The Power Electronics Engineer will design and validate battery systems, high-voltage converters, and ensure effective integration with laser defense systems.
Citizens and permanent residents only - we do not sponsor and cannot hire non-citizens or PRs. We work 6 days a week in the office in downtown San Francisco with one Saturday off per month, no remote available.
Aurelius Systems is a directed energy company developing edge-deployed laser systems for counter-unmanned aerial systems (cUAS)—we shoot down drones with laser guns. In an era where threats are increasingly small, numerous, and easily manufactured, our mission is to provide scalable, advanced, and cost-effective defense solutions for the US and our allies. We're building our team to launch our flagship product: the Archimedes laser sentinel. Join us in delivering cutting-edge technologies to protect our servicemen, servicewomen, and domestic security forces.
Role Overview:
We are seeking an inventive Power Electronics Engineer to drive the design, development, and validation of robust battery and high-voltage power systems for rugged, edge-deployed laser defense systems. You will lead battery management systems, diode driving electronics, high-voltage wire harnesses, and field-ready prototype validation. This role spans conceptualization through production, emphasizing a strong bias toward hands-on testing and iterative electronics prototyping in demanding defense environments.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Battery Pack & Management Systems:
- Develop and validate battery packs and management electronics, ensuring effective thermal and power management
- Conduct thermal and electrical performance analyses and testing for rugged battery systems.
- Architect battery systems for rapid power delivery.
- High Voltage Converter and Driver Electronics:
- Design high-voltage DC/DC converters, rectifiers, inverters, diode drivers, power distribution units, and related control circuits
- Perform electrical simulations (SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink) to optimize performance, efficiency, and reliability.
- Wire Harness Design & Fabrication:
- Create ruggedized wiring harnesses suitable for high-power laser diodes and motors
- Select and specify connectors, cables, and components adhering to electrical, environmental, and mechanical standards.
- Prototype Development & Testing:
- Drive hands-on prototyping, assembly, and rigorous field testing of power electronic systems
- Execute electrical, environmental, vibration, shock, and robustness tests to validate system reliability.
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM):
- Conduct DFM reviews to optimize electronics designs for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production
- Collaborate closely with suppliers and fabricators to ensure manufacturability and quality standards.
- System Integration & Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Partner with mechanical, optical, and robotics teams to integrate electronics into laser platforms
- Provide technical guidance during system assembly, integration, and field deployment.
- Documentation & Compliance:
- Generate detailed schematics, BOMs, wiring diagrams, and assembly instructions.
- Ensure compliance with relevant safety standards, MIL-STD, and ITAR requirements.
Qualifications
- 3-8 years in power electronics or electrical engineering roles (defense, aerospace, robotics).
- Proficient in electrical design tools (SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink, Altium Designer).
- Strong background in battery management, high-voltage electronics, and diode driving circuits.
- Hands-on experience with wire harness design and rugged electronic system assembly and integration.
- Familiarity with thermal management, EMI/EMC considerations, and defense-grade specifications.
Education:
- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or a related field.
Soft Skills:
- Extreme bias for action, rigorous testing mindset, and strong problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and adaptability in a fast-paced development environment.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Experience with long-duration system deployment in harsh environments.
- Familiarity with MIL-STD standards and ITAR compliance.
- Background in EMI/EMC design and shielding.
- Security clearance or ability to obtain one.
Why Join Aurelius Systems?
- Drive innovation in cutting-edge directed energy defense technology.
- Contribute directly to national security with robust and scalable hardware solutions.
- Build more in 12 months than most engineers do in 5 years—we field test monthly on our own 400+ acre range, executing against a $151B MDA SHIELD IDIQ contract.
- Grow fast: engineers here typically get promoted 1-2x per year. Erick Brito went from Founding Robotics Engineer to Lead in 12 months.
- Work alongside a founding team from to build what directed energy should have been.
We work 6 days (yes, we'll relocate you) a week because that's what it takes to ship real hardware to real operators. If you want balance, we respect that. If you want to build—keep reading.
Please submit your resume and a brief summary of your most impactful project involving relevant work to [email protected]
CompensationThe base pay range for this role is $130,000 – $170,000 per year.
Top Skills
Altium Designer
Matlab
Simulink
Spice
Aurelius Systems San Francisco, California, USA Office
515 Folsom St , San Francisco, CA, United States, 94105
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