Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Power Electronics Design Engineer

Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, with 2+ years in analog power electronics design.
  • Familiarity with common power converter topologies and EMI/EMC design considerations.
  • Basic scripting skills for automated measurement.
  • Proficiency in CAD and circuit simulation software.
  • Strong teamwork and communication abilities.
  • U.S. citizenship with eligibility for a Secret-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Design, simulate, and test analog electronics for spacecraft instrumentation.
  • Optimize magnetic components and EMI/EMC mitigation features for power systems.
  • Oversee breadboarding, fabrication, and qualification testing of electronics.
  • Design and integrate engineering and flight model electronics.
  • Conduct hands-on testing and troubleshooting in a lab setting.
  • Prepare and present technical design reviews.
  • Generate test plans and associated technical documentation.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on groundbreaking spaceflight instrumentation projects.
  • Collaborative environment with diverse engineering expertise.
  • Access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for electronics testing.
  • Career growth opportunities within a prestigious research institution.
  • Engagement in significant scientific research contributing to space exploration.
Full Job Description
Description

Are you a power electronics engineer who wants to see your designs operate on spacecraft exploring our solar system?

Do you enjoy solving complex challenges in analog and mixed-signal electronics, from custom power supplies and magnetics design to flight qualification and testing?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!

The Space Science Electronics Group at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory builds instruments and electronics systems that generate data used in scientific research. Our group of approximately 40 engineers brings technical expertise across all aspects of instrument development, including systems engineering, digital and analog electronics design, FPGA design, and software design. We work closely with engineers and scientists across the Laboratory to develop instruments for spaceflight missions.

Examples of our work include the instrument suite on the MESSENGER spacecraft, instruments for Europa Clipper, imagers on DART, and many other missions. We are currently developing instruments for Dragonfly and NOAA SOLAR missions. The instruments we build include magnetometers, optical imagers, particle instruments, and gamma-ray and neutron spectrometers.

We are seeking talented power electronics engineers to contribute to the design, implementation, production, and testing of spaceflight instrumentation. If you are passionate about power electronics, analog electronics, and instrumentation for spaceflight missions, we would be excited to have you join our team.

As a Power Electronics Design Engineer you will be responsible for...
  • Designing, simulating, and testing analog electronics for spaceflight instrumentation. including isolated DC/DC power converters, low- and high-voltage power supplies, detector bias supplies, custom magnetics design, power conditioning, motor control electronics, and related support circuitry.
  • Optimizing magnetic components, compensation networks, control loops, filtering, protection circuits, and EMI/EMC mitigation features for spaceflight power systems
  • Overseeing breadboarding, testing, fabrication, and space qualification of analog, power, and mixed-signal electronics.
  • Designing, testing, and integrating engineering model and flight model electronics.
  • Hands-on laboratory testing and troubleshooting of power, analog, or mixed-signal electronics.
  • Preparing for and presenting at design reviews.
  • Generating test plans and technical documentation.

Qualifications

You will meet our minimum requirements if you have...
  • A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent technical field, with 2+ years of experience in analog power electronics design.
  • Experience with common power converter topologies and design electronics for EMI/EMC considerations.
  • Basic scripting knowledge, preferably including the ability to script automated measurement sequences.
  • Proficiency with computer-aided design and circuit simulation tools.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
  • Eligibility to obtain a Secret-level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You will go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have...
  • An M.S. in Electrical Engineering or equivalent technical experience, with 5+ years of experience in power electronics, analog electronics, and mixed-signal circuit design.
  • Experience designing space-qualified electronics, including custom magnetic component design, part selection, de-rating, and worst-case analysis, radiation considerations, and design margin assessment.
  • Worked with sensitive analog and mixed signal circuit; optimized power supplies for biasing detectors, minimizing noise and cross talk, and tuning for stability over large load/temperature ranges.
  • Relevant spaceflight hardware experience.
  • Leadership and organizational capabilities.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • The ability to work independently and mentor early-career engineers.

Minimum Rate

$85,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$195,000 Annually

About Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a research and development organization that provides solutions to national security and scientific challenges. The laboratory was founded in 1942 and is located in Laurel, Maryland. APL is a division of the Johns Hopkins University and is a not-for-profit organization. The laboratory has expertise in a variety of areas, including space exploration, national security, and healthcare.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1942

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