Head of R&D - Power Electronics Converters & BESS

Role Summary:

Lead and grow an R&D organization responsible for the end- to- end development of power electronic converters (low- power through MW class) and battery energy storage system (BESS) hardware from cell to module to pack, targeted at utility and grid- scale applications. Own technical strategy, product architecture, validation, regulatory compliance, and transfer to manufacturing while delivering safe, reliable, and cost- competitive solutions that meet grid interconnection and utility requirements.

Core Responsibilities:

- Technical Strategy & Roadmap: Define and drive the multi- year R&D roadmap for converters and BESS, balancing innovation (SiC/GaN, advanced topologies) with time- to- market and manufacturability.

System Architecture & Design Ownership: Lead architecture and detailed design for:

- Converters: low- power inverters/chargers and high- power converters up to MW class, including multilevel, modular, and parallelized topologies.

- BESS: cell selection, module mechanical/thermal design, pack architecture, enclosure, thermal management, and safety systems.

- Power Electronics Hardware & Controls: Oversee power stage design, gate drive, EMI/EMC mitigation, passive components, thermal design, protection schemes, and control firmware for grid- tied operation (voltage/frequency ride- through, reactive power, VAr control).

- Battery Systems & BMS: Define cell qualification, cell balancing strategies, BMS architecture (hardware and software), state- estimation algorithms (SOC, SOH), thermal runaway mitigation, and safety interlocks.

- Standards, Compliance & Grid Integration: Ensure designs meet relevant standards and grid codes (interconnection, anti- islanding, protection coordination, safety and transport standards) and lead certification efforts.

- Validation, Testing & Commissioning: Establish test plans and oversee lab validation, environmental testing, type testing, factory acceptance tests (FAT), site acceptance tests (SAT), and field commissioning for utility projects.

- Manufacturing Transfer & Cost Optimization: Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to ensure design for manufacturability, supplier qualification, cost targets, and yield improvement.

- Team Leadership & Talent Development: Build and mentor cross- functional R&D teams (power electronics, controls, battery engineering, mechanical, test), set objectives, and recruit senior technical talent.

- Project & Stakeholder Management: Manage multiple concurrent projects, budgets, timelines, and stakeholder communications with product management, sales, utilities, and external partners.

- Intellectual Property & Partnerships: Drive IP strategy, patent filings, and technical partnerships with universities, labs, and suppliers.

- Product Realization Process: Support to create a robust PRP process and ensure the team follows the process

Required Qualifications:

- Education: Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Energy Systems, or related field.

- Experience: Minimum 20+ years of relevant experience with at least 5 years in senior technical leadership roles. Proven track record delivering commercial power converters and utility- scale BESS projects.

- Domain Exposure: Hands- on experience with MW- class converters, medium- voltage interfaces, and BESS pack design and integration for grid applications.

- Regulatory & Certification Experience: Demonstrated experience navigating grid codes, interconnection standards, and product certification processes for utility equipment.

Technical Skills & Tools:

- Power Electronics: Topology selection (multilevel, modular, NPC, H- bridge, bidirectional converters), Si/SiC/GaN device experience, PWM strategies, soft- switching techniques.

- Controls & Firmware: Real- time control platforms (DSP, FPGA, ARM), vector control, PLLs, grid synchronization, protection algorithms, and embedded firmware development lifecycle.

- Battery Engineering: Cell chemistry knowledge (Li- ion variants), cell testing and qualification, module mechanical design, thermal management (liquid, air, phase- change), pack assembly, and safety design.

- BMS & Algorithms: Cell balancing, SOC/SOH estimation, state observers, fault detection, and secure communications (CAN, RS485, Ethernet).

- Standards & Safety: Familiarity with IEEE 1547, IEC 61439, IEC 62619, IEC 62133, UL 1973, UL 9540, UN38.3, IEC 61000 series (EMC), and local grid codes.

- Testing & Tools: Power analyzers, HIL/PHIL, thermal simulation (CFD), electromagnetic simulation, PCB design tools, MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, and lab automation frameworks.

- Manufacturing & Supply Chain: DFM/DFT practices, supplier qualification, cost modelling, and RoHS/REACH compliance.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills:

- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate market and regulatory trends into technical roadmaps.

- Strong communicator able to present complex technical concepts to executives, customers, and regulators.

- Cross-functional collaborator who can align R&D, product, operations, and sales.

- Decisive problem solver with experience making trade- offs between performance, cost, schedule, and safety.

- Mentor and talent builder with experience scaling engineering teams and establishing engineering processes.

Performance Metrics & Deliverables:

- Time to market for new converter and BESS platforms.

- System reliability: MTBF, field failure rates, and warranty claims.

- Certification milestones achieved on schedule.

- Cost targets: BOM and manufacturing cost reductions versus targets.

- Project delivery: On- time FAT/SAT and successful commissioning for utility projects.

- Team health: Retention, skill development, and hiring velocity.

- Process: Ensuring his team's adherence to Company's Product Realization process

Additional Details:

Location: Bengaluru, India

Travel: Up to 25% domestic and international for supplier audits, certification labs, and customer commissioning.

Reporting: Reports to Power Electronics SBU head; will manage a multi- disciplinary R&D organization.