Doctoral Thesis - Development of Advanced Control Systems and Optimization Techniques (f/m/div)

Doctoral Thesis – Development of Advanced Control Systems and Optimization Techniques (f/m/div)

Join to apply for the Doctoral Thesis – Development of Advanced Control Systems and Optimization Techniques (f/m/div) role at Infineon Technologies . 3 days ago – be among the first 25 applicants.

#WeAreIn to create tiny chips and big careers. Curiosity drives progress. Will you drive it with us? As a PhD at Infineon, you'll collaborate with passionate minds, shape innovations that power tomorrow's world, and build a career where your expertise truly makes a difference. Are you in?

Your Role

As an industrial doctorate at Infineon, you will pursue a doctoral degree at a University and gain professional experience simultaneously – an ideal start for your career. Advance your research with us and profit from our vast network of doctoral candidates and the expertise of a university. Mentorship is handled by both professors and dedicated Infineon employees. The research is carried out in cooperation with the University of Granada (Spain) and under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Diego Pedro Morales Santos.

We are offering a doctoral thesis dealing with the development and optimization of control systems for advanced solar microinverter technologies. The research will focus on exploring and enhancing the performance of solar power microinverters, with a specific emphasis on low‑level power electronics such as DC‑DC and DC‑AC converters, and maximum power‑point tracking (MPPT) algorithms for improved energy efficiency. The aim is to design and implement novel control algorithms, addressing challenges like environmental variability (temperature, shading) and dynamic load conditions, while maximizing energy conversion efficiency and system reliability. The project also includes the design, prototyping, and testing of optimized architectures, offering innovative solutions tailored for low‑power and residential solar energy systems.

Key Responsibilities In Your New Role

• Conduct an in‑depth investigation of microinverter systems: study various solar panel microinverter systems and examine the detailed operation of their low‑level power electronics circuits, including component‑level analysis of DC‑DC and DC‑AC converters and MPPT algorithms to identify improvement areas for low‑power applications.
• Develop advanced control algorithms: research and design novel algorithms aimed at increasing the energy conversion efficiency, stability, and reliability of microinverters, addressing challenges posed by environmental factors (temperature, shading, dirt) and dynamic load conditions. Focus on lightweight, real‑time control strategies suitable for low‑power microinverter systems.
• Evaluate feasibility and real‑world benefits: study and assess the feasibility of deploying the optimized microinverter systems in real‑world solar energy applications, prioritizing performance gains in small‑scale and residential setups and presenting a comparative analysis of cost, energy output, and reliability with state‑of‑the‑art solutions.
• Design, implement, and test prototypes: create working prototypes of microinverters based on the proposed optimized power electronics architectures and control systems, and conduct extensive testing to benchmark key performance metrics such as energy efficiency, power output stability, and operational durability under varying load and environmental conditions.

Learning Outcomes

• Improved energy efficiency and reliability of microinverter systems through optimized control algorithms and advanced MPPT techniques.
• Innovative design methodologies for low‑power microinverters, enabling cost‑efficient and scalable solutions for residential solar energy applications.
• Benchmarking and performance insights for deploying microinverter prototypes in real‑world conditions, contributing to advancements in small‑scale renewable energy systems.

Your Profile

Qualifications & Skills

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics, or a related field, with a specialization in power electronics, renewable energy systems, or embedded systems.
• Hands‑on experience with power electronics hardware and experimental setups; experience with real‑time embedded systems and digital controllers in power electronic converters is desirable.
• Proficiency in programming languages and tools such as Matlab, Python, C/C++, or VHDL/Verilog for modeling, embedded system design, and circuit simulation; familiarity with simulation tools like Simulink, SPICE, SIMetrix/SIMPLIS, and PCB design software is advantageous.
• Knowledge of control system design and optimization techniques; familiarity with renewable energy standards and guidelines for residential solar panel and microinverter systems is desirable.
• Interdisciplinary teamwork, analytical thinking, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written; German language skills are a plus.

Contact: Britta Johansson

#WeAreIn for driving decarbonization and digitalization. As a global leader in semiconductor solutions in power systems and IoT, Infineon enables game‑changing solutions for green and efficient energy, clean and safe mobility, and smart and secure IoT. Together, we drive innovation and customer success, while caring for our people and empowering them to reach ambitious goals. Be a part of making life easier, safer and greener.

We are on a journey to create the best Infineon for everyone. This means we embrace diversity and inclusion and welcome everyone for who they are. At Infineon, we offer a working environment characterized by trust, openness, respect and tolerance and are committed to give all applicants and employees equal opportunities. We base our recruiting decisions on the applicant’s experience and skills. Learn more about our various contact channels.

We look forward to receiving your resume, even if you do not entirely meet all the requirements of the job posting. Please let your recruiter know if they need to pay special attention to something in order to enable your participation in the interview process.

Click here for more information about Diversity & Inclusion at Infineon.