Power Electronics Hardware Engineer

Nidec Motor Corporation is a leading electric motor manufacturer that is pioneering electrification across various industries. They are seeking a Power Electronics Hardware Engineer to design electric propulsion systems for battery-powered aircraft, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure safe and efficient operation of power electronics. The role involves extensive design, testing, and compliance responsibilities to support the aerospace industry's transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop functionally safe motor control power electronics for electric propulsion systems
• Develop power electronic circuits including motor control power stages using SiC devices, power converters, gate drivers, protection circuits, and EMI/EMC suppression circuits
• Apply expert knowledge of power electronics principles and SiC power devices to develop high performance, high efficiency, and highly reliable motor control electronics; stay up to date with advancements in power electronics technology including SiC devices, thermal management techniques and aerospace safety standards
• Typical design tasks include writing design specifications, performing design analysis and simulations, capturing circuit schematics, participating in design reviews, leading PCB layout process, creating BOMs and assembly drawings, authoring test specifications, and overseeing prototype, engineering validation, design verification, and agency certification phases of projects
• Lead technical design reviews for newly developed solutions with cross functional teams
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, mechanical engineers, and safety / certification experts to define system requirements and architecture
• Lead design and optimization of power electronics PCB layouts while collaborating with PCB designers, mechanical engineers, and safety / certification experts to ensure product requirements are met
• Collaborate with safety experts to conduct safety audits and reviews to ensure compliance with applicable safety standards
• Conduct circuit analysis and simulations to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the motor controller
• Conduct thorough testing and verification activities to validate the functionality and safety of the motor controller
• Perform thermal simulations to analyze and optimize the thermal performance of the power electronics system; collaborate with mechanical engineers and thermal experts to implement appropriate cooling and heat dissipation techniques and to ensure effective thermal management of the motor controller
• Utilize Altium Designer software for schematic design, PCB layout and manufacturing documentation
• Support PCBA manufacturing partners to ensure proper assembly and functional test of electronics, including creation of test specifications and collaboration on test equipment
• Ensure compliance with functional safety standards, such as ISO 26262, throughout the development process
• Conduct and document safety analyses and risk assessments to identify potential hazards and appropriate safety measures, define safety requirements and develop safety cases

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's or PhD's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or a related field
• 7 years of experience in power electronics design and development (including circuit simulation)
• Experience in New Product Development and Phase-Gate processes
• Experience in utilization of SiC devices in power electronics applications
• Thorough knowledge of thermal simulations and experience optimizing thermal performance
• High proficiency in Altium Designer software for schematic design, manufacturing documentation and some familiarity with PCB layout
• Experience in functional safety standards, such as ISO 26262, and their application in the aerospace industry
• Willingness to work with, and travel to, domestic and international design and manufacturing locations when necessary
• Experience in microcontroller / DSP based hardware for motor control applications desired
• Experience in electronics packaging and power electronics cooling techniques desired
• Experience in electronics Design for Manufacturability desired
• Experience in aviation DO-160G testing and DO-254 development
• Aerospace experience