Job Description

About us
UCL Mechanical Engineering has been pioneering the development of engineering education, having taught the core discipline for over 170 years. UCL was home to the UK's first ever Professor of the Mechanical Principles of Engineering, Eaton Hodgkinson, in 1847. It was also where Sir Alexander Blackie William Kennedy introduced organized laboratory practicals in university education training; a world-leading educational innovation at the time.
Today our students are taught core engineering disciplines and supervised in individual and group research projects by academics that are recognised research world-leaders in their fields. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 96% of the department's research submitted in UoA12 was judged "world leading" or "internationally excellent". At UCL Mechanical Engineering, we develop and apply core competencies to produce world-class research into a wider range of engineering challenges than most would imagine.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at UCL undertakes internationally leading research in advanced engineering systems, with strong activity in electrified transport and sustainable mobility. This post is funded through a dedicated three-year research project focused on the development, validation, and demonstration of advanced power electronics technologies for electric vehicle (EV) applications.
The role supports a multidisciplinary project environment involving academic staff, researchers, postgraduate students, and external partners. The department is committed to an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive working culture.
About the role
The Power Electronics Specialist will act as a specialist in power electronics within a three?year, project?funded programme focused on electric vehicle applications. The role provides advanced technical expertise in the design, development, integration, testing, and validation of power electronic systems relevant to electric vehicle powertrains and energy systems.
Working with minimal supervision, the post holder will take responsibility for delivering defined technical work packages to completion, contributing to agreed project objectives, milestones, and timelines. The role involves providing specialist input to the design, modelling, simulation, development, analysis, and validation of power electronic converters and systems, and supporting their integration with electric machines, batteries, and wider vehicle?level electrical systems. The post holder will also contribute technical input to system?level architecture decisions and trade?off studies relevant to electric vehicle applications.
Responsibilities include developing power electronic hardware from concept through to validated prototype, supporting schematic design, PCB layout, component selection, assembly, and commissioning, and defining and carrying out electrical testing, characterisation, and fault?finding activities. The post holder will analyse experimental data and document performance, efficiency, thermal behaviour, and reliability.
The role includes contributing technical input to project reporting and documentation and, where appropriate, supporting publications and dissemination activities. The post holder will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, provide technical guidance to postgraduate students and early?career researchers, liaise with external partners, and adhere to all relevant health and safety policies, promoting good laboratory practice and a strong safety culture.
About you
We are looking for someone who enjoys working at the heart of power electronics and wants to apply their expertise to electric vehicle applications. To be successful in this role, you will have a degree, or equivalent practical experience, in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or a related discipline, together with strong knowledge of power electronic converters, switching devices, and control principles.
You will bring hands?on experience in designing, developing, testing, and integrating power electronic systems, and a sound understanding of electrical safety and good laboratory practice. You will be comfortable working independently on experimental hardware, organised and adaptable when managing multiple tasks, able to communicate technical information clearly, and keen to work collaboratively, support others, and contribute to an inclusive working environment.
While not essential, we would welcome applicants who have research experience in power electronics for electric vehicle applications, evidence of peer?reviewed publications, or experience supervising junior researchers. A willingness to work across different campuses, with industrial partners, and to travel where required would also be an advantage.
APPLICATION GUIDANCE

• Please include a Supporting Statement with your application, using examples to demonstrate how your experience meets the selection criteria.
• Please note that this post remunerates up to a maximum of Spine Point 36, 51,246.00 (subject to experience).

What we offer
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

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Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.
Available documents

Skills Required