Traction Inverter Power Stage Gate Drive & PCB Lead Engineer

Energy Conversion Systems (ECS) at General Motors is a fast-paced team that is working on developing and executing propulsion technology. This role is within the Energy Conversion Management Hardware Organization, specifically in the Traction Inverter Power Module & Low Voltage Hardware team. 

We are seeking a technical lead to join our team as “The Lead Traction Inverter Power Electronics Engineer”. This role provides end-to-end technical ownership for traction inverter gate drive circuitry, PCB design, hardware architecture, supplier execution, validation, production launch, and field-performance improvement. 

The engineer will lead complex, high-visibility work across Product Engineering, Systems Engineering, Controls and Software, EMC, Reliability, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Program Management, and external suppliers. The role requires deep power-electronics expertise, strong technical influence, disciplined issue resolution, and the ability to develop scalable engineering standards that support GM’s electrification strategy. 

Responsibilities 

• Serve as the subject-matter expert for traction inverter power electronics, gate drive circuitry, high-voltage PCB design, hardware integration, and power-electronics packaging. 

• Lead inverter hardware architecture, requirements translation, schematic development, component selection, circuit simulation, layout supervision, design reviews, DFMEA, and production-intent design release. 

• Define and maintain PCB architecture, stack-up, grounding, isolation, protection, sensing, thermal, EMC, and high-voltage design strategies for robust traction inverter applications. 

• Apply advanced knowledge of IGBT, SiC, and GaN switching technologies, gate-drive requirements, parasitic effects, thermal behavior, EMC implications, and inverter fault mitigation. 

• Own or direct gate drive circuit and PCB verification and validation plans, including electrical, thermal, EMC, vibration, environmental, reliability, high-voltage, double-pulse, and production-test activities. 

• Lead structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, GM 5-Phase investigations, PRTS actions, corrective-action verification, and field or launch issue resolution. 

• Drive program execution from advanced development and sourcing through design release, prototype builds, validation, launch readiness, production maturity, and field-performance improvement. 

• Provide supplier and manufacturing technical leadership, including statements of work, quotation reviews, technical negotiations, design reviews, process capability, change control, traceability, containment, and corrective action. 

• Develop common design standards, reusable architectures, checklists, templates, lessons learned, production test limits, and technical documentation for inverter programs. 

• Mentor engineers and technical specialists, lead cross-functional workgroups, communicate complex technical issues to senior stakeholders, and influence technical decisions across organizations. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Electronics Engineering, Power Electronics, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent technical education and demonstrated experience may be considered in accordance with GM policy. 

• More than 8 years of professional experience in power electronics, gate drive circuit and PCB design, automotive electronics, or a closely related field. 

• Advanced knowledge of automotive traction inverter hardware, high-voltage and high-current gate-drive design, power-switching behavior, sensing, protection circuits, isolation, grounding, filtering, and control interfaces. 

• Strong experience with IGBT, SiC, and GaN power-switch technologies, including switching characteristics, gate-drive requirements, parasitic sensitivity, thermal behavior, EMC implications, and inverter protection strategies. 

• Strong understanding of PCB materials, stack-ups, copper distribution, thermal management, solder technologies, via structures, surface finishes, reliability mechanisms, and high-voltage safety practices. 

• Working knowledge of EMC/EMI design, emissions and immunity, functional safety concepts, reliability engineering, DFMEA, PFMEA, design verification, change management, supplier quality, manufacturing processes, end-of-line testing, and production launch. 

• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex hardware products from concept through validation and production while leading cross-functional teams, suppliers, issue-resolution activities, and engineering documentation. 

• Strong technical leadership, systems thinking, independent judgment, structured problem solving, data analysis, communication, collaboration, influence, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple high-priority workstreams with autonomy, coach engineers, and create clear technical requirements, design rules, review materials, validation plans, and executive-level recommendations. 

Preferred Qualifications 

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

• 10+ years of relevant experience in Traction Inverter Gate Drive Circuitry Design and Execution. 

• Experience with traction inverters, electric drive units, onboard chargers, DC/DC converters, batteries, or comparable automotive power-electronics systems. 

• Experience with SiC or silicon power modules, high-frequency switching, advanced gate drivers, isolated communications, high-voltage sensing, and gate drive power supplies. 

• Experience using Siemens Xpedition or similar tools for gate drive circuit and traction inverter PCB design. 

• Experience with automotive EMC standards, inverter dynamometer testing, environmental validation, double-pulse testing, high-voltage bench testing, production-test-limit development, and failure analysis. 

• Experience working with global suppliers, electronics manufacturing partners, cost-reduction initiatives, design standardization, platform reuse, and design-to-value activities. 

• Experience using Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar tools for engineering analysis, test automation, data reduction, or failure investigation.