Power Electronics Engineer, Dc/dc Converters

Joby Aviation Joby Aviation · Robotics · San Carlos, CA · Powertrain & Electronics

Joby Aviation is seeking a power electronics engineer to design DC/DC converters for electric aircraft powertrains. Responsibilities include developing models, performing hands-on bring-up and debug, creating schematics, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The role requires experience in designing high-voltage, high-power converters and magnetics.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop and refine analytical and simulation models of power converters to predict performance, losses, and thermal behavior
  2. Participate in system-level trade studies to evaluate converter topologies, voltage levels, and architectures alongside other powertrain subsystems
  3. Perform hands-on bring-up and debug of power converter hardware in the lab
  4. Create clear and readable schematics for power electronics boards
  5. Collaborate with mechanical engineers to optimize placement of high-power modules, components, and bus bars

Skills

Required

  • B.S. or M.S. in electrical engineering or related discipline with 2–4 years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. with 1-2 years
  • Strong EE fundamentals
  • Experience designing and developing power converters in the 10 kW to hundreds of kilowatts range
  • Magnetics design experience (inductors, transformers) for power conversion applications
  • Schematic capture and PCB design
  • Completed (designed/built/tested) high-voltage, high-power designs
  • Great communication skills

Nice to have

  • Ph.D. in relevant discipline with a focus in power electronics
  • Expertise with optimization of DC/DC converters for high volumetric and gravimetric power density
  • Expertise in isolated and bidirectional power converter topologies
  • Experience using simulation tools for hardware and magnetics design (e.g. Ansys, PLECS, Simulink, LTSpice)
  • Experience in system-level analysis of aircraft or EV powertrains, including co-design of power converters along with system optimization
  • Experience designing with wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN)
  • Familiarity with Altium Designer
  • Exposure to AEH design lifecycle and certification (e.g., DO-254, DO-160, aerospace standards)
  • Experience with model-based design software development for high power, high frequency DC-DC converters
  • Experience developing embedded software
  • Experience with HDL development in Verilog and/or VHDL

What the JD emphasized

  • designing and developing power converters in the 10 kW to hundreds of kilowatts range
  • Magnetics design experience (inductors, transformers) for power conversion applications
  • Completed (designed/built/tested) high-voltage, high-power designs