Electrical Engineer, Motor Control and Power Conversion Specialist

Company Profile

Oceaneering Technologies (OTECH) develops, manufactures, and operates customized marine systems, shipboard equipment, subsea vehicles, and engineered solutions for commercial and U.S. military vessels.

Oceaneering Aerospace and Defense Technologies (AdTech) delivers solutions that enable humans to work safely and effectively in harsh environments – from underwater to the outer reaches of space. Our innovative solutions support the development and application of practical, cost-effective systems that meet our customers’ challenges – from routine to extreme. Our experience and expertise across multiple industries uniquely positions us as a leader in the government, space, and maritime services markets. Our products and services meet the rigorous demands of the complex environments in which they operate, delivering results without compromising safety or reliability.

Oceaneering is a global provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore energy industry. We develop products and services for use throughout the lifecycle of an offshore oilfield, from drilling to decommissioning. We operate the world's premier fleet of work class ROVs. Additionally, we are a leader in offshore oilfield maintenance services, umbilicals, subsea hardware, and tooling. We also use applied technology expertise to serve the defense, entertainment, material handling, aerospace, science, and renewable energy industries.

Position Summary

As an Electrical Engineer, Motor Controls and Power Conversion Specialist, serve as a vital member of the Oceaneering Aerospace and Defense Technologies (ADTECH) engineering team – an engineering center of excellence, and an exciting part of our dynamic, global enterprise. Within our Oceaneering Technologies (OTECH) group, your primary responsibility will be supporting development and application of high-power, high-efficiency motor controls, drives, active front end rectifiers, and other power conversion systems. Additionally, you may be responsible for performing diverse activities associated with the development and implementation of complex power and control systems for unique underwater robotic and electromechanical systems, helping solve our customers’ toughest challenges – typically for US Navy and other US Government Department of Defense customers.

Most of our projects are one-of-a-kind, which means you will never be stagnant and will always work on something new and compelling. And, by “work,” we don’t just mean “analyze and design” – most of our engineers do not simply sit behind a desk, but when the design is done choose to “get their hands dirty” assisting with building and testing their creations. At Oceaneering, we are committed to “making it work!”.

Duties And Responsibilities

- Apply specific expertise to development of low to high power motor controls, drives, active front end rectifiers, other power conversion and supporting components.

- As a system or subsystem lead, responsible for producing significant portions of individual project electrical and control system designs; may also be expected to lead, supervise, and mentor small teams of senior and junior electrical engineers in pursuit of associated project objectives.

- Given incomplete, high-level requirements for a system or subsystem of moderate complexity, generate proper designs and work to complete tasking with latitude to make decisions under minimal supervision – individually and in a teamwork environment.

- Exercise excellent technical judgement, creativity, and initiative with attention to detail consistently throughout your work product, with attention to the “system” perspective.

- Prepare and participate in regular design reviews.

- Work closely in concert with mechanical, software, and systems engineers, as well as other cooperative disciplines, to solve problems and constructively architect a working system.

- Supervise/mentor junior engineers or technicians, when necessary.

- Responsible and accountable for your results, working with considerable autonomy, but also knowing when to ask for assistance.

- Desire to stretch and expand your talents, expertise, competency, and responsibilities.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL:

- Bachelor of Science or advanced degree from an accredited university in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (or related field/curriculum having an Electrical concentration, such as Computer Engineering or Robotics Engineering). Significant commensurate experience may be considered.

- Minimum 10 plus years practical technical experience with focus and demonstrated expertise in custom-made (high-power) motor controls and other power conversion subsystems development, analysis, simulation, design, control, programming, layout, construction, troubleshooting, and testing.

- Ability to obtain and maintain a United States Government Department of Defense Security Clearance (active clearances preferred, but not prerequisite).

- Must be a US citizen.

PREFERRED:

- Expert understanding and application of three-phase brushless motors and controls models, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical, including dynamic flux estimation and transformations between stationary and rotating reference frames.

- High-frequency space-vector pulse-width modulation (SVPWM) and other advanced techniques for efficient sinusoidal commutation, minimizing torque-ripple and excess harmonics.

- Precise sensorless and sensored commutation/rotor angle sensing techniques.

- Detailed analysis, modeling, and simulation of motors and motor controls in time domain, frequency domain, continuous and discrete.

- Precise torque, speed, and position feedback control under varying loads.

- Efficient implementation of motor controllers with embedded software/firmware in microcontrollers/DSP, using low-level assembly language and C language, including implementation of digital filters and phase-locked-loops (PLL).

- Inverter topologies, state-of-the-art power device selection.

- Power electronics design and component selection, including high-power IGBTs and MOSFETs, SiC, and associated drive, level-shifting, filtering, isolation, switching, sensing, common-mode effects, etc.

- Application of similar principles to high-power active front end rectifiers for efficient, near-unity-power-factor, low-harmonics, AC-DC power converters, and complex interactions between front end and inverter(s).

- Compact, optimal layout of motor control and drive circuitry (low- and high-power sections) on printed circuit boards for minimal noise, EMI/EMC, as well as heatsinking.

- Good electrical drawing/drafting skills – accurately create and read detailed schematics, wiring diagrams, cable drawings, system cabling and block diagrams, etc.

- Proficiency in proper use and application of various standard motor and electronic test equipment, e.g., dynamometers, VOM/multimeters, oscilloscopes, power analyzers, spectrum analyzers, “hipot” insulation testers, communications analyzers, etc.

- Proficiency with advanced Computer Aided Design (CAD), Simulation, and Analysis software packages such as Altium Designer, SPICE, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MathCAD, MATLAB, etc.

- Proficiency with common office productivity software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, etc.

- Good written and oral communications skills, including ability to effectively document, convey, and present engineering concepts and products to team members and customers.

ADDITIONAL:

- Experience in the marine (surface or, preferably, underwater) industry and associated technologies, including ROVs, AUVs, and related robotic and electromechanical systems.

- Experience with ground-fault (and other fault) monitoring and interruption for safety, especially in the marine, shipboard and underwater environment.

- Applications with electronics (entire motor controller) immersed in oil, potentially under high-pressure.

- Motor design and construction (housing, bearings, seals, stator, rotor, windings).

- Experience with low-medium voltage, single- and 3-phase power systems (120, 240, 480, 3000+ VAC).

- Experience applying machine safety systems and standards.

- Good practical technician skills (assembly, wiring, soldering, cabling, etc.).

- Ability and flexibility to travel on occasion, typically pre-planned for up to one to two weeks at a time; may be within the US, outside the US, or offshore, onboard a boat.

Additional Information

This position is Hybrid - Remote and will require commuting to a designated office. Hybrid work schedules are determined by the hiring manager based on business need. Annualized pay rate for this position is $135000 to $200000.

PAY, BENEFITS AND WORK SCHEDULE:

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Employee benefits vary by role, however, may include Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Retirement Savings, Life and Disability, Paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, and an Employee Assistance Program.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for all positions without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other non-merit factors.

How To Apply

Regular full-time employees who apply will be considered along with external candidates. Employees with less than six months with their current position are not eligible to apply for job postings. Please discuss your interest in the position with your current manager/supervisor prior to submitting your completed application.