Contract Power Electronics Design Engineer – High Voltage Automotive

Location: Birmingham - Hybrid (UK-based with travel to partner sites)

Duration: 6–12 months (extendable)

Rate: Competitive (dependent on experience)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Power Electronics Consultant to lead the architecture and design of high-voltage, high-power converter systems for advanced automotive applications. This is a hands-on, technically demanding role requiring deep expertise in HV converter design, PCB development, component optimization, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture design of high-power converters (>5 kV AC, up to 15 kW output)
• Drive the schematic and multi-layer PCB design, ensuring EMI/EMC compliance and thermal management best practices.
• Select and optimize key power electronics components (e.g., IGBTs, MOSFETs, gate drivers, magnetic components) for performance, reliability, and cost.
• Develop test plans, including fault-mode and worst-case scenario testing for hardware validation.
• Coordinate and support off-site testing with research and commercial partners, ensuring data collection and analysis integrity.

Ideal Candidate

• Degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with strong analytical and experimental background.
• Proven experience in high-voltage power electronics, especially converter design for >5 kV applications.
• Strong background in schematic and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, KiCAD, OrCAD).
• Hands-on experience with prototype testing and validation.
• Excellent project leadership, technical reporting, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Contract
• Job function: Design, Manufacturing, and Production
• Industries: Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing, and Electric Power Generation