About the role#
AI training and inference clusters create large, fast power swings that impact the grid. We are developing a hybrid energy storage system for data centers to protect infrastructure and increase capacity. This internship focuses on taking this system from design to hardware. You will own the implementation and validation of the storage system and its controllers, comparing predicted behavior against real-world hardware performance. This is a hands-on engineering role with a research component.
What you'll do#
- Build, commission, and operate a bench-scale hybrid energy storage system including batteries, supercapacitors, and bidirectional DC/DC converters.
- Implement and evaluate power-split and energy management controllers on real-time hardware.
- Design and execute a validation campaign using realistic load traces to measure response time, bus voltage deviation, energy split, and state-of-charge behavior.
- Compare measured results against simulation models to identify gaps in areas like converter dynamics or sensing latency.
- Recommend and implement design updates to storage sizing, converter control bandwidth, and supervisory controller interfaces.
- Document all hardware, test procedures, and findings.
- Communicate results through technical reports, presentations, and contributions to publications or patents.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a PhD (preferred) or MS program in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, or a related field.
- Fundamentals in power systems and power electronics, including DC/DC converter topologies, DC bus dynamics, and protection.
- Hands-on laboratory experience building and debugging kilowatt scale power hardware.
- Experience with battery and supercapacitor energy storage, including thermal characteristics and safe handling.
- Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and Python, with the ability to move control designs to a real-time target.
- Experience with control of power converters, such as classical loop design or droop control.
- Proficiency using oscilloscopes, power analyzers, and programmable loads.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Preferred: Experience with real-time platforms (Typhoon HIL, dSPACE, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat), hybrid energy storage, data center power distribution, hardware-in-the-loop validation, embedded C, or converter firmware.
Location & details#
- Location: Santa Clara, California.
- Modality: On-site.
- Duration: 3 to 6 months.
- Employment: Full-time internship.
- Compensation: $50 to $55 per hour.
About Hitachi
Hitachi is a global company based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates across four sectors including digital systems, energy, mobility, and connective industries. The firm integrates information technology and operational technology to manage industrial systems and infrastructure. It maintains a workforce of over 280,000 employees across more than 140 countries.
How to get in at Hitachi
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