Principal Electric Drives & Power Electronics

Principal Electric Drives & Power Electronics Engineer

Location: UAE

About the Role

As the Principal Electric Drives & Power Electronics Engineer, you will take technical ownership of the electric drive system, including the motor, inverter and drive controls.

You will be responsible for ensuring the performance, thermal behaviour, electromagnetic compatibility and fault response of the aircraft’s electric propulsion drives. This is a key role within the propulsion team, working closely with systems, electrical, avionics, battery and powertrain engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, rating and derating of electric motors and inverters, including continuous and peak operating requirements.
• Lead drive control development, including torque and speed response, control bandwidth, limits, derating and fault handling.
• Define the electrical interface between the high-voltage system and the drives, including DC input behaviour, inrush, pre-charge and electrical transients.
• Lead electromagnetic compatibility (EMC/EMI) considerations, including switching, filtering, shielding, bonding and return-path design.
• Define thermal requirements for the drives, including loss modelling, heat rejection and cooling requirements.
• Support system safety assessments through analysis of drive failure modes, detection and fault containment.
• Manage and provide technical direction to motor and inverter suppliers, including qualification and acceptance testing.
• Lead drive-level testing, including dynamometer testing, thermal testing, transient testing and fault testing.
• Analyse test results and translate findings into engineering and design improvements.
• Work closely with propulsion, powertrain, BMS/HV, electrical, avionics and test & evaluation teams.

Required Experience

• 10+ years’ experience in electrical machines, power electronics or motor drive engineering, including experience in airborne or other safety-critical applications.
• Proven ownership of motor or inverter design, development or rating for a high-power application.
• Strong knowledge of electrical machine design, including topology selection, electromagnetic analysis and validation.
• Strong power electronics knowledge, including converter topologies, switching strategies, loss modelling and thermal management.
• Deep understanding of electric drive control, including torque response, control architecture, limits and fault behaviour.
• Experience with EMC/EMI engineering in safety-critical systems.
• Experience with dynamometer or equivalent electric drive testing, with the ability to use test results to drive design improvements.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with eVTOL or electric aircraft propulsion systems.
• Experience with distributed electric propulsion and multiple-drive architectures.
• Experience with DO-160 environmental and electromagnetic qualification.
• High-power-density electric machine design and advanced cooling systems.
• Advanced degree in electrical machines, power electronics or a related discipline.