Power Electronics Engineer

Category:

Busek Space and Propulsion systems is currently seeking an experienced Power Electronics Engineer to join the team at our offices in Natick, MA.

ABOUT BUSEK:

From small spacecraft in low-earth orbit, to geostationary satellites, to cubesats going to the moon and beyond, Busek solves challenges and creates thrust. Our talented and dedicated staff have collective expertise spanning in-space propulsion, vacuum systems, materials science, and high-fidelity electronic solutions. We are a leading source for advanced electric propulsion thrusters for use on military, government, and commercial satellites. Among our many accomplishments are the first US Hall thruster in space, the first microPPT thrusters, the first flight-proven electrospray thrusters, the first propellant-less Carbon Nano-tube Field Emission Cathode Neutralizer, and the world’s lowest noise thrust stand (noise level below 0.1µN/rt-Hz in the 1mHz-100mHz bandwidth).

DESCRIPTION:

Busek is seeking an innovative, and self-driven Power Electronics Engineer (EE) to join our team and develop the next generation of custom, advanced power converters for our electric propulsion thrusters. The ideal candidate will have passion for spaceflight, >5 years’ experience in designing, building, and testing DC:DC converters and power electronics, and have leading-edge aerospace, military, or medical device work experience. Working on a small, cross-disciplinary team, you will make direct contribution towards near-term flight programs including cutting edge scientific NASA missions, commercial missions, and defense missions.

Position Type: Full-time

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Lead power electronics design and development efforts
• Work with a small in-house EE team and Propulsion technical leads
• Mature conceptual designs to breadboard, to brassboard and to flight.
• Work with internal and external subject matter experts, mechanical designers
• Work with supply chain on parts selection for mission suitability, performance, and cost
• Interface with technical customers (civil, commercial, and DoD) as required
• Perform system analysis
• Support power electronics troubleshooting and testing Document and report progress in status reports and technical reviews Write technical proposals and supporting responses to RFI opportunities Lead and support team contributors in engineering, test and manufacturing.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• BSEE degree plus 5 or more years of industry experience required.
• Experience designing dc/dc converter and switching power supplies to meet challenging design requirements, such as very high efficiency, constrained dimensions, current sharing capability.
• Advanced power electronics systems design, including knowledge and tradeoffs of many isolated and non-isolated topologies, SWaP optimization, input filter design, stability analysis and testing, high voltage design considerations, magnetics selection and design, feedback controller design, and lab testing of high voltage and high power converters.
• FPGA Programming for Embedded platforms, high voltage (kV) level dc/dc converter design, high power (kW) level dc/dc converter design, electronic design for space systems.
• Design of Switch Mode Power Supplies and Power Converters using: Full-bridge, Half-bridge, Feed Forward, Flyback, Buck, Boost, and/or SEPIC converter topologies.
• Familiarity with specifications including MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-883, MIL-STD-981, EEE-INST-002.
• Experience working within Government-funded R&D and production environments (e.g. NASA, DARPA, and the DoD).
• Candidate must have a demonstrated ability to combine their colleague’s expertise with their own to produce results.
• Demonstrated ability to develop for test and debug challenging cross-disciplinary problems.
• Strong documentation skills and participation in ongoing development efforts and design reviews.
• The ability to lead and support team contributors.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Design for high reliability applications, ie: radiation hardened space qualified electronics design a plus but not required.
• Software familiarity with: Altium Designer, PLECS, Spice, MATLAB, LabView. PCB layout (Altium Designer) for high power converters also a plus.
• Laboratory experience with vacuum chambers, plasma thrusters, and high voltage is a plus.
• Security clearance is a plus.
• Ability to design code for space radiation, automotive or other HiRel environments.
• Version control using Git, SVN or similar.
• System level simulation and test in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Labview, or similar.
• Proficiency with test equipment such as signal generators, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Knowledge of PCB schematic capture and layout tools and the ability to work with Analog Engineers a plus.
• Work within Government-funded R&D and production environments (e.g. NASA, DARPA, and DoD) desired.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
• Employment is contingent on other factors, including, but not limited to, credit and background checks and drug screens.

APPLY:
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to work@busek.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or any other protected factor.

Busek is an equal opportunity employer. Telephone: (508) 655-5565 Fax: (508) 655-2827