Senior Analog & Power Electronics Hardware Engineer - High Power Systems

Senior Analog & Power Electronics Hardware Engineer -  High Power Systems

Location: Cluses, France

About the Company

INAUTALENT is supporting the International Space Federation (ISF), an advanced R&D organization based in Cluses (French Alps), in strengthening its engineering team.

ISF conducts experimental research at the frontier of physics and advanced engineering, developing high-energy electronic systems to support breakthrough technologies related to gravity-control propulsion and quantum-vacuum energy. The organization works in close collaboration with international academic partners to transform bold scientific concepts into real, testable hardware.

To support its experimental programs, ISF is seeking a Senior Analog and Power Electronics Hardware Engineer with deep hands-on expertise, capable of taking full ownership of complex analog and power electronics designs—from first principles to working prototypes on the bench.

Role Overview

This position is designed for a senior, hands-on engineer who operates comfortably in the physical reality of electronics. You will design, build, and debug high-performance analog and power electronics boards, focused on power amplification, impedance matching, and high-current / high-voltage systems operating from the kHz to MHz range.

You will be responsible for the entire hardware lifecycle, working autonomously in a highly experimental R&D environment where practical performance matters more than theory alone.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead full-custom analog and power board development, from blank-page design to validated prototype
• Design schematics, run simulations, perform PCB layout, oversee fabrication, assembly, testing, and iterative improvement
• Develop power-stage topologies (half-bridge, full-bridge, and similar) capable of delivering very high currents into extremely low-impedance and low-inductance loads
• Design and implement impedance matching and resonant circuits from low kHz up to VHF frequencies (typically 100 kHz – 100 MHz)
• Safely handle and isolate high-voltage systems reaching kV-levels, ensuring compliance with creepage, clearance, and safety constraints
• Perform hands-on debugging and validation using advanced lab instrumentation
• Collaborate closely with physicists and system engineers to integrate hardware into larger experimental setups
• Document designs, test results, and lessons learned for continuous improvement
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related field
• Proven experience in full-custom analog and power electronics board design, including:
• LCR networks, BJTs, MOSFETs, FETs, diodes, and passive/active components
• Class A / AB / D / E power amplifiers and switched-mode power topologies
• Impedance matching techniques (L-networks, π-networks, transformers, etc.)
• Deep, practical understanding of passive components and real-world behavior:
• Capacitor dielectrics (C0G/NP0, X7R, film, electrolytic, etc.)
• ESR, ESL, parasitics, temperature and voltage coefficients, and deviations from datasheet specs
• Strong experience with high-power stages, including:
• Driving extremely low-impedance loads (e.g. single-turn coils <1 µH, <10 mΩ)
• High-voltage systems (kV range), including gate drivers, isolation strategies, and HV safety practices
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (KiCad preferred; Altium/Eagle acceptable)
• Experience with SPICE-based simulation tools (LTspice, SIMetrix, PSpice)
• Ability to manage the full manufacturing flow: Gerbers, PCB fabrication, BOM sourcing, and prototype assembly (THT/SMD, reflow)
• Excellent hands-on lab skills with oscilloscopes (including HV/current probes), spectrum analyzers, VNAs, and impedance analyzers
• Strong autonomy and ownership mindset, with a focus on practical problem-solving
  
  

Ideal Candidate Profile

This role is for an engineer who truly understands real-world analog and power electronics—someone who knows why a 10 µF X7R capacitor rings at 10 MHz while a C0G does not, who can match a 50 Ω output to a 0.5 Ω coil at 400 kHz while handling multi-kV peaks, and who enjoys building, testing, and fixing hardware until it works.

This is not a digital, FPGA, or purely theoretical role. Success here depends on hands-on expertise, curiosity, and the ability to make complex hardware function reliably on the bench.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• Opportunity to work on highly experimental, non-conventional hardware systems
• Access to advanced laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art instrumentation
  Collaborative, research-driven environment with strong technical autonomy
• Flexibility and support for continuous professional development