Senior Power Device Engineer

About Us

Menlo Micro has reinvented one of the most fundamental building blocks of electronic systems – the electronic switch. Menlo Micro’s technology creates a new switch category that eliminates compromises and tradeoffs by combining the benefits of electromechanical and solid-state switches into the best of both worlds with its “Ideal Switch.”

Are you interested in playing a critical, impactful role and work with top electronic systems talent at an exciting startup backed by industry leaders? Do you want to help create truly disruptive and unique products that have the ability to change markets? If you answered yes to both, this may be your opportunity to have a significant impact at a cutting-edge startup with industry-leading technology that will drive electronic systems innovation across a diverse range of industries.

Role Summary and Purpose

You will be an integral member of the New Technology Introduction (NTI) team and have responsibilities for building a new class of power electronic technology (the Ideal Switch) and drive its technology development for device performance, device reliability and integrated electronic system architecture.  This is a unique role that will be responsible for taking MEMS ohmic switches into the power switching space and transition the technology from Watts to Kilowatts. 

The core aspect of this role is to establish the core device electrical characterization infrastructure for performance, accelerated life and reliability characterization and drive device level and state of art power switching system architectural improvements through root cause failure analysis.  This role will combine power device expertise with power electronic system architectures to develop and deliver a new class of relays and power switching systems combining the benefits of both solid state and mechanical relay technology. You will report to the Chief Technology Officer and work within a fast paced and energetic Technology team as well as work cross functionally with the Operations, Product Development, Quality and Applications/Marketing teams.

Essential Responsibilities

This position is responsible for providing the technical and strategic execution to bring a new class of power electronic technology (the Ideal Switch) into the Power IoT markets.  This includes the technical ownership to drive improvements in the device electrical performance and reliability through electrical test and failure mode analysis, the technical ownership of the power switching system architecture as well as the establishment and ownership of key external partnerships.  Also critical to this role is the ownership and the execution of Menlo’s Power Switch technology roadmap that will both incubate and keep Menlo’s Power technologies at the leading edge.

You will: 

• Lead the technical execution for power device electrical test, accelerated lifting, reliability, and analysis to drive technology development
• Lead the technical execution for switching system architecture design
• Build out test infrastructure necessary for all device, system and reliability characterization
• Work cross functionally with the device designers and process engineers to drive device level improvements
• Work cross functionally with the applications and marketing team to drive switching systems electronic architectural improvements
• Define, Drive and Implement Menlo’s Power Switch technology roadmap.
• Work with NTI team members to develop and validate new technologies and design rules for power switching MEMS based products
• Establish the in-house and external electrical test capabilities to enable fast learning cycles for technology and product development
• Establish key partnerships with universities and industry that expand Menlo’s technology capability
• Generate core intellectual property
• Comply with all company quality and safety policies and procedures

Qualifications and requirements:

• MS or PhD in STEM related disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)  
• Strong background in semiconductor power electronics
• Minimum 10 years of industrial or relevant experience in a microelectronics or power electronics discipline
• Demonstrated experience in the development of novel power electronic microsystems
• Ability to define, design and characterize electrical test systems for accelerated and reliability test
• Experience using circuit simulation to design and define with electronics system architectures
• Demonstrated ability to work with external partners to drive both engineering development and supply enhancement
• Experience establishing technology roadmaps and success at driving new technology introduction
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Knowledge semiconductor-based switching systems and devices
• Excellent communication skills
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required
• Travel about 10% of time
• Work office located in Albany, NY

Desired Characteristics

• Good organization skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks and set priorities to meet goals in a fast-paced environment
• Strong data analytical skills to translate device/power system performance and electronic signatures to device and system architectural elements
• Demonstrated ability to be a successful influencer of technology development
• Demonstrated ability to design and characterize new power system product concepts
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; experience communicating complex material characterization results to broadly skilled audience
• A desire to be a critical problem solver and innovator
• Awareness of MEMS switch technology
• Demonstrated ability to investigate, find root cause, and correct actions of device failures