Principal Power Electronics Engineer
4 days ago
Coventry
Job Title: Principal Power Electronics Engineer (Contract) Contract Length: 4 Months IR35 Status: Outside IR35 Location: Coventry The Opportunity We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Power Electronics Engineer to lead the development of advanced power conversion systems for cutting-edge electrification applications. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you will take ownership of architecture definition, design, and verification of power electronics solutions, including motor drives and control systems. You will work closely with a multi-disciplinary engineering team and external suppliers to deliver high-performance, robust products for demanding applications such as electric vehicles and energy systems. Key Responsibilities Design & Development • Lead the design and development of innovative power electronic systems, including converters, inverters, and motor drives, • Define system architectures, selecting optimal topologies to balance efficiency, cost, size, and performance, • Produce detailed electronic designs, including schematics and oversight of PCB layouts, • Design and specify key components including switching devices, gate drives, magnetics, and filtering systems, • Define control strategies and system requirements for monitoring and operation, • Analyse power losses and support thermal management strategies, • Lead commissioning and verification of systems, ensuring compliance with specifications and standards, • Conduct root cause analysis and resolve technical issues, • Support prototype builds, system integration, and testing activities, • Deliver engineering activities in line with project timelines, quality standards, and change control processes, • Support requirements management, FMEA, and functional safety activities at hardware level, • Work closely with cross-functional teams including software, mechanical, and systems engineering, • Engage with suppliers and manufacturers to support component selection and product delivery, • Build and maintain strong relationships with external technology partners Key Skills & Experience Essential • Degree in Electronics Engineering or a related discipline, • Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in power electronics design and development, • Proven experience with high-voltage (>400V) and high-power (>10kW) systems, • Strong expertise in:, • Power conversion topologies (e.g. DC-DC, inverters, rectifiers), • Switching technologies (Si, SiC, GaN), • Gate driver design and optimisation, • Magnetics design (inductors, transformers), • Analog and digital interface electronics, • Experience with schematic design and PCB layout for high-current/high-voltage systems, • Proficiency with simulation tools such as PLECS, PSIM, or SPICE, • Hands-on experience with lab testing and safe working practices for high-voltage systems, • Experience in industries such as automotive, electrification, aerospace, or energy storage, • Knowledge of EMC standards and testing, • Experience with functional safety and hardware compliance standards, • Understanding of electrical safety regulations and protection systems, • Experience designing complex multi-layer PCBs, • Practical skills in soldering, rework, and prototype development Technical Knowledge • Deep understanding of power conversion topologies (e.g. LLC, PSFB, DAB) and their control methods, • Strong knowledge of semiconductor technologies and their application, • Expertise in switching behaviour optimisation and loss reduction, • Understanding of magnetic component design and power loss mechanisms, • Knowledge of thermal analysis and thermal management techniques