Power Electronics Engineer
Who We Are:
Aurelius Systems is a VC-backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge-deployed robotics systems using directed energy for counter-UAS.
We build laser weapons to shoot down drones.
We're a small team of ~10 engineers, former US military operators, and subject matter experts scaling America's directed energy dominance. The first cost effective, reliable and robust laser weapon system.
Our namesake isn't an accident. Marcus Aurelius wrote about doing the work in front of you, every day, without excuses. Henry Ford didn't wait for permission to reinvent manufacturing. That's how we operate; small team, unreasonable output, no hiding behind the unachievable.
In addition to our San Francisco lab/office, we opened our Detroit manufacturing hub and we field test weekly on our own 400-acre private range.
If you are the kind of engineer who'd rather see your work on a range than in a lab, read on.
The Role & Your Impact:
You'll own the power subsystem for a directed energy weapon; full stop.
That means you're the technical authority on everything from battery pack architecture to laser diode delivery. You're not executing someone else's design. You're setting the architecture, making the calls, and standing behind your system when it goes to the range.
The EE on the team will work alongside you on broader electrical scope. Your lane is deep, not wide. Think BMS architecture, high-voltage conversion, fault protection, power delivery under field conditions. When the power system faults at a range test, you're the one who knows exactly why and has a fix before the day is over.
What You'll Own:
Architect, build, and validate battery management systems for high-voltage packs from safe charge/discharge, cell balancing, thermal management, to fault protection
Design high-voltage DC/DC converters, rectifiers, inverters, and diode driver electronics for laser power delivery
Design and fabricate ruggedized wire harnesses for high-power laser and motor systems from connector selection, routing, shielding, to environmental protection
Drive hands-on prototyping, assembly, and field testing on our 400+ acre range
Execute electrical, environmental, vibration, shock, and robustness testing to validate system reliability
Perform electrical simulations (SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink) to optimize designs before you build
Conduct DFM reviews and work directly with fabricators to move designs into production
Integrate power systems with mechanical, optical, and robotics subsystems
Generate schematics, BOMs, wiring diagrams, and documentation to MIL-STD and ITAR standards
What We're Looking For:
3–8+ years in power electronics with direct hardware experience. You've owned designs from schematic to field deployment
Deep BMS experience from pack architecture, cell balancing, thermal and fault management, to high-voltage integration
You've designed and validated 48V+ conversion and regulation systems under real operating conditions
Strong enough to set the technical direction for power systems without a senior engineer above you
Hands-on wire harness design and fabrication for deployed systems
Proficient in Altium Designer, SPICE, and MATLAB/Simulink
Strong background in thermal management, EMI/EMC, and ruggedized system design
Where you probably come from: EV powertrain teams (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Canoo), eVTOL power systems (Joby, Archer, Lilium), aerospace power electronics (SpaceX, Relativity, Rocket Lab), or defense programs where you owned a power subsystem. If you cut your teeth on Formula SAE Electric and went pro in high-voltage, we definitely want to talk.
Not a fit if: You've only worked within a large power team where someone else set the architecture. We need someone who's been the decision-maker on power systems, not just an executor.
Nice-to-Haves:
Experience with laser diode driving or directed energy power systems
Long-duration system deployment in harsh field environments
Familiarity with MIL-STD standards and ITAR compliance
Background in EMI/EMC design and shielding
Active security clearance or ability to obtain one
Education:
BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or related field.
What you've built matters more than where you went to school.
How You Operate:
Extreme bias for action. You'd rather build a prototype tomorrow than model it for a month
Rigorous testing mindset. You characterize your own systems before the field does
Comfortable with ambiguity and fast, constantly iterating in a startup environment
Your brain only releases dopamine when you're building
You debug from first principles, not Stack Overflow
Clear communicator across mechanical, electrical, optical, and software teams
Self-directed. You identify what needs to happen next and do it without being told
Why Join Aurelius Systems?
Build more in 1 month than most engineers build in 1 year. We field test weekly. Your work goes downrange, not into a filing cabinet.
Career velocity is real. Erick Brito went from Founding Robotics Engineer to Lead in 12 months. At ~10 engineers, there are no layers between you and impact… or between you and your next title.
Work on a problem that actually matters. Small, cheap drones are changing warfare. Our laser systems are the asymmetric answer. Think infinite magazine, cost-per-shot near zero, scalable to every base, border, facility, truck and infrastructure.
Join the densest defense startup ecosystem in the country. California is where the next generation of defense companies are being built. You'll be in the room with the people reshaping how America builds weapons.
How we work: Core hours are Monday–Friday, 9 to 6. When we're sprinting toward a demo or field test, the team ramps up… nights, weekends, whatever it takes to ship.
When the sprint lands, we ramp down. We don't manufacture intensity for show. We go hard when the mission demands it, and we recover when it doesn't. If you've worked at SpaceX, against a mission-critical timeline, or on a racing team, you already know the rhythm.
Benefits:
Competitive salary + equity
United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick days
Travel to field test events and range days
Covered daily lunches and office snacks + drinks
E-bike / scooter stipend ( Up to $500)
Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work
Export Control Notice:
This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a "U.S. Person": (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).