Controls Engineer

Mind Robotics; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mind Robotics in Palo Alto is seeking a Controls Engineer to design advanced algorithms for robotic motion. This role involves working on control systems for real physical hardware and requires a strong foundation in control theory.

The ideal candidate holds an M.S. or Ph.D. in a related field and has hands-on experience tuning and debugging control systems. Join us to lead the next generation of robotics technology!

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in controls, robotics, or related field or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience designing and deploying control systems on real physical hardware.
• Strong foundation in control theory: classical and modern methods.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and tune control algorithms for joint and actuator motion.
• Develop high-fidelity dynamic models of robot subsystems.
• Analyze robot data to assess controller performance.

Skills

Control theory knowledge

C/C++ programming

Simulation tools proficiency

Experience with hardware

Engineering curiosity

Education

M.S. or Ph.D. in controls, robotics, or a related field

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Julia

Job description

The Role

At Mind Robotics, we're building generalized physical AI — robotic systems capable of dexterous, adaptive, and reasoning-intensive work in real‑world industrial environments. Controls is where intelligence becomes motion: the layer that translates high‑level commands into precise, safe, and coordinated physical behavior across every joint and actuator on the robot.

We're looking for a Controls Engineer to own the algorithms and software that make our robots move well — from low‑level actuator loop design to full‑body motion control and the simulation infrastructure that keeps us iterating fast.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and tune control algorithms — PID, state‑space, model‑based, and beyond — for joints, actuators, and whole‑body robot motion

• Develop and maintain high‑fidelity dynamic models of robot subsystems to support simulation, analysis, and controller design

• Analyze real‑world robot data to assess controller performance, identify regressions, and drive targeted improvements

• Work closely with firmware engineers to implement control algorithms under hard real‑time constraints in C/C++ or Rust

• Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers to characterize hardware, close the loop between physical design and software performance, and define actuation requirements

• Define and execute test plans that validate control system performance across the full operating envelope of the robot

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in controls, robotics, or a related field, or equivalent hands‑on experience building and deploying control systems for real physical hardware

• Demonstrated experience (through work, research, or projects) designing and deploying control systems for real physical systems — robots, actuators, drones, or similar

• Strong foundation in control theory: classical (PID, lead‑lag), modern (state‑space, LQR/MPC), and familiarity with nonlinear systems

• Experience building dynamic models and using simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Julia, or equivalent) to inform and validate controller design

• Hands‑on experience tuning controllers on real hardware and debugging unexpected behavior with real data

• Proficiency in C/C++ or Rust for real‑time control implementation

• You are comfortable with ambiguity, move fast, and have an "engineering curiosity" that drives you to understand how the entire system works, not just your part

Nice to Have

• Experience with whole‑body control, trajectory optimization, or model predictive control on legged or manipulator systems

• Familiarity with field‑oriented control (FOC) or other motor control algorithms at the firmware level

• Exposure to functional safety standards (ISO 26262, IEC 61508, or similar)

• Experience with ROS2 or similar robotics middleware