Technical Specialist - Aircraft Power Electronics

Eaton MSD Cheltenham is looking for a Tech Specialist - Aircraft Power Electronics. In this role you'll provide senior technical leadership for the architecture, design, verification, and certification support of safety-critical power electronics systems for high-voltage DC and AC aircraft power distribution and conversion.

Key applications include electrothermal ice protection power controllers (up to 160 kW), HVDC power distribution units, DC-AC motor drives, and power supplies in the 2 kW to 10 kW range.

Drive the adoption of advanced power electronics technologies, including wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN), high-voltage isolation, digital control, and model-based design, ensuring robust, certifiable, and production-ready solutions.

Operate within safety-critical development frameworks aligned to ARP
4754A, ARP
4761, DO-178C, DO-254, and DO-160, up to DAL A where required.

• Define and solve complex, multi-disciplinary engineering problems, with focus on HVDC/AC conversion, protection, thermal design, EMC, insulation, reliability, and certification risk.
• Lead the power electronics technical strategy and technology roadmap in collaboration with the Technical Authority.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and coordination to engineering teams to deliver work on time, cost, and quality targets.
• Act as a senior technical authority and customer-facing escalation point for HV power systems, ensuring high-quality engineering delivery.
• Sponsor or lead strategically important programmes (e.g., intelligent PDUs, IPS controllers, motor drives, HV demonstrators).
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and translate developments (SiC/GaN devices, sensing, magnetics, thermal management, EMI) into product strategies.
• Define engineering standards, including design rules, derating, HV spacing, protection methods, and EMC practices.
• Lead trade studies across converter topologies, motor control, and protection strategies.
• Support bid activities, including technical input, estimation, and risk identification.
• Mentor engineers across technical, product, and lifecycle domains.
• Investigate equipment failures and recommend solutions.
• Prepare and review engineering estimates, identifying risks and dependencies.
• Produce reports and present technical findings to stakeholders.
• Maintain professional competency and support continuous development.
• Adhere to company values, policies, and procedures.
• Perform off-site duties as required and support broader business needs.

• Degree (typically Master’s) in Electronics Engineering or equivalent experience, with significant relevant industry experience.
• Specialisation in power electronics, motor drives, high-voltage engineering, or aerospace electrical systems preferred.
• Chartered Engineer (or equivalent) desirable.
• Desirable: postgraduate study or training in power electronics, EMC, high-voltage safety, or safety-critical systems.

• Advanced expertise in high-voltage power electronics design, including conversion, control, sensing, protection, and gate drive systems.
• Ability to define requirements and ensure full traceability from safety requirements to verification evidence (including DAL
  
  A).
• Strong experience in EMC design and compliance for high-speed switching systems (SiC/GaN), including emissions, susceptibility, filtering, shielding, and layout.
• Proficiency in simulation and analysis tools (e.g., SPICE, PLECS/PSIM, thermal/electromagnetic modelling, stability analysis, worst-case and reliability analysis).
• Experience with validation and test methods including switching loss, thermal characterisation, insulation testing, HIL, load testing, and qualification.
• Solid understanding of PCB design for high-voltage/high-current systems, including…