Power Electronics Controls Engineer

What to Expect

Heron Power is a startup company building cutting-edge power electronics for the 21st-century grid. We aim to debottleneck the growth of electricity generation and consumption with scalable, innovative, and less costly hardware solutions, accelerating the electrification of everything.

Our first goal is to build better converters (inverters & rectifiers) to connect large-scale renewables, storage, and loads to the grid. Heron’s leadership team is made up of seasoned veterans who have designed and shipped gigawatts of power conversion products over the past decade.

We understand that no one individual knows everything. We will all learn a lot together and from each other. We strive to build a collaborative, enriching environment conducive to personal, technical, and career growth. You can expect to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment, driven by first principles engineering, solving difficult problems.

Job Overview

As a power electronics controls engineer, you will be responsible for dynamic modeling, controller design, implementation, and validation for power converters. Additionally, you will be responsible for system analysis and integration.

How You Will Contribute

Evaluate system-level requirements and translate to dynamic performance and controls specs

Analyze and model candidate converter topologies and architectures, and work with the hardware team to evaluate engineering trade-offs

Outline and design controller architecture to achieve design and dynamic objectives

Perform failure-mode & effects analysis (FMEA) to discover design weaknesses and devise mitigation strategies

Study and analyze compliance requirements for grid-codes (IEEE2800, UL1741) and protection schemes (arc-fault, ground-fault, etc.)

Capture controller design in Matlab/Simulink

Perform small-signal modeling aimed at tuning and stabilizing controller responses

Outline microcontroller requirements and evaluate offerings

Review electrical schematics and suggest changes to ensure signal acquisition and the plant are well-designed to handle transients and edge-cases

Translate algorithms from Simulink into embedded code (in C language)

Create and utilize hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) setups for validation

Work with hardware team to perform prototype bring-up and validation

Create and execute dynamic stress-test plans

Design and support special behaviors required for thermal, reliability, and compliance tests

Design and support special behaviors required for end-of-line testing for volume production

Review and analyze fleet data, and devise performance improvement and failure mitigation strategies

As a startup, we expect individuals to engage and overlap with teams with adjacent skill-sets. Expect to overlap both with circuit-design engineers and firmware engineers as needed.

What You Will Bring

We have a short list of must-have requirements. We prioritize a strong grip on first principles, hands-on skills, and a sense of initiative. Domain-specific knowledge and experience will help determine the career level for each hire.

Must-Have Requirements

At least a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering and 5+ years of experience

Strong electrical engineering fundamentals

Familiarity with simple power conversion topologies

Understanding of dynamic models and control systems

Ability to write and troubleshoot C-code

Hands-on circuit troubleshooting experience

Nice-to-Haves

Experience with resonant converter topologies and controls

Experience with design and controls of grid-tied inverter systems

Familiarity with modular architectures and/or multi-level topologies

Familiarity with grid-code requirements such as IEEE1547, IEEE2800, UL1741, or equivalent

Embedded coding and troubleshooting experience

Experience in high-volume production and support

Familiarity with power system modeling, operation, and common protection techniques

Experience with PV conversion systems including maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and arc-fault detection

If you are passionate about technology and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, we would love to hear from you. Join us in accelerating the electrification of everything at Heron Power.

Heron Power provides competitive compensation (salary and equity) and benefits. The salary for this role ranges from $120,000 to $220,000 per year.