A disclosed pulsed-power drilling system may include a controller that receives and analyzes feedback from downhole components reflecting changing conditions or performance measurements associated with a pulsed drilling operation to determine that an operating parameter of the drilling operation should be modified. The controller may output a control signal to cause an adjustment of a configurable downhole component, such as mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic component that affects the operating parameter, while the drill bit remains in the wellbore. The controller may adjust a segmented transformer of a pulse-generating circuit, changing the number of primary winding switches that are fired, or the timing of the firing of the switches, to modify characteristics of the generated pulses. Adjusting a downhole component may affect the drilling rate, the drilling direction, the flow of drilling fluid, a pulse rise time, a pulse repetition rate, or a rate of penetration for the drilling operation.