Share this on: Bridging SiC innovation and system demands with high‑performance power modules Expert Perspective: Sebastian Strache, Senior Application Engineer Power Modules at Bosch What does your role as Senior Application Engineer Power Modules at Bosch involve? I support customers in selecting the optimal power module from the Bosch portfolio, accompany the integration of our modules into customer inverters, and provide technical support when challenges arise. At the same time, I incorporate customer feedback, technological trends, and market requirements into the further development of our power module portfolio, with a particular focus on future innovations. In addition, I create technical documentation to support customers during development and integration. How has this role evolved in recent years? The integration of silicon carbide (SiC) into power modules for traction inverters has significantly changed requirements. Factors such as extremely low DC‑link inductance and high symmetry of the module layout have become increasingly important to fully leverage the high switching speeds of SiC. At the same time, power density and maximum allowable junction temperature have increased substantially compared to IGBT‑based solutions, resulting in significantly higher demands on cooling performance per area. What remains unchanged is the need for the highest levels of quality and reliability, both in globally scalable manufacturing and in field operation. What are the most important decisions you make in your role on a day‑to‑day basis? One of my key responsibilities is identifying the best solution from our power module portfolio for specific customer requests, with sustainable customer satisfaction always as the primary objective. In addition, I contribute to decisions on how our portfolio should be extended or complemented. Especially when it comes to portfolio expansion, it is essential to assess which technological trends or innovations will prevail in the long term. A critical aspect consists in selecting the right technical KPIs to ensure that our portfolio continues to meet customer expectations for quality, innovation, and cost‑performance, also five years from now. Which skills are essential for your role? Long‑standing experience in power semiconductors and power modules, combined with a deep understanding of their development, is essential. This is complemented by broad knowledge of traction inverter operations and the typical requirements and challenges in this environment. A true 360‑degree perspective is crucial – covering application, mechanics, thermal management, electrical design, reliability, manufacturing, quality, and market aspects . I would not consider myself as the ultimate expert in every single domain. Instead, my role focuses on viewing the module and the application as a complete system and working closely with domain experts. In power electronics, the best solutions are usually achieved through well‑balanced trade‑offs between different technical disciplines. What makes this job special, and what motivates you most? What motivates me most is the high pace of innovation in power modules and in e-mobility overall. Every year, significant technological advances are achieved. At the same time, continuous system‑level optimizations create new requirements for power modules and their design. High‑performance power modules can only be realized through close collaboration and careful consideration of disciplines such as thermal management, mechanics, manufacturing, reliability, and electrical design. This team‑driven environment makes the work particularly exciting – and even after more than ten years, I continue to learn something new every week. How do customers benefit from this role? I advise customers with strong technical expertise, transparency, and on equal footing. This enables them to select the optimal solution for their inverter from the Bosch portfolio and to successfully compete in the market together with us. How does your role contribute to making customer projects more successful? The targeted technical alignment of our power module portfolio enables us to offer customers innovative solutions today and in the future that combine high power density, low losses, high reliability, and an excellent cost‑performance ratio. My support during the design of our modules into customer applications, along with in-depth discussions of requirements, ensures that all performance advantages are fully realized while maintaining the necessary robustness. Based on my long‑standing experience and deep insights into power module development and the associated trade‑offs, customer inquiries can also be addressed quickly and comprehensively. Which technological trends or developments currently influence your work the most? In the area of power modules for traction inverters, trends emerge from both the system and semiconductor sides. We therefore operate at the interface between system requirements and semiconductor technologies, with power modules serving as a bridging element. On the system level, voltages are increasing beyond 400 V and 800 V, for example to enable ultra‑fast charging according to the Megawatt Charging Standard. At the same time, the market demands ever-more compact solutions. On the semiconductor side, SiC trench technologies in particular enable major improvements in key KPIs such as specific on‑resistance. To fully leverage these advances, power modules as well as their packaging and interconnection technologies must be continuously refined. Bosch’s high‑performance semiconductors provide the foundation for especially compact power modules and, in turn, highly efficient, space‑saving inverters. How do you collaborate with other areas to successfully implement your projects? To optimize power modules for future requirements, close collaboration with the various technical domains, manufacturing, and our customers is essential. Only by identifying innovations early and implementing them consistently can we deliver solutions that enable long‑term customer success in the market. Technical expertise, critical evaluation of innovation hypotheses, and a strong focus on customer value all play a key role in this process. What is particularly important to you when working with internal and external stakeholders? I rely on open and transparent communication on equal footing, with the goal of building long‑term successful partnerships. Understanding customer requirements and expectations in depth is essential to implement them with an optimal cost‑benefit ratio. Open feedback is equally important to me – both for personal development and for the continuous improvement of our business unit.