Embedded Controls Lead

Brightwing; South Lyon (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightwing seeks a Controls Engineering Team Lead to direct a small embedded-controls group, guiding real-time software development, modeling, and hardware integration. You will mentor engineers, influence recruitment, and drive department objectives from concept through testing.

The role requires strong leadership, hands-on embedded expertise, and the ability to coordinate across mechanical, electrical, and software domains to deliver robust control solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline
• Minimum of 6 years of professional engineering experience
• Experience leading embedded controls and real-time software development teams

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction for embedded controls and software activities
• Lead small engineering group (2–7 engineers) including performance management
• Support recruiting and development of engineering talent
• Oversee planning, budgeting, and organizational objectives
• Develop project estimates and allocate technical resources
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet project objectives
• Define and integrate control system architecture and hardware platforms
• Ensure conformance to software processes and program requirements
• Engage in design reviews, customer meetings, and proposal development
• Develop system-level models spanning mechanical, hydraulic, electrical domains
• Analyze simulation results to validate requirements and refine models
• Apply simulations to develop and validate control strategies and algorithms
• Select and integrate electronic control hardware and interfaces
• Diagnose and resolve complex integration issues
• Ensure compatibility with military and aerospace standards where applicable

Skills

Team leadership

Performance management

Recruiting support

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in related engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Stateflow

RTOS/Linux

Embedded C/C++

Simulink Coder

dSPACE/OpenECU

Job description

The Controls Engineering Team Lead will provide technical direction and people leadership for a small engineering group focused on embedded controls, software development, system integration, simulation, and validation. This role requires strong expertise in embedded platforms, control systems, and real-time software development, along with the ability to guide complex engineering programs from concept through testing. The position will also have direct management responsibility for approximately 2–7 engineers, including performance management, professional development, recruiting support, and team process improvement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee employee performance, professional development, and individual goal planning
• Provide mentorship and help expand the team's technical capabilities
• Support recruiting activities and initiatives designed to retain engineering talent
• Contribute to departmental planning, budgeting, and organizational objectives

Controls & Embedded Software Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for embedded controls and software engineering activities
• Develop project estimates and determine the technical expertise and resources needed for successful execution
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and program teams to meet project objectives
• Establish controls system architecture, hardware platforms, and required functionality
• Ensure engineering deliverables align with applicable software processes, standards, and program requirements
• Participate in customer meetings, technical design reviews, and proposal development activities

Modeling, Simulation & Controls Development

• Develop system-level models incorporating mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic domains
• Analyze simulation results to establish system performance measures and validate requirements
• Compare simulation outputs against test results and refine models as needed
• Apply simulation environments to develop, evaluate, and validate control strategies and algorithms

Hardware & System Integration

• Contribute to the selection, design, and integration of electronic control hardware and related components
• Work with mechanical engineering teams to define and communicate system interface requirements
• Select control hardware based on required I/O capabilities, processing needs, and overall system architecture
• Diagnose and resolve complex electrical, controls, and system-level integration issues

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline
• Minimum of 6 years of professional engineering experience

PREFERRED TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

• Embedded C/C++ development for microcontrollers and platforms utilizing Linux or real-time operating systems
• System simulation and modeling using MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow
• Model-based embedded development environments and code generation tools, including Simulink/Stateflow Coder, MotoHawk, Raptor, OpenECU, or dSPACE
• Vehicle and system simulation platforms such as ADAMS, Dymola, CarSim, TruckSim, FMI, or FMU
• Strong knowledge of classical control methods, including PID, lead-lag compensation, loop shaping, root locus, feedforward control, and cascaded control architectures
• Experience with advanced control methodologies, including state-space techniques, LQR/LQG, Kalman filtering, Model Predictive Control, robust control, and MIMO systems
• Background working with defense and military platforms, including areas such as:
• Weapon and weapons control systems
• Combat vehicle platforms
• Turret systems and ammunition handling
• Familiarity with applicable military and aerospace standards related to software, electronics, communications, cybersecurity, and functional safety, such as MIL-STD-498, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-882E, DO-178C, and DO-254
• Experience producing and delivering defense-related software documentation and contractual technical deliverables
• Knowledge of networking technologies and communication protocols, including Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP, EtherCAT, DDS, and TSN
• Experience with automotive communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, J1939, XCP, and CCP, along with associated development and calibration tools such as Vector, Kvaser, and INCA
• Experience developing controls for actuators, including electric motors and valves, as well as by-wire systems
• Understanding of electric and hybrid vehicle system architectures
• Strong system-level troubleshooting and diagnostic capabilities
• Experience designing and simulating electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems, including related hardware and software

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

• Candidate must be eligible to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance