Power Electronics Engineer – Laser and Experimental Systems

We have an opening for an experienced Power Electronics Engineer to support the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate portfolio of programsincluding NIF Operations NIF Sustainment NIF Enhanced Yield Capability (EYC) HED & Photon Sciences and the Department of Defense Technology (DoDT). This is an exciting opportunity to join the team that first achieved fusion ignition in December 2022 and continues to advance the frontiers of fusion energy and high-energy laser science.

You will be responsible for the engineering design and development of advanced power electronics hardware and system upgrades to continually improve performance and reliability. Projects may include specialized high voltage power supply design high repetition rate solid-state diode drivers for lasers used in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) generation and inertial fusion energy and development of next-generation pulsed power systems. These positions are in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

These positions will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

In this role you will

• Work under limited direction with moderate responsibility use comprehensive knowledge and exercise independent judgment to determine methods and recommend improvements within established frameworks and contribute to the fulfillment of project and organizational goals.
• Provide engineering support to design simulate and prototype critical power electronics circuits including offline power converters DC/DC and DC/AC converters for high-energy laser systems.
• Contribute to the evaluation and selection of solid-state power semiconductor devices (e.g. SiC GaN thyristors IGBTs MOSFETs) for robust high-reliability applications.
• Develop and implement moderately complex control algorithms for power converters using microcontrollers or DSPs.
• Design and test magnetics (inductors transformers); perform thermal analysis and design cooling solutions for high-power systems.
• Participate in debugging and troubleshooting hardware prototypes collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to make recommendations and provide solutions to resolve technical issues.
• Collaborate closely with physicists mechanical engineers and software engineers to support the delivery of integrated solutions for pulsed power fusion energy and laser-driven experiments.
• Participate in documenting technical designs creating schematics authoring test procedures and formal reports and defining and recommending process improvements.
• Uphold the highest standards of personnel and facility safety during experiments and testing.
• Present technical results and recommendations in peer reviews and stakeholder meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.3 level

• Function independently with minimal direction taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives prioritize parallel tasks allocate resources and collaborate in the development of innovative methods/technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to the development of organizational goals.
• Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary design and peer reviews to ensure safety and technical soundness of a diverse range of complex experiments hardware and data acquisition systems.
• Provide technical guidance to external contractors fabricating complex custom electrical equipment and experimental assemblies.
• Guide the completion of a project establish project objectives and strategy and influence technical direction by applying high-level technical concepts and techniques to drive successful outcomes for deliverables
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development and implementation of best practices in power electronics design and testing.

Qualifications :

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or related technical field or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of power converter topologies (e.g. buck boost H-bridge resonant converters etc.).
• Comprehensive knowledge of practical experience with and demonstrated proficiency in one or more of the following areas: pulsed power EV charging power modulation/switching grounding and shielding in a harsh EMI environment or diagnostics/instrumentation systems associated with these areas.
• Experience and proficiency in performing moderately complex computational modeling and analysis to understand and predict system performance using modeling tools such as SPICE MATLAB and/or COMSOL.
• Applied experience with hardware prototyping soldering and testing using lab equipment (e.g. oscilloscopes power analyzers spectrum analyzers).
• Experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment managing multiple tasks projects and priorities.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment including the ability to prepare technical reports deliver presentations and explain technical information.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level

• Significant experience in designing building testing and operating complex high-power offline power converters or high-voltage pulsed power systems. 
• Demonstrated experience effectively leading design reviews and providing technical guidance to teams.
• Significant experience interacting and cooperating with all levels of technical staff managers and vendors.
• Significant experience defining scope from often not well defined and/or rapidly changing requirements including demonstrated ability and flexibility in reprioritizing and changing programmatic direction depending on emergent needs.

Qualifications We Desire

• Masters degree in electrical engineering or related field or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Understanding of high-voltage high-power switched mode power supply design and implementation.
• Experience with high-speed/high-power electronics for pulsed laser systems.
• Familiarity with the generation and measurement of large transient magnetic fields and circuit breaker/fuse coordination.

Additional Information :

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit  Clearance

  This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

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  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time