EV Vehicle Controls Engineer - Hands-on Calibration

Optimal Staffing; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimal EV is seeking a Vehicle Controls Engineer to develop, integrate, calibrate, test, and validate vehicle control systems for electric commercial vehicles. You will work with MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow, CAN, and vehicle data across prototype and production-intent platforms.

The role involves hands-on calibration, road testing, and diagnostics on real vehicles, with collaboration across Mechanical, Electrical, Vehicle Integration, Production, and Quality teams to ensure robust control

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Experience with control systems and embedded systems.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and Stateflow.
• Understanding of vehicle dynamics and CAN communication.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to perform hands-on vehicle testing and calibration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain vehicle control software using MATLAB/Simulink and Stateflow.
• Develop, integrate, and calibrate vehicle control functions across multiple vehicle platforms.
• Support vehicle dynamics, drivability, powertrain, thermal, charging, and body control development.
• Apply control-system principles to improve vehicle performance, stability, efficiency, and overall behavior.
• Develop and tune control algorithms, state machines, fault handling, and system logic.
• Integrate new electrical and electronic components into the vehicle control system.
• Develop and maintain CAN communication interfaces and vehicle signals.
• Support vehicle diagnostics, fault detection, and troubleshooting.
• Analyze CAN logs, measurement data, and vehicle behavior to identify root causes.
• Perform hands-on vehicle calibration, commissioning, and validation.
• Conduct road testing and vehicle-level functional testing.
• Support software flashing, controller configuration, and calibration updates.
• Reproduce production and field issues and validate corrective actions.
• Perform regression testing after software, calibration, or component changes.
• Support EV charging and high-voltage system integration and validation.
• Develop configurable software and calibration strategies that support multiple vehicle platforms.
• Maintain software versions, calibration files, and release documentation.
• Support software release and validation activities.
• Work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Vehicle Integration, Production, Quality, and Service teams.
• Work with suppliers to support component integration and troubleshooting.
• Support prototype vehicle builds and engineering development activities.
• Drive controls-related issues through root-cause analysis, corrective action, validation, and closure.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Stateflow

CAN communication

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Hands-on testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, or related field

Tools

CANalyzer

CANoe

Git

Job description

Optimal EV is seeking a Vehicle Controls Engineer to develop, integrate, calibrate, test, and validate vehicle control systems for electric commercial vehicles. You will work with MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow, CAN, and vehicle data across prototype and production-intent platforms.

The role involves hands-on calibration, road testing, and diagnostics on real vehicles, with collaboration across Mechanical, Electrical, Vehicle Integration, Production, and Quality teams to ensure robust control