Director Electrical Engineering

Job description

ABOUT FOURIER Fourier is focused on making on-site hydrogen universally accessible. Our breakthrough architecture enables highly modular and fully automated electrolyzers that scale to any size and optimize efficiency at all loads. We are on a mission to transition the global energy landscape toward a purely sustainable and emission-free future by unlocking the full potential of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. ROLE OVERVIEW Fourier Earth Inc. is seeking a Director of Power Electronics Engineering to lead the development of critical power electronics systems for our next-generation electrolyzer platforms. This role will combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership, guiding architecture decisions, driving hardware development, and building a high-performing engineering team. You will play a key role in developing high-efficiency power conversion systems that enable scalable hydrogen production and ensure our technology performs reliably across a wide range of operating conditions. You will lead the design, integration, and deployment of all electrical systems powering our H2 electrolyzers and all supporting equipment for a fully functional and automated hydrogen production system. The candidate will possess deep technical expertise in power conversion and industrial distribution, but have the broad systems-level vision to seamlessly integrate the hardware with mechanical constraints and software/firmware controls in a hazardous environment. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in power electronics design, high-power systems, and system-level architecture in accordance with compliance standards, along with a proven ability to mentor engineers and lead complex hardware programs from concept through production. RESPONSIBILITIES - Architectural Leadership: Own the end-to-end electrical architecture from the 480V grid tie-in down to the 12V/24V DC sensor networks, ensuring clean power distribution, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC compliance. - Power Conversion & Load Management: Oversee the design and specification of AC/DC rectification for the electrolyzer stack, DC/DC converters, and the integration of VFDs and SCR controllers for heavy industrial loads. - Systems Integration: Act as the technical bridge between Hardware, Controls, and Software teams. Define firmware requirements, state-machine logic, and communication protocols (Modbus, CAN, Profinet, etc.) to ensure seamless system operation. - Safety & Compliance: Lead the design of electrical systems for hazardous environments (Class I, Div 1/2 or ATEX). Ensure all designs strictly adhere to NEC, UL, and relevant functional safety standards (IEC 61508/ISO 13849). - Team Management: Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of power electronics, electrical, and controls engineers. - Vendor & Supply Chain Collaboration: Identify, evaluate, and manage external suppliers, component vendors, and contract manufacturers for critical power components (transformers, rectifiers, control panels). - Project Execution: Manage complex development schedules, budgets, and hardware development lifecycles from initial prototyping through to commercial-scale deployment. This includes best practices for schematic design, PCB layout, simulation and hardware validation to be presented and approved through design reviews. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field. - Experience: 12+ years of progressive engineering experience in power electronics, industrial automation, or renewable energy systems. - Leadership: 5+ years of direct engineering management experience leading cross-functional hardware/systems teams. - Technical Mastery: Proven expertise in 480V (3-phase) AC power distribution, AC/DC rectification, and isolating low-voltage instrumentation networks from high-voltage noise. Strong demonstration of root cause analysis and system optimization for high velocity design and implementation. - Controls & Comms: Strong familiarity with PLC/PAC architectures and industrial fieldbus networks. - Safety Standards: Deep working knowledge of NEC (NFPA 70), UL 508A, and high-voltage safety protocols (LOTO, grounding/bonding). PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - M.S. or Ph.D. with a focus on Power Electronics, Power Systems, or Control Systems. - Direct industry experience in hydrogen infrastructure, electrochemistry, oil & gas, or large-scale energy storage. - Experience designing systems specifically for hazardous locations (hydrogen gas environments). - Strong background in thermal management of high-power electronics (liquid/air cooling strategies). - Experience supporting manufacturing scale-up and production environments. This may include startup or high-growth technology company experience. WHY JOIN FOURIER - Help build technology that directly accelerates the clean energy transition. - Work on cutting-edge hydrogen production systems. - Join a mission-driven team solving one of the most important challenges in global energy.