Junior Scientist - DC-Microgrid Project - Inverter topologies for compressor drives (all genders) // Job-ID: 180-1

Your Future Responsibilities

The Research Unit Architectures & Topologies is aiming for novel topologies for different converters applications, utilization of passive technologies within circuits and using new devices or module technologies for power converters.

For the DC-Microgrid project, the Power Electronics Division, specifically the Research Unit Architectures & Topologies, in collaboration with Graz University of Technology, Institute of Electric Drives and Power Electronic Systems (headed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. sc. ETH Michael Hartmann), is looking for a new colleague. The successful candidate will join the project team as a co-employed member of both institutions.

The DC-Microgrid project is part of a consortium comprising twelve academic and industrial partners, aiming to develop innovative and cutting-edge solutions for industrial DC microgrids. As part of this effort, we at SAL are seeking a motivated researcher to contribute to our project in this exciting field.

Building on your expertise, your role at SAL will focus on performing multi-objective optimisations to identify optimal inverter topologies using the latest semiconductor technologies including Silicon (Si), Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN).

Key tasks will include

• Design and integration of an EMI output filter stage
• Control system design
• Hardware and PCB development
• Testing and validation of the system under variable DC link input voltage conditions and non-linear compressor drive loads
  
  

The co-employment at the Graz University of Technology will be within the framework of a PhD thesis. The focus of the thesis will be on investigating inverter topologies that leverage the latest semiconductor technologies and advanced passive filter materials for an industrial piston stroke compressor drive. A key aspect of the work will involve benchmarking existing technologies, such as voltage source inverters (VSI), against alternative concepts like current source inverters (CSI), with the goal of identifying and developing optimized solutions for industrial applications. For the co-employment, a two step application process is necessary. An additional application at Graz University of Technology is mandatory. Further information can be diiscussed in a first interview.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge research with a direct link to industrial applications, contributing to the next generation of high performance DC microgrid systems.

Your profile

• Master’s degree in Power Electronics or a closely related field
• Strong background in converter and inverter topologies, semiconductor technologies, and control design
• Experience with hardware development, PCB design, and experimental validation is an advantage
• Motivation to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and industrially relevant research environment
• Some years of experience within industry in the one of the topics mentioned above would be a plus
• Knowledge and experience within power electronics converters, especially with
• wide-bandgap power devices,
• conducted EMI noise emissions,
• modelling and control design and
• measuring and testing
• Knowledge with newest bidirectional power switch technologies would be a plus
• Preferable experience with MATLAB/Simulink and PCB design software (e.g. Altium Designer)
• Self-contained and organized working
• Relocation to Graz / Austria
• English skills are mandatory to work in our multidisciplinary and multicultural team
  

Important Facts About SAL

Diverse research activities with many technical challenges.

State-of-the-art laboratory facilities and equipment.

Location in the heart of Europe in Austria – relocation support for non-European nationalities.

Internal and external training opportunities for career development.

Home office in Austria (max. 40%) and work from anywhere in the European Union possible (

Family & children friendly - actively shaping the compatibility of family and career.

“Vital4SAL” to promote a healthy workplace (e.g. SAL coaching pool, trainings on mental health, physical activities, healthy snacks, 24/7 accident insurance)

€ 4 per day meal allowance in restaurants or € 2 per working day in supermarkets.

Public transport initiative (subsidy for the “Klimaticket”

This part time position at SAL (20 hours / week) is subject to the Collective Agreement for employees in non-university research (Research CA) in occupational group E1. We offer competitive salaries and additional benefits. For this position, your monthly salary, based on full-time (38.5 hours per week) is EUR 3.963,00, paid 14 times a year.

About Us

Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) is a top research center for Electronics and Software Based Systems (ESBS) . At three locations (Graz, Villach, Linz), SAL is conducting research along the entire ESBS value chain in the areas of sensor systems, power electronics, intelligent wireless systems, microsystems and embedded systems to develop future-oriented solutions for industrial production, health, energy, mobility, safety and more. SAL brings together key players from industry, science and research and thus valuable expertise and know-how and conducts cooperative, application-oriented research along the value chain. Cooperative projects are co-financed by SAL and enable a fast and unbureaucratic project start. SAL is thus shaping the high-tech location Austria and Europe and developing the future

Innovation is our top priority and so are our employees. We are a family-friendly company and support the compatibility of work and family as much as possible. That is why we have been awarded the Work and Family Certificate until 2026. But we are constantly working on new measures to offer our employees an environment where they feel good, healthy and motivated.

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