(Senior) Controls Engineer - Power Electronics (m/f/d)

Tesla Germany GmbH; Freiburg im Breisgau; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Tesla Engineering Germany GmbH in Freiburg is seeking senior embedded control engineers to develop and validate control algorithms for high‑power converters powering energy storage and vehicle charging systems.

You will design real‑time firmware in C, model dynamics with MATLAB/Simulink and HiL, and collaborate across hardware, systems, and test teams while mentoring junior engineers. This position is on site in Freiburg, Germany.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering with strong control theory and power electronics.
• Solid C programming skills for embedded systems.
• Experience with switched‑mode power converters and feedback control.
• 5+ years real‑time embedded control for power electronics (3+ with a PhD).
• Experience modeling resonant converters (e.g. LLC, CLLC, DAB) and small‑signal modeling.
• Strong digital control background: discrete‑time design, discretization, sampling effects.
• Hands‑on hardware experience with lab work, prototyping, or debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and validate control algorithms for high‑power AC/DC and DC/DC converters, focusing on stability and robustness.
• Develop real‑time embedded firmware in C, including control loops and state machines.
• Model and simulate converter dynamics (MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS) and validate with HiL systems.
• Perform hands‑on bring‑up, testing, and debugging of control firmware on prototype and production hardware.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems, and test teams to define requirements and targets, select architectures, and integrate algorithms into the firmware framework.
• Support manufacturing with test firmware and technical support at internal and external sites.
• Support fleet deployment by analyzing field data and delivering firmware updates.
• Senior level: own control architecture decisions, lead design reviews, and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Control theory

Embedded C

Power electronics

Real-time systems

HiL testing

Modeling/Simulink

Diagnostics/Debugging

Mentorship

Team collaboration

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

PLECS

TI C2000 MCU

Oscilloscope

HiL platforms (Typhoon, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat)

Job description

What to Expect

Note: We are considering several seniority levels, from recent graduates to experienced engineers. Title and scope will match your experience.At Tesla Engineering Germany GmbH in Freiburg, we’re building the future of sustainable energy by developing innovative power electronics for energy storage and vehicle charging systems. Join our team to collaborate across different engineering areas, solve meaningful challenges creatively and transfer concepts from initial design, through prototyping and testing into real-world solutions.This is an opportunity to own key projects, use modern tools, and work in state-of-the‑art facilities to create technologies that shape how energy systems evolve. You get to work on advancing power electronics used for Tesla products globally, thereby directly contributing to the acceleration of the world's transition to sustainable energy.

What You’ll Do

• Design, implement, and validate control algorithms for high-power AC/DC and DC/DC converters across energy and automotive products, with a focus on stability, dynamic performance, and robustness
• Develop real-time embedded firmware, mainly in C, including control loops, protection, and state machines
• Model and simulate converter dynamics (MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS or similar) and validate control strategies using hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) systems
• Do hands‑on bring‑up, testing, and debugging of control firmware on prototype and production hardware
• Work with hardware, systems, and test teams to define requirements and performance targets, choose circuit and control architectures, and integrate algorithms into the firmware framework
• Support manufacturing with test firmware and technical support at internal and external sites
• Support fleet deployment by analyzing field data, diagnosing issues, and delivering firmware updates
• Senior level: own control architecture decisions, lead design reviews, and mentor junior engineers

What You’ll Bring

• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field, with a strong foundation in control theory and power electronics
• Solid C programming skills for embedded systems
• Understanding of switched‑mode power converters and feedback control, from industry, research, a thesis, or hands‑on projects
• Hands‑on experience with hardware, such as lab work, prototyping, or debugging with oscilloscopes and debuggersAdditional qualifications for the senior level
• 5+ years of experience developing real‑time embedded control for power electronics (3+ with a PhD)
• Strong experience modeling and controlling resonant converters (e.g. LLC, CLLC, DAB), including small‑signal modeling and frequency‑ or phase‑shift‑based control
• Solid digital control background: discrete‑time design, discretization, and the effects of sampling and delay
• A track record of taking products from prototype to productionPreferred qualifications

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with resonant converter topologies, including coursework or thesis work
• Experience with TI C2000 (or equivalent) MCU peripherals: high‑resolution PWM, ADC, comparators, CAN/ETH
• Experience with grid‑connected converters (PFC, grid synchronization) and related standards (grid codes, EMC, functional safety)
• Experience with HiL platforms (e.g. Typhoon, OPAL‑RT, Speedgoat)

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Aff

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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