Virtual Peaker Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Imagine being at the epicenter of the next great industrial shift. Just as the electric vehicle revolution redefined the car as a software-defined machine, Redwood Materials is redefining the global energy grid. We aren't just managing batteries; we are building the "nervous system" for a circular energy economy.

Our San Francisco R&D team is architecting the transition from static, hardware-heavy infrastructure to dynamic, software-controlled ecosystems. We are proving that a sustainable, 100% renewable grid isn't just a goal-it's a technical reality powered by superior control intelligence. We are looking for the "architects of the electron" to help us make fossil-fuel peaker plants a thing of the past.

Power Electronics Controls Engineer

As a Power Electronics Controls Engineer, you will lead the design and implementation of the intelligent "brains" for our next-generation Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and mixed-asset energy sites. You will be responsible for the entire journey of our control systems-from white-space conceptualization and advanced modeling to real-world grid impact. Your work will ensure that recycled and new battery assets work in perfect harmony to stabilize the grid and optimize high-power conversion at an industrial scale.

Responsibilities will Include:

• Software-Defined Power: Design and optimize advanced control algorithms for high-power BESS, focusing on grid-forming, grid-following, and complex multi-asset energy site synchronization
• High-Power Conversion Architecture: Develop bidirectional DC/DC and AC/DC control schemes for industrial-scale storage, ensuring peak efficiency, thermal stability, and safety across all operating modes
• Digital Twin Development: Build high-fidelity "Digital Twins" of power stages and grid environments using PLECS and MATLAB/Simulink to predict system behavior under extreme transient and fault conditions
• Virtual & Hardware Validation: Architect and lead comprehensive Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing environments (Opal-RT/Typhoon) to rigorously stress-test control firmware before deployment
• Circular Asset Integration: Collaborate with battery and systems teams to implement control strategies that optimize the performance and longevity of mixed-asset arrays, including the integration of recycled battery chemistries
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with electrical, firmware, and thermal engineers to define the long-term roadmap for modern, resilient energy storage site controllers

Desired Qualifications:

• Educational Depth: MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Power Electronics Control Systems. (MSc requires 3+ years of relevant industry experience; PhD preferred)
• Topology Mastery: Deep theoretical and practical mastery of high-efficiency power conversion. You are an expert in resonant topologies (LLC, CLLC, DAB) and advanced multi-level architectures, specifically Flying Capacitor (FC) and Active Neutral Point Clamped (ANPC)
• Control Theory Expertise: Proven ability to design robust closed-loop controllers (Bode, Nyquist, State-Space) and implement them effectively on digital signal processors (DSPs) or microcontrollers
• Modern Toolchain:
  • Expert-level MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS for modeling and simulation
  • Strong proficiency in C for real-time embedded systems
  • Experience with Python for automation, scripting, and data analysis
• Proactive Innovation: A self-driven attitude with the ability to navigate the ambiguity of a fast-paced R&D environment. You enjoy building the framework as much as you enjoy writing the code
• Grid Standards: Familiarity with grid-interconnection codes (e.g., IEEE 1547, UL 1741) and their implications for controls development is highly desirable