Senior Application Engineer Low-Voltage GaN, Motor Drive Applications

Job Description Renesas is seeking a talented and driven Senior Applications Engineer to lead the development of advanced reference designs and provide expert customer support for low-voltage motor drive applications using low-voltage GaN discretes, GaN-based power stages, and GaN driver ICs. This role focuses on enabling BLDC/PMSM motor drives, compact inverter stages, robotics, drones, emobility subsystems, and battery-powered systems where efficiency, switching performance, and power density are critical. You will collaborate with customers, define nextgeneration GaN-based motor control solutions, and produce technical collateral that accelerates adoption of low-voltage GaN technologies. Key Responsibilities Product Definition & Application Expertise Contribute to defining new low-voltage GaN FETs, power stages, and integrated driver solutions for motor control applications. Provide system-level insight into requirements for battery-powered and lightweight motor drives. Influence roadmap and feature prioritization for next-generation GaN ICs and power stages. Reference Design Development Design, validate, and optimize low-voltage GaN-based motor drive reference designs (e.g., 24 60 V BLDC drives, compact inverter modules). Implement highfrequency switching techniques to maximize efficiency, thermal performance, and EMI robustness. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop evaluation boards demonstrating GaN system benefits. Customer Support & Enablement Deliver expert technical support for customers integrating LV GaN in motor drives, including schematic reviews and troubleshooting. Conduct technical trainings, workshops, and in-depth design reviews for key accounts. Support customers in transitioning from traditional MOSFETs to GaN-based power stages. Technical Documentation Create application notes, design guides, white papers, and best-practice guidelines for low-voltage GaN motor drive systems. Communicate integration techniques, performance advantages, and GaN-specific design considerations. Feedback Integration Gather customer insights and use-cases to influence future GaN products and system solutions. Work closely with engineering teams to refine device features, packaging, and driving requirements. Qualifications Education Bachelor s or Master s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field. Ph.D. preferred but not required. Experience 5+ years of experience in power electronics or motor drive application engineering. Hands-on experience with low-voltage motor drives, BLDC/PMSM control, and inverter power stages. Experience designing with GaN FETs, GaN driver ICs, or high-speed switching devices strongly preferred. Technical Expertise Strong fundamentals in low-voltage motor drive control, inverter design, and power stage optimization. Proficiency with GaN switching behavior, layout best practices, dead-time tuning, and high-frequency operation. Schematic design and PCB layout experience (Altium preferred). Familiarity with simulation tools (PLECS, LTSpice, Simplis). Background in magnetic component selection (inductors, gate drive magnetics, current sensors). Preferred Experience with motor control firmware (FOC, sinusoidal control, PWM modulation). Understanding of standards relevant to low-voltage motor drives in robotics, industrial, or consumer systems. Soft Skills Strong customer-facing communication skills. Excellent problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration capabilities. Core Competencies Low-voltage motor drive system design GaN-based power stage development and optimization Application-level problem solving and customer support Technical documentation & knowledge sharing Cross-functional collaboration with product and design teams