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RFA Engineering

Senior Electrical Engineer - Power Electronics

Posted 5 Days Ago
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In-Office
Chillicothe, IL
90K-120K Annually
Senior level
In-Office
Chillicothe, IL
90K-120K Annually
Senior level
Design, validate, and troubleshoot high-power inverter and converter hardware for medium-voltage and utility-scale systems. Create schematics and review PCB layouts, select components, perform laboratory validation (double pulse, switching, thermal, fault analysis), root cause hardware failures, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support prototype builds and production readiness with DFM/DFT practices.
The summary above was generated by AI

RFA Engineering (www.rfamec.com) is an engineering service provider dedicated to delivering our clients with timely engineering support and expertise.  We are seeking an experienced level candidate to become an integral part of our engineering team.  The selected candidate will work with an experienced engineering staff using state-of-the-art engineering tools & processes. This position will operate onsite at our customer's world-class engineering and manufacturing facility.

This is a full-time position with a full benefit package listed below that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization.

Senior Electrical Engineer - Power Electronics

The selected candidate will support the development of advanced medium-voltage and utility-scale power conversion systems. In this role, you will design, validate, and troubleshoot power electronics hardware used in high-power inverter and converter applications. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop reliable, high-performance hardware while supporting projects from concept through production.

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and troubleshoot power electronics hardware, including gate driver boards, power boards, sensing circuits, and protection circuitry for high-power applications. 
  • Create electrical schematics, review PCB layouts, and select components such as IGBT and SiC power devices, isolated gate drivers, sensors, and power supplies.
  • Develop and execute validation plans by performing laboratory testing, including double pulse testing, switching characterization, thermal testing, fault analysis, and system commissioning.
  • Analyze switching performance, power losses, thermal behavior, and protection circuit operation using oscilloscopes, power analyzers, thermal cameras, and other laboratory equipment.
  • Investigate hardware failures, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to improve reliability and performance.
  • Collaborate with controls, mechanical, manufacturing, validation, and supplier teams to support prototype builds, product development, and production readiness while promoting Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Testability (DFT) best practices.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with at least five years of experience developing power electronics hardware. 
  • Experience designing and validating inverter, converter, motor drive, battery energy storage, renewable energy, or similar high-power systems.
  • Strong knowledge of IGBT and SiC power devices, gate driver design, power converter topologies, switching behavior, thermal management, and protection circuits.
  • Experience designing and debugging power electronics PCB assemblies and performing laboratory validation using high-speed measurement equipment.
  • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Power Electronics. 
  • Experience with medium-voltage power conversion systems and tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, LTspice, or Altium Designer.
  • Knowledge of Double Pulse Testing (DPT), EMI/EMC mitigation, UL and IEC standards, DFMEA, reliability engineering, and production launch support.

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.

Pay Range: $90,000 - $120,000/yr – Commensurate with experience

About RFA Engineering

RFA Engineering has provided product development and engineering services to industry leading customers since 1943. Our primary focus is the development of off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Our work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems and complete machines. Our engineering staff is located at our Engineering Center in Minneapolis, branch office in Dubuque, IA, and at numerous customer sites throughout the U.S.
Competitive Benefits

  • Health and Dental Insurance
  • Health Savings Account
  • TelaDoc: Virtual Health Care
  • Vision Insurance
  • Company Paid / Supplemental Life Insurance
  • Company Paid Long-Term Disability
  • Supplemental Short-Term Disability
  • Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
  • Flexible Spending Plan Dependent Care
  • Bonus Plan (Exempt Employees Only)
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Education Assistance

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly


Qualifications Education Preferred Bachelors of Science or better. Bachelors of Science or better. Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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