Senior Power Electronics Control Engineer in Sunnyvale

LTA Research and Exploration, an aerospace start‑up, is seeking a motivated Senior Power Electronics Control Engineer to help build an experimental “lighter than air” flight vehicle. You will work within a dynamic engineering and design team to conceptualize, rapidly prototype, test and implement innovative solutions for the design, fabrication and assembly of an electric airship.

• Develop power electronic control algorithms into firmware based on the control method and algorithms that satisfy the flight vehicle requirements.
• Work closely with firmware engineers to implement DSP/microcontroller‑based control algorithms according to the system standards and rules.
• Collaborate closely with hardware and firmware engineers throughout the development cycle (system design, prototyping and validation, system integration, and improvements).
• Conduct hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, embedded simulation, and field validation to verify controls performance.
• Document controls architecture, control logic, and regulatory compliance considerations.
• Develop comprehensive test plans and perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality, stability and performance under various conditions.
• Participate in testing of the integrated electrical systems, including bring‑up process, debugging and checking signal integrity.
• Read electrical drawings and schematics to aid the integration process.
• Collaborate with software integration teams to bring up core functions and broadcast software‑level requirements to electrical hardware and systems teams.

• BS degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• Strong understanding of power converters, electric drives and battery management systems.
• 5+ years of experience in power electronics system development, with a focus on motor control and power electronics.
• Knowledge of working with different digital signal processors (DSPs) and microcontrollers.
• Experience in modeling and simulation of power electronics and electric machines (MATLAB and Simulink).
• Experience in PCB design and its simulation tools.
• Proficiency with basic EE tools (oscilloscopes, signal generators, etc.).
• Start‑to‑finish ownership of hardware (design, prototype and validation).
• Experience developing digital and analog interfaces for PC‑based systems, especially LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python.
• Master or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Strong understanding of power electronics principles, including modulation techniques (PWM, SVM), voltage and current control loops, and Park transform.
• Familiarity with ARM Cortex‑M, TI C2000, STM
  32 or similar microcontroller families used in power control.
• Knowledge of environmental, reliability and safety requirements for aerospace applications and the path to certification.
• Knowledge of basic control theory and its implementation in analog/digital circuits.
• Experience implementing automotive and aerospace communication protocols (CAN, RS232, etc.).
• Experience developing real‑time control algorithms for inverters, converters or battery systems.
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC standards and electrical signal integrity.

• Relocation assistance.
• Excellent medical, dental and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents).
• Company‑paid life, AD&D, long‑term and short‑term insurances.
• Parental leave.
• Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays.
• 401(k) matching up to 6%.
• Lunch and snacks provided every day; accommodations for all dietary restrictions.
• Monthly wellness stipend.
• Monthly cell phone stipend.
• Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field.
• Fun events and the occasional airship ride.
• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields.

• Criminal background check clearance.
• Drug test clearance where applicable.

LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply, including those with limited experience, and celebrates diverse origins and journeys.
Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.