Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Power Electronics Engineer

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) • $100K — $120K *
San Antonio, TX 78228In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering; PhD preferred.
  • 2+ years of experience in power electronics design and analysis, particularly in turbomachinery.
  • Interest or experience in radial and axial turbomachinery design and development.
  • Strong communication skills, effective in team environments.
  • Valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

  • Design and integrate power electronic systems for advanced test rigs and turbomachinery applications.
  • Collaborate with engineers to optimize coupling of electrical systems with rotating machinery.
  • Analyze and mitigate electrical issues such as harmonics and EMI for system efficiency.
  • Develop electrical architectures that meet codes and support flexible facility configurations.
  • Document designs and performance results in formal reports and presentations.
  • Perform electrical analyses to validate designs and ensure safe operations.
  • Support installation and troubleshooting of lab electrical systems with cross-disciplinary teams.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge power electronics and electrical systems research.
  • Collaborative work environment with mechanical and controls engineers.
  • Potential for publishing and presenting findings in professional forums.
  • Involvement in diverse projects across multiple engineering disciplines.
  • Access to advanced laboratory and test facility resources.
Full Job Description
  • Design, specify, and integrate power electronic systems (including VFDs, drives, and related controls) to support advanced test rigs and turbomachinery applications, ensuring safe and reliable operation of motors and auxiliary equipment.
  • Collaborate with mechanical and rotordynamics engineers to tightly couple electrical drive systems with rotating machinery, enabling precise speed/torque control, advanced diagnostics, and safe operation through critical and off-design conditions.
  • Analyze and mitigate electrical and electromagnetic interaction issues (harmonics, power quality, motor heating, EMI/EMC) to protect equipment, improve system efficiency, and ensure robust operation over a wide operating envelope.
  • Develop laboratory and test facility electrical architectures (power distribution, protection, grounding, and controls) that meet applicable codes and standards while enabling flexible, high-performance experimental configurations.
  • Document designs, test results, and system performance in formal reports and presentations, clearly communicating technical findings and recommendations to clients, project teams, and industry partners.

  • Design, specify, and model power electronic systems (VFDs, drives, motor controls, and protection schemes) for laboratory and test facility applications.
  • Develop one-line diagrams, wiring schematics, and panel layouts, and generate detailed documentation and bills of material for procurement and fabrication.
  • Perform electrical analyses (load flow, short-circuit, coordination, harmonics, grounding, and power quality) to validate designs and ensure safe, reliable operation.
  • Support installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and upgrades of motors, drives, and lab electrical systems in collaboration with mechanical, controls, and test engineers.
  • Prepare brief technical updates and periodic reports for internal teams and clients.
  • Contribute to publications and presentations to grow SwRI's capabilities in power electronics and electrical systems.

  • Requires a Bachelors, Masters or a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. PhD with graduate experience in electronics design and analysis is highly desired. Those with a Masters degree require 1 year of related professional experience, those with a PhD do not require any industry experience.
  • 2+ years: Experience in power electronics design and analysis, must have an interest or academic experience in design and development of radial and axial turbomachinery.
  • Strong Communication skills, successfully in a team setting and ability to creatively solve problems as a team.
  • A valid/clear driver's license is required.

About Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a non-profit research and development organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The institute was founded in 1947 and has since grown to employ over 3,000 people across multiple locations in the United States. SwRI provides research and development services to a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and energy. The institute's research areas include automation and data systems, chemistry and chemical engineering, and space science and engineering. SwRI has a long history of working with government agencies, including NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as private companies.
Learn more about Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
* Ladders Estimates

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