R&D Lead Engineer - Power Electronics & Power Conversion
Eaton · Shanghai
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets.
What you’ll do:
Eaton Research Labs (ERL) focuses on front-end innovation by conducting advanced research that advances the state of the art, drives cross-business impact technologies, and delivers safe, efficient, and reliable power management solutions for Eaton customers.
Within this environment, the R&D Lead Engineer supports the research, development, validation, and maturation of advanced power electronics, power conversion, and related power management technologies across multidisciplinary programs involving power systems, electric drives, electromagnetics, controls, modeling, system integration, and digital engineering tools.
Working closely with ERL researchers, global teams, external research partners, and Eaton businesses, this role leads technical activities within assigned technology domains and contributes to technology advancement, transfer, and potential commercialization aligned with Eaton’s long-term technology and business strategies.
Technology Development & Validation
- Develop and evaluate innovative power conversion and control concepts, prototypes, and solutions through simulation, modeling, engineering analysis, and system-level validation across electrical, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle, and aerospace applications.
- Lead hardware and control design, development, testing, and validation for medium-voltage solid-state transformer (SST) and related power management technologies.
- Apply technical expertise to solve complex engineering challenges, improve system performance, reliability, manufacturability, and application readiness, and communicate technical recommendations to stakeholders.
- Conduct technology scouting and assess emerging technologies, industry trends, and future opportunities to support technology development and innovation objectives.
Project Delivery & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Support project planning, resource management, budgeting, scheduling, and execution of assigned technical activities.
- Collaborate with Eaton businesses, engineering organizations, and multidisciplinary teams to advance technology development, validation, maturation, and transfer activities.
- Provide technical consultation to internal stakeholders and mentor junior engineers and researchers within assigned technical domains.
Innovation & Technology Transfer
- Contribute to next-generation technology development programs aligned with Eaton’s long-term technology and business strategies through technical studies, technology assessments, innovation activities, and evaluation of emerging technologies and future opportunities.
- Collaborate with ERL global teams, Eaton businesses, universities, research institutes and external partners to support research, technology development, validation, and knowledge generation activities.
- Support technology transfer, potential commercialization, and intellectual property generation through technical analysis, invention disclosures, technical publications, and knowledge-sharing activities.
Qualifications:
PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline is preferred; master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline with significant relevant experience may also be considered.
PhD with 0-5 years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience.
- Solid understanding of power electronics, power conversion, and power management technologies, with technical expertise in one or more domains such as power electronics, controls, medium-voltage power systems, electric drives, electromagnetics, modeling and simulation, or related engineering disciplines.
- Strong knowledge of power conversion architectures and system-level design considerations, including AC/DC, DC/DC, and DC/AC converter topologies, power semiconductor devices, gate-drive technologies, and control strategies.
- Extensive experience in hardware design, development, testing, and validation of high-power power electronics and power conversion systems, including control algorithm implementation and verification on embedded platforms.
- Familiarity with enabling technologies used in power electronics applications, including magnetic components (e.g., high-frequency transformers, inductors, CTs, and Hall-effect sensors), EMI/EMC analysis and mitigation, battery systems, and related engineering applications.
- Ability to apply technical knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines and solve complex engineering challenges through modeling, analysis, testing, and validation methodologies.
- Fluent English communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate, influence, and communicate in a global environment.
- Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in navigating technical uncertainty, complex development cycles and evolving technology requirements while maintaining focus on innovation objectives and business impact.
- Self-motivated and intellectually curious, with a passion for continuous learning, technology exploration, and translating emerging ideas into practical engineering solutions.
- Strong ownership, accountability, and results orientation, with the ability to independently drive technical activities and deliver high-quality outcomes within assigned technology domains.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective partnerships and work across global, cross-functional, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts, influence technical discussions and support resolution of technical challenges across projects and organizations.
- Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving capability and technical judgment, with the ability to balance innovation opportunities, technical risks and practical implementation considerations.
At Eaton, we don’t just want to offer you a job, but a journey and experience. Our goal is to give you the space to find that sweet spot where your passion meets purpose.