We have an opening for an experienced Power Electronics Engineer to support the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate portfolio of programs—including NIF Operations, NIF Sustainment, NIF Enhanced Yield Capability (EYC), HED & Photon Sciences, and the Department of Defense Technology (DoDT). This is an exciting opportunity to join the team that first achieved fusion ignition in December 2022 and continues to advance the frontiers of fusion energy and high-energy laser science.
You will be responsible for the engineering design and development of advanced power electronics hardware and system upgrades to continually improve performance and reliability. Projects may include specialized high voltage power supply design, high repetition rate solid-state diode drivers for lasers used in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) generation and inertial fusion energy, and development of next-generation pulsed power systems. These positions are in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division, within the Engineering Directorate.
These positions will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.
You will
- Work under limited direction with moderate responsibility, use comprehensive knowledge, and exercise independent judgment to determine methods and recommend improvements within established frameworks and contribute to the fulfillment of project and organizational goals.
- Provide engineering support to design, simulate, and prototype critical power electronics circuits, including offline power converters, DC/DC, and DC/AC converters for high-energy laser systems.
- Contribute to the evaluation and selection of solid-state power semiconductor devices (e.g., SiC, GaN, thyristors, IGBTs, MOSFETs) for robust, high-reliability applications.
- Develop and implement moderately complex control algorithms for power converters using microcontrollers or DSPs.
- Design and test magnetics (inductors, transformers); perform thermal analysis and design cooling solutions for high-power systems.
- Participate in debugging and troubleshooting hardware prototypes, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to make recommendations and provide solutions to resolve technical issues.
- Collaborate closely with physicists, mechanical engineers, and software engineers to support the delivery of integrated solutions for pulsed power, fusion energy, and laser-driven experiments.
- Participate in documenting technical designs, creating schematics, authoring test procedures and formal reports, and defining and recommending process improvements.
- Uphold the highest standards of personnel and facility safety during experiments and testing.
- Present technical results and recommendations in peer reviews and stakeholder meetings.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level
- Function independently with minimal direction, taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and collaborate in the development of innovative methods/technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to the development of organizational goals.
- Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary design and peer reviews to ensure safety and technical soundness of a diverse range of complex experiments, hardware, and data acquisition systems.
- Provide technical guidance to external contractors fabricating complex custom electrical equipment and experimental assemblies.
- Guide the completion of a project, establish project objectives and strategy, and influence technical direction by applying high-level technical concepts and techniques to drive successful outcomes for deliverables
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development and implementation of best practices in power electronics design and testing.