Power Electronics Engineer

Power Electronics Engineer at Stealth Startup Power Electronics Engineer at Stealth Startup in Palo Alto, California Posted in 1 day ago.

Type:

full-time

Job Description:

About the company We're a stealth hardware startup based in Palo Alto on a mission to unlock new energy for frontier applications - from connected devices and IoT to physical AI and robotics. Our technology turns everyday surfaces into power sources, reshaping how energy is generated and delivered to where electrons are needed most. We're a small, focused team with an unfair edge: an exited founder, deep Big Tech and robotics experience, and more than 30 years of hands-on hardware supply chain expertise. The role We're hiring a power electronics engineer to own MPPT and power conversion for ion-mobile absorbers - devices where conventional tracking algorithms fall apart. You'll design the algorithms and converter behavior that actually understand what's happening inside the device, and you'll prove it harvests more energy than alternatives across the indoor, outdoor, and mixed-spectrum conditions our customers care about. What you'll do MPPT algorithm design: Develop tracking algorithms purpose-built for ion-mobile absorbers - addressing hysteresis, scan-rate dependence, light-soaking, and recoverable degradation that break textbook P&O and IncCond.

Device characterization:

Run impedance spectroscopy, transient photovoltage/photocurrent, and intensity-modulated measurements to decouple ionic and electronic responses; turn device physics into tractable controller models.

Power-stage co-design:

Pick DC/DC topology, switching frequency, and sensing chain so the converter's perturbation behavior matches the cell's ionic time constants instead of fighting them. PCB edits as needed. Firmware & bring-up: Implement MPPT and power-path control on Cortex-M-class targets; instrument telemetry so we can see what the controller sees in the field.

Validation:

Plan and run bench, environmental, and abuse tests across spectra, irradiance, angle, and temperature; track data and report results.

Customer integration:

Support pilots from scoping through install; tune MPPT for each load profile (sensors, drones, robots, mobility); travel on-site to debug.

Documentation:

Keep schematics, controller models, BOMs, and test procedures tidy and version-controlled. Write the how-tos so the rest of the team can build on your work. Safety & quality: Follow best practices for ESD, batteries, lab handling, and materials safety. What you'll bring 4+ years in power electronics, with meaningful exposure to electrochemistry, emerging photovoltaics, or other ion-mobile devices. We don't expect both equally deep, but you should be fluent in power electronics and demonstrably curious about device physics. Shipped or published MPPT work - perturb-and-observe, incremental conductance, model-predictive, or sliding-mode - and a clear-eyed view of where each one breaks. Working knowledge of perovskite, DSSC, organic, or indoor PV device physics: why J-V curves hysterese, what ionic vs. electronic capacitance look like in EIS, why pre-conditioning matters for measurement reproducibility.

Power electronics fundamentals:

DC-DC topologies, BMS/charging (incl.

USB-C PD

), protection circuits, low-voltage analog/digital, sensing chains. Modeling & embedded toolchain: LTspice / PLECS / Simulink for converter modeling, plus C on a Cortex-M or similar for getting algorithms onto real hardware. CAD & layout: KiCad/Altium for light PCB edits; can read schematics and update them.

Lab habits:

scope, SMU, solar simulator, climate chamber.

Prototyping mindset:

ship scrappy v1s fast, then harden to v2/v3; excellent at documenting and handing off.

Communication:

clear written and verbal updates to customers and internal teams; comfort interfacing with non-engineers. Ability to lift ~30 lbs, stand for extended bench sessions, and travel for pilots, tests, and events. BS or MS/PhD in EE / Applied Physics / Electrochemistry / Mechatronics (or equivalent experience). Nice-to-haves Mixed-signal ASIC or FPGA-based digital control experience. Outdoor PV testing, IEC 61853 / IEC 61215 familiarity, or indoor harvesting under low-lux fluorescent/LED spectra. Battery systems experience (Li-ion charging, USB-C PD) and edge-device integration (sensors, cameras, beacons, drones, mobility). Vendor wrangling and quick-turn fabrication. Benefits Equity package Workspace setup stipend Meal stipend Unlimited PTO Why join Limitless growth opportunity as you join and help shape a generational company. Own the controller stack that makes a new class of energy-harvesting hardware actually work in the field. Build frontier hardware that unlocks power where it's never been available. This role requires 3-4 days per week in-office in Palo Alto and limited travel (less than 10%). Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we are growing fast and hire opportunistically. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Selection for employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.