Hands-on Vehicle Controls Engineer (EV Calibration & Validation)

Optimal; Elkhart (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully onsite

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 test data to support control development across multiple platforms, and you'll perform hands-on calibration on prototype and production vehicles.

This role requires strong knowledge of control systems, vehicle dynamics, EV systems, and cross-functional teamwork with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with control systems, automotive controls, embedded systems, or vehicle development.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and/or Stateflow.
• Understanding of vehicle dynamics and vehicle system behavior.
• Understanding of CAN communication.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to work with software, electrical systems, and physical vehicle systems.
• Comfortable working directly on vehicles in a shop or development environment.
• Ability to perform hands-on vehicle testing, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to analyze vehicle data and clearly document results.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain vehicle control software using MATLAB/Simulink and Stateflow.
• Integrate and calibrate vehicle control functions across multiple platforms.
• Support dynamics, drivability, powertrain, thermal, charging, and body control development.
• Apply control-system principles to improve performance, stability, and efficiency.
• Develop and tune control algorithms, state machines, and fault handling.
• Integrate new electrical components into the vehicle control system.
• Develop CAN interfaces and vehicle signals.
• Support diagnostics, fault detection, and troubleshooting.
• Analyze CAN logs and vehicle data to identify root causes.
• Perform hands-on 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 changes.
• Support EV charging and high-voltage system integration.
• Develop configurable software and calibration strategies for multiple platforms.
• Maintain software versions, calibration files, and release documentation.
• Support software release and validation activities.
• Collaborate 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

Vehicle dynamics understanding

Analytical troubleshooting

Hands-on testing

Git

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 test data to support control development across multiple platforms, and you'll perform hands-on calibration on prototype and production vehicles.

This role requires strong knowledge of control systems, vehicle dynamics, EV systems, and cross-functional teamwork with