R&D Pulse Power Engineer (Senior - Principal) Sperry Drilling

About Sperry Drilling

Sperry Drilling delivers industry-leading Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD), Logging-While-Drilling (LWD), and Rotary Steerable System (RSS) technologies that help operators drill safer, faster, and more precisely. Through advanced downhole tools, real-time data acquisition, and reliability-driven engineering, Sperry enables customers to maximize well placement, efficiency, and reservoir understanding in every drilling environment.

About the Role

Under general supervision, the Pulsed Power Engineer supports the development of next-generation high-energy pulsed systems for downhole applications within Sperry Drilling. The role is responsible for designing, building, testing, and optimizing high-voltage pulsed power architectures and associated laboratory environments.

This position owns the full design-to-test execution lifecycle for high-voltage pulsed systems, including component selection, pulse-forming architecture development, laboratory commissioning, and execution of safe, data-driven experiments that translate into rugged, field-deployable hardware.

At the Principal level, the role expands to include architectural authority, cross-disciplinary technical leadership, and mentorship across complex development programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design pulsed power architectures from concept through laboratory validation, including energy storage, charging systems, switching networks, pulse forming, delivery, and measurement.
• Develop pulse forming stages (PFN, Blumlein, Marx topologies), pulse transformers, and transmission lines to meet target voltage, current, di/dt, dV/dt, repetition rate, and energy requirements.
• Select and qualify high-energy components including capacitors, pulse-rated resistors, HV diodes, high-speed switches (SiC/GaN, IGBT/MOSFET), triggered devices, connectors, cables, and insulation systems.
• Establish and operate high-voltage laboratory environments, including grounding, shielding, interlocks, enclosures, and safe operating procedures.
• Perform finite element simulations of electrostatic and transient electric field behavior to guide design decisions, ensuring accurate boundary conditions, material properties, numerical stability, and physical realism.
• Plan and execute structured experiments (DOE) to characterize pulse quality, delivered energy, coupling efficiency, electrode behavior, and thermal performance.
• Develop diagnostics and data acquisition systems using high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, HV probes, Rogowski coils, D-dot/B-dot sensors, and automated data pipelines (MATLAB/Python).
• Drive EMI/EMC robustness through proper layout, creepage/clearance control, shielding, filtering, grounding, and insulation coordination.
• Translate laboratory designs into field-ready systems capable of withstanding vibration, shock, temperature, pressure, and fluid exposure.
• Support vendor collaboration, DFM activities, BOM development, FAT/SAT planning, reliability modeling, and manufacturing transition.
• Document thoroughly — schematics, calculations, FMEAs, safety analyses, test plans, and technical reviews.
• Champion safety in all HV activities, applying NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout (LOTO), interlock systems, and safe work practices.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering (or closely related field).
• 5–10 years of experience designing and testing high-voltage pulsed power systems.
• Hands-on experience with PFN, Blumlein, Marx, pulse transformers, and transmission line architectures.
• Demonstrated experience with high-energy switching technologies (IGBT, MOSFET, SiC, GaN, triggered devices), including protection and dv/dt/di/dt control.
• Proven ability to build and operate high-voltage laboratory environments safely.
• Experience with finite element modeling of electrostatic and transient electric fields in HV environments.
• Strong competency with SPICE-class simulation tools and data analysis platforms.
• Experience with EMI/EMC design principles and insulation coordination.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering.
• Experience designing pulsed systems for harsh or downhole environments.
• Familiarity with subsea or high-temperature electronics qualification.

Candidates exceeding minimum requirements may be considered for higher-level positions based on experience, additional qualifications, and business needs. Career progression ranges from  Pulse Power Engineer Senior to  Pulse Power Engineer Principal. 

World Class Benefits

At Halliburton, we’re committed to supporting you and your family with a comprehensive and affordable benefits package that covers your physical, emotional, financial, and parental needs — now and in the future. When you join our team, you’ll gain access to a wide range of programs designed to help you thrive at work and at home.

Click here to review a summary of the benefits available once you join.

Core Competencies

Pulsed Power Architecture | High-Voltage Electronics | HV Laboratory Operations | Finite Element Field Modeling | EMI/EMC Design | Reliability & Qualification Testing | Safety Leadership (HV) | Data-Driven Experimentation | Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration | Innovation & IP Development