Senior Power Electronics Engineer

Location: San Jose, CA- Hybrid (PST time zone preferred)
Team: Power Systems
 

The Impact You’ll Make:

1AP is looking for a Senior Power Electronics Engineer to lead the design and development of advanced power conversion systems from concept to production The ideal candidate will have a strong background in power conversion topologies, digital control implementation, and product development, along with a proven ability to drive projects from initial design through validation and deployment. This is an opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment where innovation and problem-solving are at the core of what we do.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead power electronics design in support of new product development.
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams to resolve early (architectural) and late (lab, test & validation) challenges on fast timelines.
• Design and implement control algorithms for DC/DC, AC/DC and DC/AC conversion circuitry
• Develop off-line and on-line simulation models used for early algorithm validation
• Collaborate with firmware engineers for control algorithm implementation
• Collaborate with other engineers for control and hardware validation on hardware prototypes
• Some travel is expected.
• Other duties as needed.

The Skills You Bring:

• Master of Science (MS) degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 7 years of work experience in power electronics design, analysis, test, and troubleshooting. 
• Minimum of 3 years of industry work experience as power electronics technical lead.
• Experience in power topologies such as LLC, DAB, multi-level converters including PFC (single phase and three phase) and associated soft switching techniques.
• Experience in modelling power converter designs using simulation tools such as PSIM, Matlab and Spice. 
• Experience in implementing digital control designs in microcontrollers, DSPs and/or FPGAs.
• Strong experience in advanced modulation strategies used for loss minimization, including those for soft-switching (ZVS/ZCS).
• Strong experience in feedback loop controllers’ design and their stability and performance optimization.
• Experience in planning and implementing HW and FW verification during product development, to ensure the design meets specifications and requirements.
• Expertise in power circuit analysis, such as worst-case circuit analysis, failure method effectiveness and criticality, and reliability.
• Extensive hands-on experience with lab instruments such as oscilloscopes, RLC analyzers, impedance analyzers, spectrum analyzers, electronic (AC/DC) loads, and signal/power generators.
• Ability to analyze and optimize circuits and designs for cost.
• Demonstrated self-starter with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced global design and manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated the ability to transition from theoretical to implementation-based thinking.
• Experience studying emerging technologies and applying them in innovative ways.
• Very strong analytical skills and detail-oriented.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to work in a fast paced environment.

Nice to Have:

• PhD in power electronics.
• Extensive industry experience designing successful power electronics products from concept through schematic, layout, manufacturing, test, and deployment as project leader.
• Experience in renewable product development
• Experience with full product development process including EMI/EMC testing, certification processes, failure analysis, etc.
• Experience working with x-functional teams: mechanical, software, and test.
• Knowledge of industry standards such as UL 1741, IEEE 1547 and NEC code for renewable energy is a plus. 

Benefits and Perks:

• Competitive Compensation Package

• Remote Flexibility with 5-15% travel to sites as needed

• Health Insurance: We offer 100% coverage of employee premiums under a Gold-level PPO plan. Dental & Vision Insurance: 50% of employee premiums are covered.

• Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match.

Additional Information:

Minimum salary of $170,000 to maximum salary of $300,000 + equity + benefits.

The range provided is 1AP’s reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount will be based on job-related and non-discriminatory factors such as location, experience, training, skills, and abilities. Consult with your Recruiter during the initial call to determine a more targeted range based on these job-related factors.

About 1st Avenue Power:

At 1st Avenue Power, we are on a mission to deliver simple, fast-to-deploy, customer-centric and intelligent power systems leveraging the abundance of solar to provide inexpensive and reliable clean energy to global customers from data centers to energy starved communities around the world. We envision a future where every community, business, and nation thrives on the limitless potential of clean energy, united in a shared commitment to a sustainable and equitable world.

You will be working with Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, one of the most successful clean energy technology innovators and entrepreneurs who has been a driving force in making solar-based energy solutions the cheapest and most reliable energy option. Tom founded and led Avantus (formerly known as “8minute Solar Energy“), to become one of the largest and most profitable solar and energy storage companies in the United States and the largest in California, including delivering over 17% of Los Angeles’ power.  

When Tom sold his interest in Avantus’ development business  to KKR in mid-2024, it had delivered over $1 billion in profit and secured over $10 Billion in power purchase agreements and project financings with a pipeline of over 30 GW of solar and 90 GWh of energy storage, capable of powering the homes of more than 20 million Americans day and night. 

Tom’s family office investment firm, 1st Avenue Capital, is building teams for the next generation of advanced solar power system architecture and AI to aggressively drive down the cost of and equitable access to clean and reliable energy.[1] 1st Avenue’s advanced large scale power systems are addressing the increasing inadequacy of the grid to meet the massively growing power demands of the digital economy, while its intelligent distributed solar utilities are leapfrogging the grid to provide equitable access to inexpensive, clean and reliable power to underserved communities around the world.

1AI Energy, the employing entity for 1st Avenue Power, and 1st Avenue Power are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on race (inclusive of traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), age, veteran or military status, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, reproductive decision-making, or any other legally recognized protected class under federal, state, or local law.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on 1AI Energy or 1st Avenue Power. Please inform the company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing an application or to otherwise participate in the application process. 

Join our team and make a real difference in the world.

[1: Additionally, 1st Avenue is in the business of acquiring projects where there has been a final notice-to-proceed or financial close.]