Staff Power Electronics Engineer

Staff Power Electronics Engineer

Location: Fremont, California

Position Overview

Pivotal Systems is seeking an experienced Staff Power Electronics Engineer to lead the design, development, validation, and production of advanced power-electronic systems used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

The Staff Power Electronics Engineer will serve as a technical leader across power-conversion architecture, circuit design, magnetics, controls, thermal management, hardware validation, and system integration. This position requires strong hands-on engineering skills as well as the ability to drive complex projects from concept through production.

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in power electronics and a proven track record of developing high-reliability power systems in a demanding industrial or semiconductor-equipment environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of AC/DC, DC/DC, and other power-conversion systems for semiconductor equipment.
• Design and optimize high-power switching converters, power supplies, motor drives, and associated power-distribution circuitry.
• Develop detailed electrical schematics, component selections, design calculations, and hardware specifications.
• Select and evaluate power semiconductors including MOSFETs, IGBTs, diodes, SiC, and GaN devices where appropriate.
• Design and review magnetic components including transformers, inductors, current transformers, and associated filtering networks.
• Develop gate-drive, sensing, protection, current/voltage measurement, and control circuits.
• Analyze switching losses, efficiency, thermal performance, EMI/EMC, transient behavior, and system reliability.
• Lead PCB design reviews with particular attention to high-current routing, creepage/clearance, grounding, parasitics, thermal management, and manufacturability.
• Develop and execute engineering verification and validation plans.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware issues using oscilloscopes, power analyzers, electronic loads, current probes, thermal cameras, and other laboratory equipment.
• Perform circuit simulation and modeling to validate designs before hardware implementation.
• Lead root-cause analysis of electrical, power, thermal, and reliability failures.
• Work closely with firmware, controls, mechanical, systems, manufacturing, quality, and field-service engineering teams.
• Support design-for-manufacturing and transition of new power-electronics products into production.
• Establish technical standards, design guidelines, and best practices for power-electronics development.
• Mentor junior and senior engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple projects.
• Participate in supplier and component qualification, including evaluation of alternate components and second sources.
• Support customer and field issues involving power-electronics hardware and provide technically rigorous corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in system efficiency, reliability, cost, manufacturability, and serviceability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or a related field.
• Typically 8+ years of professional experience in power electronics or a closely related discipline.
• Strong understanding of power-conversion topologies, switching devices, magnetics, feedback/control loops, and power-system fundamentals.
• Demonstrated experience taking power-electronics hardware from concept through prototype, validation, and production.
• Strong hands-on laboratory and hardware-debugging experience.
• Experience with high-voltage and/or high-power electrical systems.
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB design/review tools.
• Experience with power-electronics simulation tools such as LTspice, PSpice, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of EMI/EMC, grounding, shielding, filtering, and signal integrity.
• Experience with thermal analysis and component derating.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, PCB layouts, datasheets, and system-level specifications.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and technical leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing power electronics for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, industrial automation, robotics, motion systems, or other high-reliability equipment.
• Experience with three-phase power systems, motor drives, servo systems, or industrial power distribution.
• Experience with high-voltage DC buses and isolated/non-isolated DC/DC converters.
• Experience with SiC or GaN power devices.
• Knowledge of digital control of power converters and embedded control systems.
• Experience with functional safety, electrical safety, and applicable industry standards.
• Familiarity with UL, IEC, CE, SEMI, or other relevant equipment standards.
• Experience with DFM/DFT, production test development, and manufacturing transfer.
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering programs.
• Experience working directly with semiconductor equipment customers or field-service organizations.

Pay Range & Total Compensation

The base pay range reflects the good-faith estimate of the salary/wage range for this position at the time of posting. Actual placement within the range is determined based on factors including key skills, relevant experience, internal equity, education, certifications, and geography/market differentials.

Additional Compensation & Benefits:

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• 401(k) matching program
• Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays, and sick leave

Note: Variable pay and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan documents.