Design for Reliability (DfR) Engineer

Job Description:

Job Title: Design for Reliability Engineer, Power Electronics

Location: Fremont, CA
Job Type: Full-Time (New-Hire)
Job Level: Senior Engineer

Job Description:

We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Design for Reliability (DfR) Engineer to join our team. This role will focus on ensuring the long-term reliability, durability, and performance of Power Electronic products. As a DfR Engineer, you will be responsible for representing reliability during the design, development and deployment lifecycle of our products. You will work closely with the design and validation teams to optimize product life and performance under real-world conditions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design for Reliability: Implement Design for Reliability (DFR) methodologies to proactively identify and mitigate potential failure modes in power electronic systems. Ensure designs meet industry standards for thermal, electrical, and mechanical performance.

• Product Requirements: Interpret product and system level requirements. Help define reliability requirements early in the design process and ensure that the product’s use case, operation and environment are sufficiently specified.

• Risk Analysis: Use first principles approach to identify risk and its impact. Organize brainstorming sessions with key stakeholders for quick risk discovery. Conduct and lead Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) during the concept & design phase to help identify failure modes specific to power electronics and prioritize mitigation strategies like redundancy or protective circuits.

• Reliability Test Planning: Assess key component reliability and associated failure modes like mechanical and electrical fatigue of capacitors, inductors, semiconductor devices by subjecting product to high-stress cycles to identify weak points in the design.

• Develop reliability testing strategies and protocols for power converters, focusing on product lifespan, failure modes, and performance under extreme conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, mechanical stress).

• Accelerated Life Testing: Define accelerated life tests (ALT) to simulate long-term usage of power systems in varying environmental conditions and verify/quantify key reliability requirements.

• Failure Analysis: Coordinate investigation of failure modes with key stakeholders internally and externally through 3rd party labs and suppliers. Design tests needed to verify failure mode and see through implementation of corrective actions and solutions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or a related field.

• Proven experience (5+ years) working with high voltage systems, high power electronics, and DC-DC converters, preferably in renewable power electronics, electric vehicle, or industrial power systems.

• Experience with power electronics components such as IGBTs, MOSFETs, capacitors, inductors, and transformers.

• In-depth understanding of Design for Reliability (DFR) principles and methodologies, including component stress analysis , Fault Tree Analysis, MTBF and Reliability Block Diagrams.

• Background in Ansys Sherlock, Physics of failure principles and failure rate predictions based on stress factors like vibration, shock, temperature cycling and thermal gradients.

• Knowledge of industry standards and certifications for power electronics, including IEC, UL, JEDEC and IEEE.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with advanced packaging technologies, including power modules and PCB design for high-voltage systems.

• Expertise in thermal management, including the design of heat sinks, active cooling, and thermal vias.

• Familiarity with power quality issues (e.g., harmonics, voltage sags/surges) and their mitigation in power conversion systems.

Pay Range (Applicable to California)

$160,000.00 - $175,000.00 dependent on level of experience

Why Join Nextracker: 

🚀 Innovative Environment: Be part of a team that's at the forefront of revolutionizing solar energy technology. Collaborate with experts who are passionate about driving clean and sustainable solutions to power the world. 

📈 Professional Growth: At Nextracker, we encourage continuous learning and provide opportunities for your professional development. Take on challenges, expand your skill set, and advance your career alongside accomplished professionals. 

🤝 Collaborative Culture: We believe in the power of teamwork. Share your ideas, engage in cross-functional collaborations, and contribute to a culture that values diversity and inclusivity. 

🎯 Impactful Work: Join us in making a real impact on the planet by accelerating the adoption of renewable energy. Your contributions will play a crucial role in building a more sustainable future. 

Nextracker Offers: 

🌳 Proximity to Coyote Hills Regional Park: Our headquarters in Fremont is located within walking distance from the beautiful marshland and rolling grassland-covered hills. Take a rejuvenating walk or bike ride on the trails to find inspiration in nature's beauty.  

🚴 Bike-Friendly: We believe that a refreshing environment enhances creativity and well-being. Hop on Nextracker’s bike to ride through the breathtaking landscape. 

🏋️‍♀️ 🧘‍♀️Wellness: We value both physical and mental well-being by providing access to our onsite gym and locker room. Our gym is fully equipped and available for your convenience to fit in workouts. Additionally, you can take advantage of yoga classes in our Zen Garden for ultimate tranquility and mindfulness.  

😋Snacks, weekly catered lunch, and beverages 

🔋 Free Electric Vehicle charging stations for employees

At Nextracker, we are leading in the energy transition, providing the most comprehensive portfolio of intelligent solar tracker and software solutions for solar power plants, as well as strategic services to capture the full value of solar power plants for our customers. Our talented worldwide teams are transforming PV plant performance every day with smart technology, data monitoring and analysis services.

For us at Nextracker, sustainability is not just a word. It's a core part of our business, values and our operations. Our sustainability efforts are based on five cornerstones: People, Community, Environment, Innovation, and Integrity. We are creative, collaborative and passionate problem-solvers from diverse backgrounds, driven by our shared mission to provide smart solar and software solutions for our customers and to mitigate climate change for future generations.

Nextracker is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At Nextracker, we are leading in the energy transition, providing the most comprehensive portfolio of intelligent solar tracker and software solutions for solar power plants, as well as strategic services to capture the full value of solar power plants for our customers. Our talented worldwide teams are transforming PV plant performance every day with smart technology, data monitoring and analysis services.

For us at Nextracker, sustainability is not just a word. It's a core part of our business, values and our operations. Our sustainability efforts are based on five cornerstones: People, Community, Environment, Innovation, and Integrity. We are creative, collaborative and passionate problem-solvers from diverse backgrounds, driven by our shared mission to provide smart solar and software solutions for our customers and to mitigate climate change for future generations.

Nextracker is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At Nextracker, we are leading in the energy transition, providing the most comprehensive portfolio of intelligent solar tracker and software solutions for solar power plants, as well as strategic services to capture the full value of solar power plants for our customers. Our talented worldwide teams are transforming PV plant performance every day with smart technology, data monitoring and analysis services.

For us at Nextracker, sustainability is not just a word. It's a core part of our business, values and our operations. Our sustainability efforts are based on five cornerstones: People, Community, Environment, Innovation, and Integrity. We are creative, collaborative and passionate problem-solvers from diverse backgrounds, driven by our shared mission to provide smart solar and software solutions for our customers and to mitigate climate change for future generations.

Nextracker is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Culture is our Passion