Principal Electrical Engineer Power Electronics

What We Do at Verterra Energy

At Verterra Energy were on a mission to harness the power in the worlds rivers canals and oceans. To accomplish this we are commercializing our first device called VOLTURNUS a pioneering water-power technology that deploys in harmony with the current to capture baseline zero emission electricity.

Backed by top-tier investors and a multi-year government contract we are growing our founding team to help achieve key milestones. Partners and collaborators include: NIRON DoD DoE University of Minnesota WEG Group Beckhoff Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the US Army Corp of Engineers.

Recent press releases can be found on our website:

the Role

Verterra Energy is seeking a Senior to Principal level Electrical Engineer (typically 8-15 years) with deep hands-on expertise in power electronics. This role is for a builder - someone who can own real power hardware end-to-end make practical design decisions and bring robust power electronics from requirements through manufacturing.

You will work closely with mechanical and controls engineers to develop generator-adjacent power conversion power management and internal test platforms. The emphasis is technical leadership execution and sound engineering judgment - not over-engineering and not narrow specialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead power electronics design for low-to-mid power systems in the 0.5 kW to 5.0 kW range
• Define architecture and requirements for power conversion solutions connected to small generators and internal test platforms
• Design and develop high-power PCBA solutions (schematics layout; Altium preferred)
• Design integrate and validate converter topologies (buck/boost isolated and non-isolated DC-DC inverter/rectifier stages as applicable)
• Own magnetics-related design decisions: inductor/transformer selection or design core and copper loss considerations thermal tradeoffs
• Select characterize and validate power semiconductor devices (MOSFET IGBT SiC GaN BJT as applicable) including gate drive considerations and switching loss tradeoffs
• Develop practical protection and reliability approaches (EMI/EMC basics inrush transient protection fault handling thermal protection)
• Integrate power electronics with MCU/DSP controllers: sensing feedback loops at a system level interfaces and bring-up support (firmware collaboration expected; not a pure firmware role)
• Build assemble and bring up prototypes in the lab; debug issues quickly and methodically
• Plan and execute validation testing using oscilloscopes power analyzers supplies loads thermal tools and instrumentation
• Drive design-for-manufacturing: vendor engagement fab/assembly coordination component sourcing risk test strategy and production readiness
• Design for real-world environmental conditions: enclosure integration thermal management IP-rated constraints potting/encapsulation considerations
• Evaluate third-party or consultant designs for simplicity robustness safety margin and manufacturability
• Help maintain and improve the electrical lab environment: tooling organization safety and practical process improvements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field (Masters preferred but not required)
• 8 years of hands-on power electronics experience (Principal level typically 12)
• Demonstrated experience designing PCB-based power electronics in the 0.5 kW to 5.0 kW power range
• Strong understanding of magnetics core and resistive losses and thermal management in power designs
• Experience selecting and testing power semiconductor devices (MOSFET IGBT SiC GaN etc.)
• Familiarity with multiple power converter architectures and how they integrate with MCU/DSP-based control systems
• Experience designing for environmental constraints (IP-rated enclosures sealing encapsulation/potting vibration/handling considerations)
• Proven track record bringing power electronics to market: requirements - design - validation - manufacturing handoff
• Strong technical judgment ability to troubleshoot in the lab and comfort making tradeoffs under real constraints
• Able to work independently while collaborating tightly with a small engineering team

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• Experience with generator-adjacent systems (rectification load management protection sensing)
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC pre-compliance approaches and practical filtering/layout techniques
• Experience building production test methods/fixtures and defining acceptance tests
• Hands-on embedded familiarity for collaboration (basic bring-up test scripting instrumentation integration)
• Startup or small-team engineering experience

Additional Contributions & Growth Opportunities

• Owning and improving internal power and instrumentation platforms (test stands dynamometer/torque testers flume instrumentation custom rigs)
• Providing technical leadership on adjacent platforms (marine systems coastal energy harvesting drones other generator/power platforms)
• Helping build practical lab processes that reduce iteration cycles and increase hardware reliability

Benefits

• Medical dental and vision coverage
• Company-paid life disability and basic protection
• 401(k) with employer match
• Unlimited paid time off 2 weeks sick and safe leave
• 7 company-paid holidays: New Years Day (January 1) Memorial Day Fourth of July Labor Day Thanksgiving Day the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
• Stocked kitchen

Equal opportunity

Verterra Energy does not discriminate on the basis of race sex color religion age national origin marital status disability veteran status genetic information sexual orientation gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.