Embedded Systems Engineer

Hitachi Ventures GmbH; Kearny (NJ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Employee equity stock options

20 days PTO

Job summary

Hitachi Ventures GmbH seeks an experienced Embedded Systems Engineer to manage control systems for high-power supply applications. This role involves designing control logic and developing firmware, requiring strong knowledge in embedded systems and communication protocols.

The ideal candidate has over 5 years of relevant experience and holds a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. The position offers a salary range of $110,000 to $150,000 and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in control and embedded development for high-power systems.
• Proficiency with simulation tools such as Simulink, MATLAB, or PLECS.
• Hands-on experience with ARM Cortex-M/A series microcontrollers.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement real-time control logic for power supplies.
• Develop embedded firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers.
• Collaborate with plasma control and supervisory systems.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

ARM Cortex-M/A microcontrollers

FPGA development

Simulation tools (Simulink, MATLAB)

Industrial communication protocols

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

STM32CubeIDE

MATLAB/Simulink

Keil

Xilinx FPGAs

Job description

About Thea Energy

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

Position Overview

Thea Energy is seeking a skilled and motivated Embedded Systems Engineer to lead the development of control and protection systems for high-power power supply systems deployed in the Integrated Stellarator Eos. This position focuses on enabling safe and precise operation of superconducting coil power supplies and high-voltage heating systems.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Design and implement real-time control logic for HTS magnet power supplies (low-voltage/high-current) and gyrotron HVPS systems.
• Develop embedded firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP), FPGA and SoC (Xilinx), DSP (TI) for low-latency control, feedback regulation, and interlock logic.
• Implement quench detection and fast protection logic for superconducting magnets using embedded or FPGA-based platforms.
• Simulate and validate control schemes using MATLAB/Simulink, including HIL or SIL configurations.
• Program and integrate FPGA and DSP hardware as required for fast, deterministic control of power conversion systems.
• Collaborate with Plasma Control and Supervisory Systems to ensure accurate interface protocols and control sequencing.
• Specify and validate analog and digital I/O, high-speed communication links, and protection interfaces between PSUs and control systems.
• Participate in FAT/SAT, commissioning, and system validation, including low- and high-power test operations.
• Support system documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), and structured control validation plans.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Power Electronics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in control and embedded development for high-power systems in R&D, industrial, or scientific environments.
• Hands‑on experience with:
• ARM Cortex‑M/A series microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP)
• Embedded C/C++ for bare‑metal or RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr)
• FPGA, SoC (Xilinx) or DSP (TI)-based control logic development
• Quench detection, crowbar logic, or magnet protection schemes
• Current and voltage regulation, PID control, and waveform generation
• Proficiency with simulation tools such as Simulink, MATLAB, or PLECS for modeling PSU behavior.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, CAN, Modbus, OPC UA, EtherCAT).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing control systems for fusion devices, particle accelerators, or large magnet systems
• Knowledge of superconducting magnet characteristics, ramp‑up constraints, and discharge handling
• Exposure to gyrotron power supply design, including triode control and anode/bias supply regulation
• Integration experience with SCADA, EPICS, or plant-wide supervisory control systems
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC mitigation techniques for control electronics in high-power environments

Tools & Platforms

• Languages: C/C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Verilog/VHDL (preferred)
• Platforms: ARM Cortex‑M/A (STM32, NXP), TI DSP (C2000), Xilinx FPGAs and SoC, NI PXIe, CompactRIO (optional)
• Tools: STM32CubeIDE, Keil, PlatformIO, MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW (optional), PTP/White Rabbit for timing
• Protocols: OPC UA, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, CANopen

Company Benefits

• Salary range $110,000-$150,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO

Requirements

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.
• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on‑call.
• Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.

Diversity and Inclusion

Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.