Embedded Drive Controls Engineer

Phoenix Technical Solutions; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Wabtec Freight in Erie, PA is seeking a Drives Control Engineer to own locomotive and OHV propulsion and drive‑control development. You will design control algorithms, develop software requirements, and implement model‑based solutions using MATLAB/Simulink.

Work with Systems, Software, Power Electronics and Verification teams to integrate and validate drive control functionality across propulsion, braking, and auxiliary systems; strong C/C++ and embedded experience is desired.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical/CS or related field with 3–6 years of related experience.
• "Experience with embedded architectures and reading legacy C/C++ code"
• "Strong understanding of motor control and power electronics concepts"],
• job_responsibilities_description":[
• Design drive control systems across propulsion, braking, and supervisory interfaces.
• Develop test vectors and support SIL/HITL verification.
• Model-based control development using MATLAB/Simulink and Stateflow.
• Coordinate with other engineering teams for system integration.
• Support lab and field validation testing.

Skills

C/C++

MATLAB/Simulink

Embedded systems

Motor control

Control algorithms

Stateflow

System integration

Multi‑project management

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

LabVIEW

Stateflow

Job description

Drive Controls Engineer – Locomotive and OHV Systems

Location

Wabtec Freight, Erie, PA

Job Description

We’re looking for a dynamic Drives Control Engineer to be responsible for all tasks and deliverables related to locomotive, OHV propulsion and auxiliary drive control system development, including control algorithm design, software requirements development, model-based implementation, integration, verification, and validation activities. The Drives Control Engineer will work closely with Wabtec Systems, Software, Power Electronics, and Verification teams to develop, maintain, and enhance locomotive drive control functionality.

Responsibilities

• Work cross functionally to identify and capture requirements and execute the design of drive control systems.
• Develop detailed control designs and define critical interfaces connecting propulsion, braking, auxiliary, and supervisory systems.
• Develop robust test vectors, execute desktop simulation testing, and support Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) verification environments.
• Interface/work with other engineering teams during developmental stages to ensure successful integration with the function of heavy electrical componentry.
• Manage the full-cycle design and development of new drive control system features. Including the build, simulation, and modification of model-based control architectures using MATLAB/Simulink and Stateflow.
• Use creativity to find solutions for design modifications and troubleshooting of drive control systems.
• Directly assist and support engineering lab and field validation testing.

Desired Skills

• Experience in using (C++, C, MATLAB, etc), with knowledge of various other common languages (including vintage languages).
• An understanding of control logic function and its interaction between major electrical components.
• The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Past design experience working with embedded architectures, combined with a strong ability to read, analyze, and map legacy C/C++ control code back into modern control models.
• Deep understanding of motor control algorithms, converter/inverter topologies, torque/speed regulation, and power electronics management.
• Ability to create engineering experiments and execute testing to create workable solutions for drive controls systems.
• Background designing protection functions, fail-safes, and complex embedded diagnostic/fault management loops.
• Additional experience/knowledge with locomotive embedded systems design a plus.

Qualifications/Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Electrical, Computer Science or a Technical Discipline with 3 to 6 years of related experience.

Benefits

Phoenix Technical Solutions offers an attractive compensation and benefits package; including health, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life, IRA with generous company match, paid holidays, vacation and more. Our global commitment to technological advancement offers opportunities for personal growth and development in a stable, supportive work environment.