Intern Power Distribution Engineer Jobs in Charlottesville, VA

Join a fast-scaling aerospace startup and set the standard for excellence.

Company Overview Allocor.tech designs and manufactures mission-critical power electronics and avionics including motor controllers, battery management systems, power distribution, flight control, and flight termination systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS/UAM) and unmanned maritime platforms. Our customers are leaders in advanced air mobility, uncrewed aircraft, and electric watercraft. The team brings deep experience from organizations including Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Sierra Space, and Aurora Flight Sciences.

We are a team of approximately 35 people generating roughly $10M in annual revenue. We recently closed a $6.0M Series A and are projecting 100–200% revenue growth over the next year as we scale production, expand our customer base, and professionalize the business beyond its engineering-led roots. This is a pivotal moment: we are building the technical depth and process rigor required to support rapid, disciplined growth while protecting the speed and agility that got us here.

Role Summary The Mid-Level Electrical Engineer will own detailed hardware design for next-generation high-voltage power electronics, with a primary focus on our 800V-class inverter program. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who thrives in a fast-moving environment and wants real ownership of circuits that fly on customer platforms. You will design, analyze, document, and bring up safety-critical power electronics while helping establish the standards, processes, and documentation practices that will scale with Allocor.tech for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

Hardware Design & Analysis

• Design high-voltage power electronics circuits for the 800V inverter program, including topology selection, component derating, protection schemes, and power/thermal optimization.
• Perform Worst Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA) and SPICE simulations for safety-critical circuits, producing clear, review-ready documentation.
• Design mixed-signal systems with careful attention to noise isolation, signal integrity, creepage/clearance, and thermal management.
• Support and execute impedance-controlled PCB layouts and high-speed signal integrity analysis for multi-layer power electronics boards.

Integration, Testing & Documentation

• Drive hardware-software integration for motor controller platforms, working closely with firmware engineers on register configuration, timing, and control loops.
• Participate in and help run design reviews (schematic, layout, WCCA) and present clear trade studies to engineering leadership.
• Support prototype bring-up, bench testing, and qualification testing.
• Build and maintain design files, simulation models, and test reports in our engineering document control system — helping set the standard for how this work is done as the team and product line grow.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field (MSEE a plus).
• 3–6 years of hands-on power electronics design experience, with meaningful work on high-voltage (400V+) inverter or converter systems.
• Strong proficiency with schematic capture and simulation tools (Altium, LTspice, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent).
• Experience performing WCCA on safety-critical or high-reliability circuits.
• Solid background in PCB design for high-voltage and mixed-signal systems, including impedance control, creepage/clearance rules, and thermal management.
• Experience with EMI/EMC design techniques and pre-compliance testing.

Preferred

• Experience designing to aerospace or automotive standards (DO-160, AEC-Q, MIL-STD-810).
• Background with SiC or GaN-based power stages.
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (IEC 61508, ISO 26262) as applied to power electronics.
• Prior work on 800V-class traction inverter or similar high-voltage programs.
• Experience with motor controllers, flight control systems, or unmanned platforms.

Key Attributes

• Hands-on engineer who takes ownership of designs from concept through bring-up and documentation.
• Comfortable working in a small, agile team with short decision cycles and real customer hardware.
• Detail-oriented with high standards for analysis, documentation, and design rigor.
• Collaborative partner who communicates clearly with firmware, mechanical, and leadership stakeholders.
• Excited by the opportunity to help define processes and standards rather than simply follow them.

What Success Looks Like in the First Year

• You own key portions of the 800V inverter hardware design and deliver review-ready schematics, WCCA, and layouts on schedule.
• Design files, simulation models, and test documentation are consistently clear, complete, and reusable by the broader team.
• Prototype bring-up and testing progress smoothly with issues identified and resolved efficiently.
• You contribute meaningfully to design reviews and trade studies that accelerate program decisions.
• The engineering organization has stronger processes and standards for high-voltage power electronics work as a result of your contributions.
• Your designs help advance real customer platforms and support Allocor.tech’s rapid growth trajectory.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production and lab areas.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package. Employees may receive equity opportunities and/or cash bonus, and have access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, unlimited PTO, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status; please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

Important Information

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Allocor.Tech Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.

Allocor.tech provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Allocor.Tech, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Apply NOW

We review applications on a rolling basis and move quickly for strong fits.