How to become a power electronics engineer

Is becoming a power electronics engineer right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Overview
What do power electronics engineers do?

Still unsure if becoming a power electronics engineer is the right career path? to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a power electronics engineer or another similar career!

Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.

How to become a Power Electronics Engineer

Becoming a power electronics engineer requires a combination of education, technical skills, and hands-on experience. Here’s an overview of the pathway to the career:

Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering technology, or power engineering is the common starting point for a career as a power electronics engineer.

Key subjects include:

  • Circuit Theory and Analysis
  • Power Systems and Electrical Machines
  • Analog and Digital Electronics
  • Control Systems
  • Signals and Systems
  • Microelectronics
  • Electromagnetics
  • Power Electronics
  • Mathematics (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra)
  • Physics (especially electromagnetism and semiconductors)

Master's Degree (Optional but Beneficial)
Pursuing a master’s degree is often part of the educational path for power electronics engineers whose goal is to specialize and gain expertise in areas like power conversion, motor drives, renewable energy, and embedded control systems.

At the graduate level, these subjects are among the focus areas:

  • Advanced Power Electronics
  • Power Semiconductor Devices (MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC/GaN)
  • Power Conversion and Inverters
  • Thermal Management in Power Electronics
  • Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Compatibility (EMC)
  • Energy Storage Systems

Doctoral Degree (Recommended for Research / Academia)
Engineers interested in advanced roles in research and development (R&D) or teaching often earn a Ph.D., with concentrations in innovative power electronics technologies, such as next-generation semiconductors (SiC/GaN), advanced control algorithms, and smart grid integration.

Develop Key Technical Skills

  • Power Semiconductor Devices – Learn about MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC/GaN transistors.
  • Circuit Design and PCB (printed circuit board) Layout – Use tools like Altium, Eagle, or KiCad.
  • Simulation and Analysis – Gain proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, PSpice, LTspice, or Ansys.
  • Embedded Systems and Control – Work with microcontrollers (STM32, TI C2000), DSPs, and FPGA programming.
  • Thermal Management and EMI/EMC Compliance – Understand cooling techniques and electromagnetic interference reduction.
  • High Voltage Safety and Protection Design – Explore the importance of high voltage electrical safety and the layers of protection used to ensure safe system design.

Practical Experience
During undergraduate and graduate studies, participate in university project labs and research groups focused on power conversion, circuit design, and energy systems. Seek out internships and co-op programs in power electronics design, inverter development, or motor control. Set up a home electronics lab to experiment with DC-DC converters, rectifiers, and inverters.

Entry-Level Jobs
Look for roles like power electronics engineer, hardware engineer, or electrical design engineer. For a list of potential employers, please see the What is the workplace of a Power Electronics Engineer like? section in the career overview.

Continue Learning and Specialize
Stay updated on emerging technologies like SiC/GaN power devices, wireless power transfer, and solid-state transformers. Consider specializing in one of the areas described in the What does a Power Electronics Engineer do? section in the career overview.

Certifications
There are several certifications that can enhance a power electronics engineer's qualifications and demonstrate expertise in emerging technologies and specialized areas of the field. These are some of the most prominent ones:

  • Certified Power Electronics Professional (CPEP) – Offered by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Power Electronics Society, this certification validates knowledge in power conversion, control systems, and semiconductor devices. Requirements: a degree in electrical engineering, work experience, and passing a certification exam.
  • SiC and GaN Power Electronics Certifications – Offered by semiconductor companies like Wolfspeed, Infineon, and Texas Instruments, these certifications focus on the use of Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor devices in power electronics applications. These materials are becoming essential for high-efficiency power systems such as electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. Requirements: participation in training courses and passing assessments related to wide-bandgap semiconductors.
  • Embedded Systems and Control Systems Certifications – These certifications are offered by companies like National Instruments (NI), Texas Instruments, and institutions offering Control Systems Certification (e.g., ISA - International Society of Automation). Since many power electronics systems involve embedded control systems, having certification in embedded programming (e.g., for microcontrollers or DSPs) can be valuable. Requirements: completion of a course or training program in control theory, embedded programming, or hardware-software integration.
  • Renewable Energy Certifications – Offered by various organizations such as Solar Energy International (SEI) and the Energy Institute (EI), these certifications are targeted at engineers specializing in solar power inverters, wind turbine converters, and battery storage systems. Examples: Photovoltaic Systems Certification (SEI), Certified Energy Manager (CEM) (for energy systems engineers).
  • EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Certification – Offered by various organizations like IEEE EMC Society and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this certification focuses on ensuring power electronics systems meet EMC standards and are free from interference. This is important in industries like telecommunications, aerospace, and automotive.
  • Power Systems Engineering Certifications – For engineers working in high-power systems, grid integration, and power quality, these credentials, offered by the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) and other industry bodies, demonstrate expertise in large-scale energy systems.
  • Project Management Certifications – Offered by Project Management Institute (PMI) and PRINCE2, these certifications validate skills in managing complex projects, teams, and budgets, benefiting power electronics engineers in leadership and R&D roles.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Certifications section, the following organizations also support the power electronics community:

  • International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) – While not specifically for power electronics, IAEI provides resources on safety and regulatory compliance for electrical systems, which is highly relevant for engineers working on power electronics systems.
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) – SAE is a leading organization for the automotive industry as a whole, and for engineers working in electric vehicles (EVs) and automotive power electronics.
  • International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRÉ) – Founded in Paris, France in 1921, CIGRÉ focuses on the electric power systems sector, including power electronics for large-scale energy generation and distribution.
  • Renewable Energy Professional Networks – Many local or global networks and organizations focus on renewable energy, where power electronics plays a key role. Two examples are Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and WindEurope.