Lead Controls Engineer – Power Electronics

Proper Voltage

. Lead control design for bidirectional DC/DC power conversion stages, including current and voltage loops, mode transitions, and protection behavior .

Posted 10/9/2026full-timeRemote • California • United StatesSenior💰 $150,000 - $175,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in control design for bidirectional DC/DC power converters, including small-signal modeling, frequency-domain analysis, and discrete-time control. Proficient in simulation automation and firmware implementation, with a strong background in power electronics and control systems.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Control Design for Switched-Mode Power ConvertersSmall-Signal Modeling and AnalysisMATLAB/Simulink and PLECS ProficiencyPython Scripting for Simulation AutomationC Programming for Control Code Implementation

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Control Loop DesignPID Compensator DesignBode and Nyquist AnalysisDiscrete-Time ControlSimulation AutomationFirmware SpecificationOscilloscope ProficiencyCurrent Probe UsageDigital Power ControllersBattery Energy Storage Systems

Soft Skills

Collaboration with Firmware EngineersTechnical LeadershipEffective Communication

Tools & Technologies

MATLABSimulinkPLECSSPICEPythonC ProgrammingOscilloscopeElectronic LoadsNetwork AnalyzerVersion Control Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

UL 1973UL 1998UL 9540IEC 61508

Industry Keywords

Power ElectronicsControl SystemsSwitched-Mode Power ConvertersBidirectional ConvertersMultiphase Interleaved ConvertersFunctional SafetyFMEAEV ChargingPhotovoltaic InvertersGrid-Interactive Converters

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

NumpyPythonSwitching

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead control design for bidirectional DC/DC power conversion stages, including current and voltage loops, mode transitions, and protection behavior
Design controls for four-switch buck-boost and multiphase interleaved converters, including feedforward and phase current balancing
Derive small-signal plant models for buck, boost, four-switch buck-boost, and multiphase interleaved topologies
Design PID, type II/III, 2p2z/3p3z compensators and feedforward paths
Discretize control designs for digital implementation and specify sample rates and delay budgets
Build closed-loop converter models in PLECS and/or MATLAB/Simulink and verify switching cells with SPICE-class tools
Automate simulation, parameter sweeps, tolerance analysis, worst-case analysis, and stability checks using Python or MATLAB
Run production C control code in simulation to verify firmware implementation before hardware testing
Define operating modes, transitions, bumpless transfer requirements, protection thresholds, and response times
Translate designs into firmware-ready specifications including block diagrams, difference equations, coefficients, scaling, limits, and expected margins
Collaborate with firmware engineers through implementation, code review, and bench debugging
Measure loop gain, transient response, and ripple on hardware and correlate results against models
Contribute to hardware design reviews involving sensing, anti-aliasing filters, magnetics, and gate drive
Serve as technical lead by establishing control design and verification practices and reviewing other engineers' work
Author control specifications and certification evidence for UL 1973, UL 1998, and UL 9540

Requirements

What you’ll need

BS in Electrical Engineering or equivalent demonstrated capability
Six or more years designing control systems for switched-mode power converters
Direct, hands-on experience designing control loops for switched-mode power converters that reached validated hardware
Ability to name the topology, control mode, switching and sampling frequencies, compensator structure, and achieved crossover and phase margin for a personally designed converter
Working command of small-signal modeling, including state-space averaging or equivalent
Frequency-domain design expertise: Bode and Nyquist analysis, crossover, phase and gain margin, and right-half-plane zeros
Working command of discrete-time control, including s-to-z mapping, sampling and computational delay effects, aliasing, and quantization
Fluency in PLECS or MATLAB/Simulink, with ability to build converter models
Proficiency in Python or MATLAB scripting for simulation automation and data analysis
Working proficiency in C for reading and writing control code, running it in simulation, and evaluating firmware fidelity
Understanding of PWM-triggered ADC sampling, update latency, fixed-point range and resolution, and ISR timing budgets
Independent lab capability with oscilloscopes, isolated and differential probes, current probes, electronic loads, bidirectional supplies, and a network or frequency response analyzer
Track record of written control design specifications successfully implemented by another engineer
Preferred: MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering focused on power electronics or control systems
Preferred: bidirectional and multiphase interleaved converter control, coupled inductors, current sharing, and phase balancing
Preferred: average current mode control and feedforward design for four-switch buck-boost converters
Preferred: large-signal behavior, including mode transitions, discontinuous conduction boundaries, saturation recovery, and limit cycles
Preferred: wide-bandgap power stages (GaN, SiC)
Preferred: digital power controllers such as dsPIC33C, TI C2000, or STM32G4
Preferred: hardware-in-the-loop or real-time simulation platforms such as PLECS RT Box, Typhoon HIL, or OPAL-RT
Preferred: Python numerical tools such as NumPy, SciPy, or python-control
Preferred: battery energy storage, EV charging, photovoltaic inverter, or grid-interactive converter experience
Preferred: functional safety and certification exposure, including IEC 61508, UL 1973, UL 1998, UL 9540, and FMEA
Preferred: version control and code review applied to models and analysis scripts

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity options as part of the compensation package
Comprehensive healthcare benefits (medical, dental, vision)
Generous paid time off
Paid holidays (PTO) policy