P

Staff Power Electronics Engineer

Pivotal
Full-time
On-site
$75,000 - $281,000 USD yearly
Join to apply for theStaff Power Electronics Engineerrole atPivotal
Join to apply for theStaff Power Electronics Engineerrole atPivotal
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This range is provided by Pivotal. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience β€” talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range$180,000.00/yr - $210,000.00/yr
Pivotal is the leader in the emerging market of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We design, develop, and manufacture light eVTOL aircraft and are renowned for the BlackFly, the first light eVTOL to fly manned missions and enter the consumer market.
Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal vehicles are designed for a wide range of consumer, public service, and defense applications. Our distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable platform have been in development, preparing to enter the market for over 10 years. We recently announced our next-generation aircraft, the Helix, planned for general release and scalable production in early 2025.
Mobility is one of the most highly-valued areas of technology investment today. This is the right company, in the right space, the right strategy, at the right time. We invite you to join our amazing team and grow with us.
About the Job
As part of the Electrical Engineering team, you will lead the design, manufacturing, and testing of subsystems within Pivotal’s avionics and electronics. This role requires ownership of critical power electronic systems throughout their lifecycle, ensuring they meet performance, reliability, and safety standards. You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position, as we believe a wide variety of skills and backgrounds are key to fostering innovation and driving our technology forward.
Responsibilities
Take ownership of multiple electronic assemblies on the aircraft throughout the design lifecycle, including development, validation, and production phases
Explore architectural changes and improvements to existing designs to optimize performance and reliability
Develop efficient production testing solutions for power electronics and related assemblies
Design and coordinate comprehensive design validation testing for electronic systems, sensors, and control electronics
Mentor electrical engineers, providing technical guidance and fostering best practices throughout the design and development process
Perform root cause analysis, implementing fixes to improve yield, performance, reliability, and manufacturability of electronic assemblies
Iterate on existing designs and create innovative solutions to new engineering challenges
Develop hardware and firmware for power electronics, propulsion systems, sensors, and control electronics
Qualifications
Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering
Minimum of 8+ years of relevant experience in power electronics, electrical systems, or related fields
Automotive experience, or the equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability
Proficiency in designing and sizing high-voltage power architectures (300V+), including power distribution, energy storage systems, and power conversion
Familiarity with AC/DC, DC/DC, and DC/AC applications and control of variable frequency converters
Strong understanding of power electronics topologies
Experience with high voltage power semiconductor selection (Si/SiC/GaN MOSFETs, Diodes), gate drive, and protection circuit design
Strong understanding of switching waveforms, semiconductor losses, and experience with loss modeling
System understanding of device characteristics, gate driving circuit design, thermal design, topologies, modulation schemes, and control strategies in high- and low-voltage power converters
Familiar with tools such as Altium, PLECS, PSCAD/EMTDC, MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE
Experience with advanced modulation approaches for achieving highly efficient power electronic converter designs
Solid understanding of the theory and application of magnetics (inductors, transformers) and capacitors (electrolytic, film, and ceramic) used for power conversion
Experience in supervision of PCB layout for minimal stray inductance and capacitance, placement strategies for better manufacturability, power/signal plane definition, and EMC optimization
Proficiency with hands-on EE tools (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, signal generators, etc.)
In-depth knowledge of common communication protocols such as SPI, UART, and CAN
Experience in developing and troubleshooting high-voltage systems and components, ensuring safety and compliance with industry standards
Bonus Qualifications
Experience with aviation electronics standards, architectures, and processes
Successfully taken at least one product through the entire development lifecycle, from concept to production
Experience with data analysis/aggregation using Python or MATLAB
Familiarity/Experience with One or More of the Following:
Low and high voltage power electronics design
EMI/EMC compliance and testing processes
DFMEA and reliability metrics for electronics
Experience in prototype and medium-volume manufacturing
Familiarity with GPS or UAV sensors
Personal Attributes
Resourceful, curious, and never satisfied with the status quo
Always thinking about how to make things more efficient
Ability to identify and communicate risks, mitigate and drive issues to closure
Attention to detail, ability to prioritize
Ability to build stuff with your hands
Thrive in a fast-moving, stimulating, and supportive team environment
Strong work ethic and detail-oriented
Love learning and being challenged
Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States and willing to work onsite at our HQ office in Palo Alto, CA.
Pivotal offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401k plans.
Pivotal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pivotal does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
Seniority levelSeniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment typeEmployment type Full-time
Job functionIndustries Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Pivotal by 2x
Inferred from the description for this jobMedical insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Disability insurance
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