We are looking for a Lead Power Electronics Engineer to lead development of Exowatt’s next-generation MW-class multi-port power conversion solution. This person will own system architecture, product and engineering requirements, partner evaluation, development oversight, validation, and certification readiness for a high-power solution using advanced technologies such as SiC, GaN, and/or Solid State Transformer architectures.
This is a senior technical role for someone who has designed, developed, or brought up power conversion systems at the hundreds-of-kW to MW scale. The ideal candidate has practical experience with high-power converter design, grid-interactive systems, controls integration, protection, thermal and mechanical design, EMI/EMC, safety, and certification.
The person in this role will work closely with product, systems, controls, firmware, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, supply chain, and external development partners to bring a robust MW-level multi-port solution to certification readiness by Q4 2027.
Key Responsibilities:
- Product Definition & Architecture
Lead architecture definition for a MW-class multi-port power conversion system supporting interfaces such as solar, storage, thermal generation, grid, load, and/or DC bus integration
Develop the Product Requirements Document and translate product needs into detailed Engineering Requirements across electrical, thermal, mechanical, controls, firmware, safety, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and certification
Evaluate SiC-based, GaN-based, and Solid State Transformer architecture options, including tradeoffs across performance, cost, reliability, scalability, manufacturability, certification complexity, and time-to-market
Define key system requirements, including voltage levels, power ratings, efficiency, isolation, grounding, protection, communications, operating modes, grid behavior, and thermal performance
Build technical roadmaps, risk registers, design review gates, and validation strategies to support the target development timeline
MW-Class Power Electronics DevelopmentLead technical development of high-power converter architectures, including DC/DC, DC/AC, AC/DC, AC/AC, bidirectional, isolated, modular, and multi-port conversion systems
Guide topology selection and trade studies for architectures such as dual-active-bridge converters, resonant converters, modular multilevel converters, NPC/ANPC topologies, interleaved converters, and medium-frequency transformer-based systems
Drive power stage design decisions, including semiconductor selection, gate drivers, magnetics, DC link design, busbars, sensing, filtering, protection, cooling, packaging, creepage/clearance, and insulation coordination
Review schematics, power layouts, high-power interconnects, thermal designs, safety systems, and controls interfaces
Work with controls and firmware teams to align modulation, protection logic, fault response, communications, diagnostics, and system state machines with system requirements
Partner Evaluation & Joint DevelopmentIdentify and evaluate external development partners, including power electronics design firms, OEMs, ODMs, contract manufacturers, labs, universities, and certification partners
Develop technical evaluation criteria for partner selection, including MW-level design experience, SiC/GaN capability, Solid State Transformer experience, controls expertise, manufacturing maturity, certification history, and execution speed
Lead technical due diligence through architecture reviews, capability assessments, reference checks, test data reviews, and risk assessments
Define statements of work, deliverables, milestones, design review gates, validation requirements, and acceptance criteria for joint development programs
Serve as the primary technical owner for external partner execution, ensuring performance, schedule, quality, documentation, and certification requirements are met
Test, Validation & Certification ReadinessDevelop system-level test and validation strategies for MW-class power conversion hardware, including prototype bring-up, integration testing, load testing, grid simulation, fault testing, thermal testing, and reliability testing
Define validation plans for electrical performance, efficiency, dynamic response, protection behavior, controls performance, communications, safety, EMI/EMC, thermal limits, and environmental operating conditions
Analyze test data to validate performance against requirements and identify design gaps, control issues, thermal issues, component limitations, or system-level risks
Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for prototype failures, test anomalies, performance gaps, and certification issues
Work with certification bodies and test labs to define the pathway toward applicable UL, IEEE, IEC, NEC, NRTL, grid interconnection, EMI/EMC, and safety requirements
Required Qualifications:
B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Power Systems, Controls, or a related field
10+ years of experience in power electronics, high-power converter development, grid-interactive systems, or advanced energy systems
Demonstrated experience with power conversion systems in the hundreds-of-kW to MW range; direct MW-class converter experience strongly preferred
Strong hands-on experience with SiC-based power conversion; GaN experience preferred
Experience leading high-power electrical products from concept through prototype, validation, and certification or production readiness
Deep understanding of converter topologies, semiconductor switching behavior, gate drivers, magnetics, DC link design, busbars, protection, filtering, EMI/EMC, and thermal constraints
Experience developing product requirements, engineering requirements, system specifications, test plans, validation plans, and certification-readiness documentation
Strong understanding of high-voltage and high-power safety, including isolation, creepage/clearance, grounding, fault containment, arc flash considerations, and lab safety practices
Ability to evaluate system-level tradeoffs across performance, cost, reliability, manufacturability, scalability, certification complexity, and time-to-market
Excellent technical communication skills with the ability to influence architecture decisions and align technical and non-technical stakeholders
Preferred Experience
Experience with Solid State Transformers, multi-port converters, modular converters, medium-voltage power conversion, or high-power isolated DC/DC architectures
Development of MW-class inverters, converters, rectifiers, UPS systems, EV fast charging systems, BESS power conversion systems, solar inverters, wind converters, industrial drives, or medium-voltage power electronics
Experience with grid-tied systems, renewable energy systems, energy storage, data center power, DC microgrids, or hybrid energy systems
Familiarity with grid-forming, grid-following, droop control, black start, synchronization, fault ride-through, harmonic control, and power quality requirements
Experience with SiC MOSFET modules, GaN devices, advanced gate drivers, laminated busbars, high-frequency magnetics, and high-power capacitor banks
Familiarity with simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, PSCAD, PSIM, LTspice, SPICE-based tools, or equivalent platforms
Experience with NRTL/certification labs and standards such as UL 1741, UL 1973, UL 9540, UL 2202, IEEE 1547, IEC 62477, IEC 61000, IEC 61800, or related high-power product standards
Experience working in a startup or fast-moving hardware product development environment
Ideal Candidate Profile
The right candidate has real MW-class power electronics experience, not just simulation or low-power design experience. They can compare SiC, GaN, Solid State Transformer, modular, isolated, and transformer-based architectures and make practical tradeoffs across performance, cost, reliability, certification, manufacturability, and schedule.
They are comfortable moving from product requirements to engineering requirements, from architecture to prototype, and from test data to root-cause analysis. They also know how to evaluate external partners and hold them accountable while helping Exowatt build strong internal technical capability.
Skills Required
- BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or related field.
- 7+ years of experience in power systems engineering, microgrid design, or power generation projects.
- Deep knowledge of power electronics, transformers, switchgear, protective relays, and inverters.
- Experience integrating solar, battery storage, or thermal generation into islanded and grid-connected microgrids.
- Familiarity with IEEE 1547, UL 1741 SA, NFPA 70 (NEC), FERC and NERC standards and utility interconnection processes.
- Proficiency with ETAP, PSCAD, PSS/E, PowerWorld, HOMER, or similar power system modeling and analysis tools.
- Experience working with EPCs, utilities, and developers to deploy and commission power generation projects.
- Ability to define protection schemes, relay settings, and control logic for system stability and safety.
- Strong communication and leadership skills to interface with customers and cross-functional teams.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced startup environment and manage multiple projects.
What We Do
Exowatt is a next generation renewable energy company offering commercial and industrial customers a modular full-stack energy solution that can provide dispatchable power and heat for up to 24 hours per day, specifically designed to meet the needs of energy-intensive applications such as data centers. Our mission is clear, to make sustainable renewable energy always available and almost free.
