Job Title:

Sr. Power Electronics Engineer

Job Code:

Position Last Updated:

July 15, 2010

Department:

Engineering

Summary of Job:

Responsible for the design and development of new product from ground up, starting by the marketing requirement and all the way to production. Will also be responsible for redesigning some of the existing products to enhance performance, improve reliability and efficiency, and add functionality.

Will work within the Engineering Department to ensure the smooth transition of new products into production. Will interact with people in other departments throughout the organization to resolve issues, answer questions, and provide product training.  Interaction with vendors and contract manufacturers will also be required.  Will analyze high reliability, DC-AC power inverters, DC-DC converters, and related devices.   Provide mentoring and training to other engineers.

Reporting Relationship:

Project Design Manager

Essential Functions:

• Power supply design activities including preliminary analysis and evaluation, topology selection and comparison, mathematical calculation, computer simulation, prototyping and debugging, schematics and layout, testing and function validation, magnetic design and prototyping, EMI filters, protection and monitoring circuits, components selection, and finally take the product through regulatory certification.
• Will participate in hardware requirements analysis and derivation, reliability studies, and design verification testing.
• Adjust, calibrate, align and modify circuitry and components and record effects on unit performance
• Testing, troubleshooting, diagnosis, and root cause analysis of sub-assembly and system-level problems down to the component level. 
• Proactively define and suggest improvements to the design engineering environment as well as areas unrelated to engineering.
• Provides overall project planning for activities surrounding released products including schedules, generating test and qualification plans, and updating specifications.
• Generate full documentation package for all released products including but not limited to: schematics, Layout files, BOMs, test procedures.
• Interfacing with cross-functional departments
• Working with Engineering Technicians and other designers

Subordinates:

Assigned on project by project bases.

Job Requirements:

Technical Skills / Knowledge:

• Must have seven or more years experience in Power Supply design technologies.
• Extensive knowledge of: high frequency switching power supply topologies, control architectures, high frequency magnetics design, power conversion circuit design and analysis.
• Circuit simulation, layout, feedback control theory, EMC and Safety agency compliance, and logic/interface circuit design.
• Demonstrated knowledge of P-Spice, ORCAD, or Cadence design tools (or similar software packages).
• Must be able to design a range of simple analog/digital circuits and/or complex power supply stages from 1W – 500W.
• Demonstrated experience in power electronics modeling (heat generation, life prediction, and optimal design), hardware design (digital and analog) and assembly design including heat transfer and vibration.
• Experience in conducting experimental tests and evaluate results, including electromagnetic compliance (EMC), electromagnetic immunity (EMI), highly accelerated life test (HALT) as well as various electrical & environmental tests.
• Extensive experience with all standard electrical test equipment.
• Capable of writing reports, technical papers, and production line test specifications.
• Provide technical support to marketing, manufacturing, quality, customers, and supply management organizations.
• Must be willing to work on circuits with hazardous voltages up to 1kV DC and demonstrate skills with handling such voltages.
• Demonstrated ability to use and respect hand tools and common electronics bench instruments, such as oscilloscopes, meters and sensitive measuring equipment.
• Experience using PCB layout tools such as Cadence.

Preferred but not required experience

• Microcontroller programming experience
• Experience programming digital devices such as microcontrollers

Independence/ Accountability:

• Highly motivated, self-directed, independent thinker
• Comply with engineering documentation standards, engineering plans, system specifications and test procedures

Problem Solving:

• Creativity and innovation skills required to solve new problems and to uncover new problems to solve.
• Engineer will be required to resolve problems and issues on a daily basis

Leadership Activities:

• Must be able to coach and train Technicians
• Ability to lead teams or projects.
• Skilled in organizing, prioritizing and coordinating highly effective working relationships with all levels of personnel within and outside of the organization
  • Assists other departments as required.

Communication Skills:

• Outstanding organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent team and individual contributor skills.

Customary Education and Experience:

• B.S., M.S., or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering
• 7+ years of concurrent power electronics experience
• Performing duties similar to the essential function of this job description

Physical Demands:

• Walking, standing and sitting
• Long periods of computer usage
• Handling – seizing, holding, grasping and fingering of objects, tools and controls
• Reaching
• Vision – close vision, color differentiation

Working Conditions:

• Office Setting
• Moderate noise level
• Some travel required
• Flexible hours.  May be required to work on off hours and weekends.