Senior Power Electronics Engineer

Astro Mechanica
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward candidates with a strong background in power electronics and a history of product development, comfortable with high-voltage and high-power systems design.

Best fit for

  • Engineers with expertise in high-frequency multilevel architectures and EMI optimization
    — “expertise in optimizing switching power loops to optimize converter performance and minimize EMI”
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-paced, flat-structured engineering teams
    — “we move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy”

Things to consider

  • In-office presence is considered essential, with no mention of remote flexibility
    — “we consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role”
  • The role demands deep technical ownership across multiple engineering stages
    — “own system trades, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, layout, bring-up, debugging, manufacturing, and test”

How to stand out

  • Highlight projects where you led full product development from concept to production
    — “experience bringing at least two products through full lifecycle”
  • Showcase circuit board layout experience, especially with Altium or similar tools
    — “proficiency in circuit board layout for high-density converters (Altium preferred)”
  • Emphasize your ability to work through ambiguity in system trade studies
    — “ability to develop component and system trade studies through high degrees of ambiguity”
  • Demonstrate understanding of structural and thermal considerations in power converter design
    — “working understanding of structural and thermal considerations for power converters”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • develop high-performance power converters
  • own system trades
  • component selection
  • schematic capture
  • layout
Typical background
BS, MS, or PhD with focus on power electronics5+ years of experience designing power converters

Skills & requirements

Required

Power ElectronicsHigh Voltage SystemsHigh Power ConvertersDc-dc And Dc-ac Power ConversionMotor Control MethodologiesCircuit Board LayoutSystem Performance Simulation

Preferred

Composite MaterialsPropellant ProcessingLean ManufacturingSix Sigma Methodologies

Stack & domain

Power ElectronicsPower Systems DevelopmentHigh-performance, High-density, High-reliability Power ConvertersDc-dc And Dc-ac Power Conversion TopologiesElectric Machines And Motor Control MethodologiesCircuit Board LayoutAnalysis ToolsModeling Time-domain Dynamic Circuit And System BehaviorStructural And Thermal Considerations For Power ConvertersAutomating Hardware Test And Development FunctionsProblem-solvingCommunicationTeamworkAerospace Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Astro Mechanica via Ashby

ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

WHO YOU ARE:

Astro Mechanica is looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer focused on power electronics and power systems development to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is excited about designing cutting-edge power electronics in high reliability applications and has a proven track record of quickly bringing concepts to life. You will be responsible for the full product life cycle, from initial concept to delivery and operation. Your work at Astro Mechanica will be fast-paced in a dynamic startup environment and will have a direct impact on our mission.

If necessary, we will adjust the job level to suit your experience and responsibilities. The qualifications below are just that – desired – if you feel you’re highly qualified for this role but are missing a few of the below line items, we encourage you to apply anyway.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

  • Develop high-performance, high-density, high-reliability power converters
  • Own system trades, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, layout, bring-up, debugging, manufacturing, and test
  • Support hardware through prototyping, characterization, ground testing and flight
  • Work closely with other engineering disciplines to design, develop and optimize high-power propulsion and generation systems

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

  • BS, MS, or PhD with focus on power electronics or equivalent
  • 5+ years of experience designing, building, testing, and shipping power converters
  • Ability to develop component and system trade studies through high degrees of ambiguity
  • Experience bringing at least two products through full lifecycle, from concept to production
  • Experience working on high voltage (up to 1000V) and/or high power (>10kW) converters
  • Expertise in various DC-DC and DC-AC power conversion topologies, preferably with high frequency multilevel architectures
  • Intimate understanding of electric machines and motor control methodologies
  • Expertise in optimizing switching power loops to optimize converter performance and minimize EMI
  • Proficiency in circuit board layout for high-density converters (Altium preferred)
  • Proficiency with analysis tools to simulate and optimize circuit and system performance (LTSPICE, PLECS, Simulink, Scripting, etc)
  • Proficiency in modeling time-domain dynamic circuit and system behavior
  • Working understanding of structural and thermal considerations for power converters
  • Experience with automating hardware test and development functions

PERKS & BENEFITS:

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
  • Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
  • Flexible work environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Source: Astro Mechanica careers (Ashby)

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