Contract Power Electronics Design Engineer – High Voltage Automotive

Status: Outside IR35

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

1. Lead the architecture design of high-power converters (>5 kV AC, up to 15 kW output)
2. Drive the schematic and multi-layer PCB design, ensuring EMI/EMC compliance and thermal management best practices.
3. Select and optimize key power electronics components (e.g., IGBTs, MOSFETs, gate drivers, magnetic components) for performance, reliability, and cost.
4. Develop test plans, including fault-mode and worst-case scenario testing for hardware validation.
5. 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.