FACTS R&D & Technology Development Leader – FACTS SL
GE Vernova · Tampere
Job Description Summary
Job Description
The Mission: Electrify the Future
At GE Vernova, we aren’t just building equipment; we are engineering the backbone of the global energy transition. The FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems) Solution Line is at the heart of this mission, enabling grids to handle more renewable energy with greater stability.
As the FACTS NPI (New Product Introduction) Leader, you are the bridge between visionary market strategy and industrial reality. You will lead the charge in transforming high-level customer needs into a scalable, world-class portfolio of FACTS solutions.
FACTS R&D & Technology Development Leader
The Role: Leading the Technology That Powers the Grid
Reporting to the FACTS Solution Line Leader, you will lead the research, development, and engineering strategy behind our STATCOM and FSC solutions — spanning early-stage technology development through to fully industrialized, market-ready products. Today, this role owns the full technology lifecycle, from advancing new power electronics and controls concepts to maturing them into robust, manufacturable solutions.
You will partner closely with the Value Proposition Leader (VPL) to ensure the technology we develop translates into winning, competitive products.
Key Responsibilities
Own the Full Technology Development Lifecycle: Lead the development of power electronics and controls technology for STATCOM and FSC — from early-stage concept and innovation through to fully engineered, industrialized solutions.
Lead Power Electronics & Controls Development: Own the technical strategy and roadmap, driving advances in power electronics topologies, converter design, and control system architecture.
Drive the R&D Roadmap: Lead global engineering programs from concept through to industrialized product, ensuring technical excellence, performance, and reliability at every stage.
Translate Market Needs into Technology: Partner with the Value Proposition Leader to convert market and customer requirements into robust technical architectures, control strategies, and scalable product platforms.
Industrialize Innovation: Drive the transition from early-stage technology to fully industrialized, repeatable products — embedding Design for Manufacturability (DfM) and cost-out principles from the earliest design stages.
Architect Standardized Platforms: Define and own the modular "building blocks" of the FACTS technology portfolio — reusable power electronics and controls components/subsystems that keep our global Reference Solution Packs agile and technically competitive.
Build and Lead a Technical Powerhouse: Recruit, mentor, and grow a high-performing engineering organization — Principal Engineers, controls/power electronics specialists, and NPI Program Managers. Cultivate a culture of deep technical rigor, continuous learning, and closed-loop engineering (feeding field performance data back into design).
Accelerate with Discipline: Apply Lean and Agile engineering practices to speed time-to-market, without compromising safety, quality, or technical integrity.
Shape the Future Operating Model: Play an active role in defining how technology innovation and product development responsibilities will be structured as the organization evolves, including the future interface with a dedicated CTO/NTI function.
Who You Are
A Recognized Technical Authority in Power Electronics & Power Systems: You have deep, hands-on expertise in power electronics topologies, converter design, and controls for grid-scale FACTS solutions (STATCOM, FSC/SVC). You can architect solutions and engage directly in technical trade-offs — not just manage those who do.
An End-to-End Technology Leader: You are comfortable leading technology from early-stage concept/innovation through to a fully industrialized, scalable product — you don't need a mature innovation pipeline handed to you.
An R&D-to-Product Leader: You've led the journey from advanced technology development through to industrialized, scalable products, balancing innovation with manufacturability and cost.
A Risk-Aware Engineer: You proactively identify technical risks using structured methods (e.g., DFMEA) and drive mitigation early in the design cycle.
A Collaborative, Influential Leader: You work effectively across R&D, manufacturing, quality, and commercial teams, and can translate deep technical work into decisions stakeholders can act on.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering required; Master's or PhD in Power Electronics, Power Systems, or Controls strongly preferred.
Experience: Significant hands-on and leadership experience in power electronics converter design and/or controls engineering for FACTS or comparable grid-scale power conversion technologies (STATCOM, SVC, HVDC, or similar), including experience developing technology from early concept through to commercial product.
Technical Depth: Strong grounding in power electronics topologies, control system design/tuning, and grid interaction phenomena; familiarity with simulation tools (e.g., PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink) is a plus.
Methodology: Working knowledge of NPI governance (gate reviews), Agile development, and Lean engineering practices; familiarity with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) frameworks is a plus
Communication: Fluent in English, able to translate complex technical concepts for both engineering and executive audiences.
Additional Information
Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes