Principal Electric Drives & Power Electronics Engineer

About the role

The Principal Electric Drives & Power Electronics Engineer will take technical ownership of the aircraft electric drive system, including motor, inverter and drive controls. You will ensure performance, thermal behaviour, electromagnetic compatibility and fault response of the electric propulsion drives while collaborating with propulsion, electrical, avionics and power‑train teams.

Key responsibilities

• Own architecture, rating and derating of electric motors and inverters for continuous and peak operation.
• Lead drive‑control development, covering torque and speed response, bandwidth, limits, derating and fault handling.
• Define the electrical interface between the high‑voltage system and the drives, managing DC input behaviour, inrush, pre‑charge and transients.
• Lead EMC/EMI considerations, including switching, filtering, shielding, bonding and return‑path design.
• Define thermal requirements, perform loss modelling and specify cooling solutions.
• Support safety assessments through failure‑mode analysis, detection and fault containment.
• Manage motor and inverter suppliers, overseeing qualification and acceptance testing.
• Lead drive‑level testing (dynamometer, thermal, transient, fault) and translate results into design improvements.
• Collaborate closely with propulsion, power‑train, BMS/HV, electrical, avionics and test & evaluation teams.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in electrical machines, power electronics or motor‑drive engineering, preferably in airborne or safety‑critical applications.
• Proven ownership of motor or inverter design, development or rating for high‑power applications.
• Strong knowledge of electrical machine design and high‑voltage power‑electronics.

Required skills

• Electric drive system design
• Motor and inverter design
• Drive controls
• High‑voltage system integration
• Converter topologies
• Electrical interface definition
• Power electronics
• Thermal management and loss modelling
• Dynamometer testing
• Fault handling
• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC/EMI)
• Torque response control