Application Engineer

At Lightyear we are working on a family of power converters to convert solar energy from PV panels on vehicles to their batteries. The converter range consists of LV variants, HV variants and a multi-port variant that is able to convert energy from multiple solar panels to both LV and HV batteries. By intelligently combining several functions, this topology allows for a reduction in component count and improvement in efficiency.

What will you do as an Application Engineer?

As Application Engineer, you are the technical bridge between our OEM customers and Lightyear’s product-development teams. From the moment an interested OEM starts exploring a project with us, you become their main technical point of contact. You learn how their vehicle, physical PV integration, electrical architecture and way of working work, help them understand the capabilities and potential of our technology, and jointly shape an application that fits both their needs and Lightyear’s product direction.

You technically lead assigned OEM projects. You define the system architecture, requirements, interfaces, validation approach and project execution together with the customer and our internal specialists. You translate OEM needs into clear development inputs, coordinate technical execution and make sure customer expectations remain aligned with engineering priorities, and agreed project boundaries. But at the same time this is also new technology, that most OEM’s work with for the first time. You should also really help them understand the potential, understand the difficulties, and help them make the right decisions as well along the way.  

This is a broad and hands-on role in a small, entrepreneurial team. One day you may present an architecture to an OEM engineering team; the next, you may build a test harness, analyse CAN communication or debug the first vehicle integration. You will run technical meetings, create clear architecture and project documentation, support internal development work, and bring customer insights back into Engineering. Your work allows our core development teams to stay focused on the technology roadmap while OEM projects receive strong, independent technical guidance.

A day as an Application Engineer

Your day combines customer communication, systems thinking, documentation and practical engineering. You might start with a weekly technical meeting with an OEM, discussing an interface question or reviewing the progress of a vehicle integration. You clarify what the customer wants from the solar-powered proof-of-concept vehicle they have in mind, help define the physical PV layout and recommend an electrical architecture, while explaining what our off-the-shelf technology can already do for them. You consider aspects such as available roof or body surfaces, module and string layout, shading and packaging constraints, and go into detail on the energy-management strategies that will need to be developed together with the OEM for seamless integration.

Later, you work with our electronics and software engineers to assess how the requested application fits our existing products and development roadmap. You update the system architecture, interface definitions, validation plan or project documentation, and make sure technical decisions are understood on both sides. Where customer requests conflict with product constraints or engineering priorities, you make the trade-offs visible and guide the teams toward a workable solution.

In the afternoon, you may move into the lab or vehicle workshop. For another OEM project, the physical buildup has already started, and you are supporting the integration of the PV system, installing the solar converters and building a test wiring harness to check key functionalities.. You inspect CAN communication between our system and the car, and verify electrical signals with a multimeter or oscilloscope, or execute a vehicle-level test. When something does not work, you coordinate the investigation while remaining willing and able to perform the first measurements yourself.

You regularly visit OEM engineering teams, support vehicle integration and testing, and help demonstrate the technology. By the end of the day, you have moved the application forward: a requirement is clarified, an architecture is agreed, a setup is validated, or an OEM better understands how to build an efficient and well-integrated solar vehicle.

What do we expect from an Application Engineer?

In order to succeed in the dynamic world of Lightyear; pro-activity, professionalism, communication and adaptability are crucial. We are looking for someone with an ambitious attitude who learns from the past but who is especially open to transforming new developments or ideas into the ‘tried and tested’ of the future!

• BSc or MSc in Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field

• A strong technical background and a broad system-level understanding of vehicle, electrical/electronic and software architectures.

• Experience translating product-development work and technical capabilities into customer-specific applications and requirements.

• Systems-engineering experience, including architecture definition, requirements, interfaces, verification and technical trade-offs.

• The maturity and communication skills to act as Lightyear’s main technical representative toward an OEM, often working independently alongside a sales representative.

• Ability to communicate complex technology clearly to both customer stakeholders and internal electronics and software specialists.

• Willingness to develop a working understanding of Lightyear’s core technologies, including vehicle-integrated PV, module and string behaviour, MPPT converters, the TCU and energy management.

• A hands-on mindset and willingness to build, integrate, test and troubleshoot early customer setups.

• Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, system architectures and interface documentation.

• Experience defining requirements and producing clear architecture documents, project documentation, validation plans and test reports.

• Experience with automotive OEM projects, product management, embedded software, CAN analysis or vehicle integration is an advantage.

• Willingness to travel to OEM engineering locations and support integration, testing and demonstrations.

Don't meet every single requirement? We encourage you to apply if you have the technical breadth, ownership and curiosity to grow into the role.

What can you expect from Lightyear?

In addition to a challenging role we also offer:

• A high degree of freedom and independence in your role

• A role within a multidisciplinary team consisting of highly motivated, inquisitive and talented people with a broad diversity of experience

• Participation in a good pension scheme 

• 40 vacation days per year (based on a 40 hour contract)