Engineer, Power Systems

Job Description

This position is accountable for independently designing and implementing cost effective electronic BMS solutions for use in battery storage. They will conduct modeling and analysis of power electronics and battery systems in grid-tied and off-grid applications. They will also design and troubleshoot circuits, produce schematics and layouts, and other duties related to electronic BMS design.

Responsibilities

• Conduct power systems modeling and analysis, load flow analysis, and other studies of the systems to determine their performance and capacity
• Support battery system design and installation in the field including troubleshooting EMI, system grounding and stability issues.
• Support design and development of power electronic devices (such as DC-to-DC converters, DC-to-AC inverters, AC-to-DC rectifiers and power supplies). This includes circuit board layout with high-impedance analog signals and creepage/clearances for high voltage, discrete analog and digital circuits design and simulations.
• Work on electronic designs (schematics), component sizing and theoretical analysis to study the worst cases scenarios and thus consider all the potential stress experienced by the components (stress tests)
• Produce detailed engineering materials including design schematics, PCB layouts, tolerance analysis, design notes, FMEA, failure analysis reports, and technical review documents.
• Verification testing of electronic components and overall product designs.
• Provide maintenance of power systems application functionality, including documentation and user interfaces
• Design to meet safety certification standards, such as UL and IEC.
• Coordinate and manage vendor, supplier, and contractor relationships for prototype design.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering personnel, manufacturing, and field operations.
• Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice, in the spirit of an agile design group within an active technology company.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience in troubleshooting, analyzing, and resolving complex electrical problems.
• Experience in power electronics and power system modeling especially as related to renewable energy and battery storage systems in grid-tied, micro-grid and off-grid applications.
• Experience with modelling tools like Matlab, Simulink, PSIM, PSCAD, PSSE etc.
• Knowledge of DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters with a strong emphasis on low-cost, high-performance designs for grid-tied battery systems (1500 Vdc).
• Experience with design, specification, and procuring of electrical equipment and systems. i.e., switchgear, motors, heat tracing, UPS, batteries, cathodic protection, motor operated valves, transformers, breakers, relays, temporary generators.
• Thorough understanding of electrical theory and electronics design under both the digital and analog domains
• Ability to design and layout electrical circuit boards, follow IPC and other safety design standards using Altium, KiCad...
• Working knowledge of embedded control systems and their applications.
• Familiarity with design for EMC and availability to track down board and system level EMI issues.
• Awareness of safety certification process to standards such as UL.
• Knowledge of communications protocols such as TCP/IP, CAN, i²C and SPI, specifically Modbus
• Strong cross-disciplinary system design skills.
• Capability to select and integrate off-the-shelf component and equipment.
• Integrate with a greater team and understand how components fit together into larger systems.
• Understanding of hardware and design requirements of all components and product as a whole.
• Strong sense of ownership, initiative, and ability to follow through on objectives

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in electrical or electronics engineering
• 1-3 years of experience in power systems design required

Travel

• Local Travel: 10-25%
• Overnight/North America: 10-25%
• Other International Travel

Working Conditions

• Office Environment - Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time and occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. May be required to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Factory - The worker may be subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, vibration, moving vehicles, electrical current, exposure to temperature changes or exposure to chemicals. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, odors, dust, mists, and gases. The noise level in the work environment can be loud. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes. Machinery operation requires the use of safety equipment to include but not limited to eye safety glasses, hearing protectors, work boots, and lab coats. May be required to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Customer/Partner Locations - Employee may visit customer or partner locations that may be comprised of office, manufacturing floor, laboratory environments and construction sites depending on the location and reason for visit.