA in Colorado Springs is seeking a Senior Pulsed Power Engineer for R&D activities. This role requires expertise in pulsed power systems, RF systems, and power electronics, along with strong leadership and communication skills. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in a related field and have extensive experience in pulsed power technologies. The position offers a competitive salary range of $130,000 to $185,000, along with comprehensive benefits including medical insurance, PTO, and 401(k) matching.

Qualifications

• 10-12 years of experience in Pulsed Power, Power Electronics, High Power Solid-State Switching.
• Experience using basic data acquisition equipment.
• Must work and communicate well with others.

Responsibilities

• Support rapid R&D activities in Colorado Springs.
• Lead engineers in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Demonstrate experience in design and analysis of high-power technologies.

Skills

Pulsed power systems

RF systems

Power electronics

High-speed diagnostics

High voltage insulation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Network analyzers

Voltage probes

Current probes

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

Scientific Applications & Research Associates, Inc. (SARA) is a world-class Defense Research and Development enterprise, with a charter to create new and emerging technology innovations in support of Commercial & Government organizations. We have expertise in RF, EMP, Pulsed Power, Acoustics and Threat Warning Systems; partnering with our customers to address real-world problems with cost-effective solutions… that work.

SARA, Inc. High Power Electromagnetics Division (HPEM) is looking for an exceptionally talented, motivated, and creative Senior Pulsed Power Engineer to support rapid Research & Development (R&D) activities in Colorado Springs, CO. The HPEM team is at the forefront of radiated and conducted energy delivery systems from prime power to application. The candidate will have the opportunity to grow, lead, and learn with talented engineers, physicists, and technicians on long‑term programs and new programs supporting the DoD, DoE, and their contractors. Our small group will allow the candidate to experience, contribute, and collaborate in a multidisciplinary nature from conception all the way through to implementation.

Specifically, we are looking for a Senior Pulsed Power Engineer with skills and interest in pulsed power systems and drivers, RF systems, power electronics, high‑speed diagnostics, and high voltage insulation. The position includes a wide range of challenging and interesting work that involves both high voltage (1-100s of kV) and high frequency (60 Hz up to 10 GHz) equipment. This position requires a solid foundation in electromagnetic and power electronics theory and application. Hands‑on experience with hardware is vital and required.

This candidate must be a strong team participant and leader, have excellent communication skills, be resourceful and creative, and willing to lead engineers in a multidisciplinary engineering environment. The candidate must be able to demonstrate experience & knowledge in detailed design and analysis of high‑power switching technologies, pulsed forming networks, high voltage insulation, compact & repetitive pulsed power systems, SPICE simulation, and protection & filtering circuits. Experience in power electronics, capacitor chargers, electromagnetics, microelectronics, and thermal design is a plus.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 10-12 years of experience in Pulsed Power, Power Electronics, High Power Solid‑State Switching, Applied Electromagnetics, High Voltage (1 to 100s of kilovolts)
• Able to clearly communicate experimental procedures, data, and analyses on paper, and deliver technical briefings in face‑to‑face communication scenarios
• Must work and communicate well with others and be capable of multitasking and managing time effectively to meet project objectives
• Experience using basic data acquisition equipment including multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, voltage probes, current probes, and spectrum analyzers
• Significant travel may be required (2-3 weeks in a row a few times a year)
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top‑Secret security clearance
• Light physical effort, involving standing, sitting and use of hands while performing duties, carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds
• Working environment is indoor, moderately quiet, reasonably clean, well‑lighted and well‑ventilated; moderate physical hazards may exist

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 16+ years of experience in Power Electronics, Pulsed Power (Marx Generators, Pulsed Forming Networks, Inductive Voltage Adders, Linear Transformer Drivers, Accelerators, etc.), High Power Microwaves, High Power RF, EMI Protection, High Power Solid‑State Switching and Packaging, Power Conditioning, DCDC & ACDC Power Conversion, High Voltage (1 to 100s of kilovolts), Protection Circuits, High‑Speed Communication Circuits, and Digital and Analog Controls, Power Magnetics, Gate Drives, I/O Interface Circuits and Control Hardware, and System‑Level Design & Integration
• Experience with FDTD EM and Multiphysics simulation codes, preferably with COMSOL Multiphysics Simulation Software
• Experience with data processing software including Excel, MATLAB, Python, Mathcad, and Origin
• Experience with writing technical and cost proposals
• Active DoD TS or DoE Q clearance

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; and other supplemental programs
• A generous PTO program (vacation, sick, holiday)
• Tuition & certification reimbursement
• Flexible work schedules
• Discretionary Employee bonuses
• 401(k) match/profit sharing
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Pay Range

Salary at SARA is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract‑specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $130,000 to $185,000 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of SARA's total compensation package for employees.

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026

SARA is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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