What We Do at Verterra Energy
At Verterra Energy, we're on a mission to harness the power in the world's rivers, canals and oceans. To accomplish this, we are commercializing our first device called VOLTURNUS, a pioneering water-power technology that deploys in harmony with the current to capture baseline, zero emission electricity.
Backed by top-tier investors and a multi-year government contract, we are growing our founding team to help achieve key milestones. Partners and collaborators include: NIRON, DoD, DoE, University of Minnesota, WEG Group, Beckhoff, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the US Army Corp of Engineers.
Recent press releases can be found on our website:
https://www.verterraenergy.com/news
About the Role
Verterra Energy is seeking an Electrical Engineer II / III (typically 3–5+ years of experience) with a strong hands-on background in PCBA design, prototyping, and laboratory testing.
This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys building real hardware, working close to the bench, iterating quickly, and making practical design decisions. The position emphasizes execution and technical judgment, not over-engineering or narrow specialization.
The engineer will work closely with senior electrical, mechanical, and controls engineers, supporting the development of power and control electronics for generator-adjacent systems and internal test platforms.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop PCBA solutions for low-to-medium power systems connected to small generators
- Create schematics and PCB layouts (Altium preferred) for power and microcontroller-based boards
- Design, integrate, and validate DC-DC power conversion circuits (buck, boost, simple power conditioning)
- Select and apply practical component solutions (capacitors, regulators, protection devices, connectors)
- Support microcontroller-based systems, including power architecture, pinout, interfaces, and basic bring-up
- Build, assemble, and bring up prototypes in the lab
- Perform bench testing and debugging using oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters, and electronic loads
- Assist in defining and executing test plans for early validation
- Support interaction with PCB fabricators, assemblers, and component suppliers
- Evaluate third-party or consultant designs for simplicity, robustness, and manufacturability
- Help maintain and organize the electrical laboratory environment
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field
- 3+ years of hands-on professional experience (5+ years preferred)
- Demonstrated experience with:
- PCBA schematic capture and layout
- DC-DC converters and basic power electronics
- Prototype assembly and lab debugging
- Practical understanding of microcontroller-based systems
- Comfortable working across electrical and mechanical boundaries
- Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small engineering team
- Strong technical judgment and problem-solving mindset
Nice to Have (Not Required)
- Experience with embedded firmware at a functional level (bring-up, testing, debugging)
- Familiarity with USB, Bluetooth, or simple communication interfaces
- Using microcontroller programming (C, Python, or similar) primarily for tests, validation, and effective collaboration with firmware developers
- Startup or small-team engineering experience
- Interest in test automation or custom lab instrumentation
Additional Contributions & Growth Opportunities
- Assisting with internal test, automation, and instrumentation systems (e.g., torque testers, flume instrumentation, custom rigs)
- Providing technical input when evaluating future or adjacent product opportunities (marine systems, drones, other power-generation platforms)
- Helping maintain and improve the electrical laboratory environment, including organization, tooling, and practical process improvements
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Company-paid life, disability, and basic protection
- 401(k) with employer match
- Unlimited paid time off + 2 weeks sick and safe leave
- 7 company-paid holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day
- Stocked kitchen
Equal opportunity
Verterra Energy does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.
