Staff Applications Engineer

Efficient Power Conversion; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance including dental and vision coverage

401(k)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Efficient Power Conversion in El Segundo, California, is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer to design and evaluate high-performance power converters. The position requires a strong background in power electronics and DC-to-DC converter topologies, along with at least 10 years of experience or a Ph.D. with 1-3 years. The role includes drafting patents, publishing articles, and collaborating with R&D teams. Benefits include health insurance, 401(k), and relocation assistance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years experience with a Bachelor's, or Ph.D. with 1-3 years.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Knowledgeable in high-frequency DC-to-DC switching converters.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and evaluate power converters and evaluation boards.
• Publish technical articles and develop training materials.
• Collaborate with R&D teams on new products.
• Perform simulations using LTspice and PLECS.
• Prepare detailed technical reports and provide customer support.

Skills

Power electronics design

DC-to-DC converter topologies

Closed-loop control systems

Schematic capture

PCB design

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

LTspice

PLECS

Altium

Job description

Electrical Engineering (Power Electronics)

Overview

This is an opportunity to work at the cutting edge of power electronics. Efficient Power Conversion Corp. (EPC) was the first to introduce and commercialize enhancement‑mode GaN transistors and monolithically integrated GaN power stages. EPC continues to advance GaN performance and extend its advantage over silicon‑based power devices across a wide range of voltage levels, from 15 V to 350 V. We are seeking highly motivated individuals who can identify and leverage the technological advantages of GaN‑based semiconductors in existing and emerging applications. Join our team and help develop the next generation of power semiconductor technology.

Responsibilities

• Discover, invent and design various circuit elements, such as capacitors, inductors, resistors, various types of active elements such as comparators, voltage references, logic gates, etc, compatible with a GaN IC process.
• Discover, invent and design new types of active elements such as P‑type and D‑mode enhancement‑mode FETs, combinations, diodes, etc. compatible with a GaN IC process.
• Discover and draft process to realize various elements on a GaN IC compatible substrate such as well structures in the substrate.
• Working with counsel, draft patent applications.
• Draft testing and evaluation procedures and reports that can be used as part of the discovery and invention process.
• Draft specifications of the various elements that can be used to build sub‑circuits.
• Draft and provide simulate‑able elements that can be used to build sub‑circuits.
• Draft mask layout – specifications, layout, procedures for manufacturing.
• Evaluate sub‑circuit performance and extract information for improvements to elements.
• Design and implement IC test probing.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and evaluate high‑performance power converters and evaluation boards to demonstrate the advantages of EPC’s GaN devices.
• Publish technical articles in journals and trade magazines, and develop training materials for EPC teams and customers.
• Collaborate with EPC R&D teams on the development and market introduction of new products.
• Perform device‑level and system‑level simulations using LTspice and PLECS.
• Plan and supervise benchmark testing of EPC GaN products and prepare detailed technical reports.
• Provide technical support to customers and field application engineers (FAEs).

Required Experience

• Experience with high‑frequency DC‑to‑DC switching converters and power electronics topologies.
• Familiarity with resonant, multi‑phase, and multi‑level converter topologies.
• Experience debugging hardware issues in power electronic systems.
• Experience with PCB layout and design processes for power converter systems (Altium preferred).
• Practical laboratory experience, including experimental setup, testing, data analysis, documentation, soldering, rework, and hardware modification.
• Publications, presentations, or technical writing experience in English is a plus.

Required Skills

• Strong background in power electronics and switching converter design, including in-depth knowledge of DC‑to‑DC converter topologies such as resonant converters.
• Solid understanding of closed‑loop control systems.
• Understanding of analog circuit design and thermal management of power systems is a plus.
• Proficiency in schematic capture, PCB design (Altium preferred), and simulation tools (e.g., LTspice, PLECS).
• Understanding of magnetic component design and application is a plus.
• Strong listening, verbal, and written communication skills, with excellent interpersonal abilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (or related field) with at least 10 years of experience, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 1‑3 years of experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Benefits

• Health insurance including dental and vision coverage.
• 401(k).
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Relocation assistance.

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.