Junior Electronics Engineer

Do you thrive on understanding how hardware, embedded software, and control algorithms work together?
Would you enjoy translating complex test results into insights that improve next-generation power converters?

Join us on our mission!

Summary

Domain: Power Electronics
Experience: 0-3 years (practical experience required)

At Lightyear we are working on a family of power converters to convert solar energy from PV panels on vehicles to their batteries. The converter range consists of LV variants, HV variants and a multi-port variant that is able to convert energy from multiple solar panels to both LV and HV batteries. By intelligently combining several functions, this topology allows for a reduction in component count and improvement in efficiency.

What will you do as a Junior Electronics Engineer?

As a Junior Electronics Engineer, your core focus is to support the validation and performance testing of our power converters. In this role, you will develop a foundational system-level understanding of how hardware, embedded software, and control algorithms interact. You will design and build custom test setups and validation boards, which includes the layout and assembly of PCBs specifically for these test environments. You will also write automation scripts to streamline data acquisition and perform tests to characterize system behavior, including efficiency, EMC, and transient response.

You are an investigator at heart. When anomalies occur, you will dive into the data to help identify root causes, learning to distinguish whether an issue originates from hardware or software. You will work closely with domain experts to implement solutions, turning complex technical problems into clear results. You thrive in the lab, combining a hands-on approach with a drive to learn and move our technology forward.

Over time, you will develop an in-depth understanding of converter behavior that equals—or even exceeds—that of the designers. In this pivotal role, you will help refine the product by evaluating how control strategies affect converter performance, stability, protection mechanisms, and customer-specific features. Ultimately, you will serve as a vital link connecting control engineers, hardware designers, and embedded software developers.

A day as a Junior Electronics Engineer

You start the day with a quick stand-up to align on project status and technical blockers. Following this, you shift your focus to the lab, where you are validating a new feature. You spend your morning finishing the layout of a custom PCB for a new test fixture. After sending the design for fabrication, you run verification tests on a converter, noticing it doesn't behave quite as expected. You spend time pinpointing the issue, analyzing the interaction between the hardware and control logic. You consult with a Senior Engineer to discuss your findings and work out a solution. While waiting for a hardware adjustment, you work on a Python script to automate your data logging for the next round of characterization tests.

What do we expect from a Junior Electronics Engineer?

In order to succeed in the dynamic world of Lightyear; pro-activity, professionalism, communication and adaptability are crucial. We are looking for someone with an ambitious attitude who learns from the past but who is especially open to transforming new developments or ideas into the ‘tried and tested’ of the future!

You bring

• Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering
• Strong foundational knowledge of power electronics
• Proficiency in PCB design (e.g., Altium, KiCad) for test setups
• Experience with hardware debugging and instrumentation
• Experience with PCB and system level troubleshooting
• Experience with embedded software (C, C++ or Rust) debugging
• Experience with electronics certification (ISO 16750, CISPR25, R10) is a plus
• Scripting/automation
• Basic understanding of control systems, preferably in the context of power electronics, motor drives, battery systems, or similar dynamic systems.
• Ability to interpret control-related converter behavior such as stability, transient response, tracking performance, protection behavior, and interaction with hardware limits.
• Able to act as a technical bridge between hardware, embedded software, and control engineering during test definition, debugging, and issue resolution.

What can you expect from Lightyear?

In addition to a challenging role we also offer:

• The opportunity to work with leading automotive manufacturers on breakthrough technology.
• A key position in one of Europe's most innovative clean mobility companies.
• High levels of ownership and autonomy.
• A multidisciplinary team of highly talented engineers and professionals.
• Excellent pension scheme.
• 40 vacation days (based on a full-time contract).
• Personal development opportunities and room to grow with the company.
• The opportunity to help shape the future of sustainable mobility.