Senior Power Electronics Engineer
Location: Sterling, Virginia
Work Arrangement: On-site
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Overview:
A rapidly growing engineering and manufacturing organization is seeking a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to lead the electrical design and development of high-current solid-state switching platforms used in mission-critical environments. This individual will own detailed schematic design for SCR/thyristor-based switching architectures and contribute to system protection, fault-response, and thermal-management strategies. The position requires close collaboration with firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, testing, and compliance teams to bring reliable, safety-certified power systems to market.
Key Responsibilities:
Contribute to system-level architecture and electrical subsystem definition for high-current solid-state switching equipment.
Own detailed power and control schematic design for SCR/thyristor-based switching platforms.
Design and optimize critical circuits, including:
- Isolated gate-drive and firing circuits
- Snubber networks and dv/dt protectiondi/dt limiting strategies
- Fault commutation and semiconductor protection mechanisms
Perform thermal analysis and Safe Operating Area evaluations for high-power semiconductor modules.
Conduct short-circuit, overload, fault-current, and protection-coordination studies.
Review PCB layouts for high-current routing, creepage and clearance compliance, isolation integrity, and EMC performance.
Support high-current validation and laboratory testing activities involving systems rated up to 1600A.Participate in cross-functional design reviews and provide technical guidance to firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, and testing teams.
Support compliance-driven product development and UL certification efforts for low-voltage power-electronics equipment.
Promote safe practices within high-power development and testing environments.
Take ownership of design integrity, validation results, and overall product reliability.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
At least seven years of hands-on industrial power-electronics design experience.
Demonstrated experience designing schematics for high-current electrical systems.
Deep technical knowledge of SCR/thyristor-based solid-state switching systems.
Experience developing industrial power-electronics equipment such as inverters, converters, static switches, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with applicable UL requirements and NEC guidelines for low-voltage power equipment.
Proficiency with schematic-design tools such as Altium Designer or OrCAD.Experience reviewing PCB layouts for high-power applications.
Working knowledge of EMC/EMI mitigation techniques within power-electronics systems.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical decision-making abilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
Experience supporting products through UL certification or compliance testing.
Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, LTspice, or comparable simulation tools.
Experience designing redundant or high-reliability power architectures.
Experience working with FPGA- or DSP-based control platforms for power-switching applications.
