Senior Power Electronics Controls Engineer

Employer description

ABOUT US:Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

 WHO WE ARE:We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

 WHO YOU ARE:Astro Mechanica is seeking a Power Electronics Controls Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is a controls engineer at heart who is excited to own the control of the power electronics that drive our propulsion: an 800-volt system delivering 1 megawatt of electrical power to the motors on our Gen 5 engine. You will bring that same controls expertise to our ground power systems, where large turbines and generators must be governed and kept in sync. You will work on a small, tight team alongside a mechanical engineer focused on the liquid-cooled inverter enclosure and an electrical engineer focused on the inverter hardware. Your work at Astro Mechanica will have a direct impact on the configuration and performance of our engine.

 WHAT YOU’LL DO:Design, implement, and tune control systems for the inverters that drive the motors on our 800 V, 1 MW propulsion system

Develop controls for related power electronics, including DC-DC converters and motor controllers

Own bus control and governor design for our electrical systems

Support ground power by synchronizing and governing coupled systems, such as a 13 MW turbine and generator or a connection to grid power

Take systems from concept through hardware, validating control performance on real equipment

Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and propulsion engineers to bring the inverter from design through test

 WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field and 5+ years of experience in power electronics controls

Hands-on experience designing controls for power electronic systems, such as DC-DC converters, motor controllers, or inverters

Proven track record of building one of these systems, not just modeling or analyzing it

Working knowledge of motor control, including Field Oriented Control (FOC) and related techniques

Experience with three-phase electrical systems and machines, such as permanent magnet motors

Experience with high-voltage, high-power-density systems, such as EV traction or eVTOL propulsion

Inverter design experience is a plus

Experience synchronizing and governing coupled, complex power systems, such as multiple inverters, or turbines and generators for bus-tied or grid-tied power, is a plus

 PERKS & BENEFITS:Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

Flexible work environment

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee’s role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.