Entry-Level – Researcher – Power Electronics & Energy Conversion Systems

Location: Warren, Michigan, United States of America

Job Description

The Role

The GM Energy and Propulsion Systems Research Lab identifies, invents, develops, and implements propulsion and vehicle-efficiency research and technology to deliver disruptive value to General Motors and our customers. The lab’s work spans electric drives and power electronics, hybrid and electric propulsion, battery and thermal architectures, multidisciplinary optimization and integration, controls and optimization, vehicle health management, and virtual design and high-fidelity measurements.

We are seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems Researcher to join our advanced R&D team. This role will focus on propulsion and non-propulsion electrical power conversion, with particular emphasis on inverter and power-converter technologies for export-power, uninterruptible-AC-power, microgrid, energy-storage, and other non-automotive applications, while also supporting future electrified vehicle and defense-related needs.

The successful candidate will apply advanced knowledge of power electronics, energy conversion, controls, and system modeling to identify, develop, prototype, and demonstrate technologies that improve efficiency, cost, performance, packaging, reliability, and strategic flexibility for GM.

What You’ll Do

As a Power Electronics and Energy Conversion Systems Researcher, you will:

Research, invent, design, model, simulate, prototype, test, and demonstrate advanced inverter and power-conversion systems.

Define and assess technical requirements and architectures for three-phase export-power and uninterruptible-AC-power applications spanning 10kW to more than 100kW.

Investigate power-conversion architectures that interface with grid connections, energy-storage systems, high-voltage batteries, and generator-fed systems, including applications in which a high-voltage battery is charged by a diesel generator set.

Develop and evaluate high- and low-voltage inverter, DC-DC converter, and related energy-conversion topologies for propulsion and non-propulsion applications.

Investigate GM internal and external technology options, including opportunities involving GM Energy, LLC-related inverter activities, R&D initiatives, energy-storage systems, suppliers, universities, startups, government laboratories, and other strategic partners.

Develop power-electronics solutions that address efficiency, cost, mass, compact packaging, thermal management, reliability, manufacturability, and customer-facing functionality.

Apply digital and analog controls, embedded software, system modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques to power-conversion systems.

Plan and conduct instrumented bench and system-level experiments to evaluate performance, EMI/EMC behavior, thermal characteristics, reliability, and compliance with applicable military or environmental requirements.

Work with experienced researchers and engineers to translate research concepts into hardware or system-relevant demonstrations.

Collaborate with researchers and engineers across Energy and Propulsion Systems Research, GM Defense, Advanced Engineering, Product Development, GM Energy, and related technical organizations.

Prepare high-quality research reports, technical presentations, records of invention, and external publications that document new insights and results.

Lead technical discussions and reviews, communicate complex concepts to varied audiences, and maintain current knowledge of industry and technology developments.

Support a team-oriented, high-performance research environment.

Required Qualifications

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, or a related discipline, with specialization in power electronics, energy conversion, electrical systems, controls, or a closely related field.

Must be graduating between August 2026 - June 2027

Able to work fulltime, 40 hours per week

Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee).

Demonstrated research experience in power electronics, inverter or converter systems, energy conversion, or related electrical power systems; recent PhD graduates are encouraged to apply.

Strong foundation in power-electronics circuits, system modeling and simulation, and electrical engineering fundamentals.

Knowledge of digital and analog control systems and the ability to program or configure embedded controls.

Hands-on experience developing, instrumenting, and conducting prototype hardware and software experiments.

Ability to analyze and communicate tradeoffs involving efficiency, power density, cost, mass, thermal performance, reliability, EMI/EMC, and system integration.

Familiarity with power-electronics and analysis tools such as PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, Altium, LTspice, Maxwell 2D/3D/Q3D, JMAG, Ansys, Altair, or comparable tools.

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Ability to travel up to 5% domestically.

Preferred Qualifications)

Research or development experience with three-phase inverters, grid-connected converters, export power, uninterruptible AC power, microgrids, energy-storage systems, or related applications.

Experience with power-conversion systems in the approximate 10 kW to 100+ kW range.

Experience integrating power converters with high-voltage batteries, diesel generator sets, or other distributed-energy sources.

Knowledge of military power-conversion requirements, environmental qualification, EMI/EMC compliance, or ruggedized system design.

Experience with wide-bandgap semiconductors, power modules, high-density packaging, thermal management, reliability, or manufacturability of power electronics.

Experience applying advanced optimization, multiphysics analysis, or AI-enabled methods to electrical, thermal, mechanical, or system-level design.