Modern Controls Engineer

Zobility; Michigan; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Zobility seeks a Senior Embedded Software & Controls Tech Specialist to design, develop, implement, and validate embedded control systems for defense applications. The role requires deep expertise in classical and modern control theory, real-time embedded systems, and system-level integration.

The position is highly technical and hands-on, supporting the full lifecycle from modeling and algorithm development through hardware integration and vehicle-level deployment.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of engineering experience in embedded systems or controls.
• Strong proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and validation.
• Experience with real-time embedded development and hardware integration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, implement and validate embedded control systems for defense applications.
• Deploy control algorithms using Simulink and embedded C/C++ environments.
• Perform stability, robustness, and performance analyses of control systems.
• Support system commissioning, calibration and field troubleshooting.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Control theory

Embedded C/C++

Real-time OS

System identification

Hardware integration

Education

MS or PhD in Engineering

Tools

Simulink/Stateflow Coder

MotoHawk

Raptor

Open ECU

dSPACE

Job description

• The Senior Embedded Software & Controls Tech Specialist will be responsible for the design, development, implementation, and validation of embedded control systems for defense applications.
• This role requires deep expertise in classical and modern control theory, real-time embedded systems, and system-level integration.
• The position is highly technical and hands-on, supporting the full lifecycle from modeling and algorithm development through hardware integration and vehicle-level deployment.

Responsibilities

• Controls System Design & Development
• Implement control algorithms using classic and modern control techniques
• Perform stability, robustness, and performance analysis
• Design and tune multi-loop and multi-axis control architectures
• Deploy control algorithms using Simulink and embedded C/C++ environments
• Develop and validate control strategies through SIL, HIL, bench, and vehicle testing
• Support system commissioning, calibration, and field troubleshooting
• System Simulation and Modeling
• Develop state-space and frequency-domain models of electromechanical, hydraulic, and vehicle systems through physical modeling and system identification methods
• Identify performance metrics and system specifications from model results
• Model correlation and validation to test data
• Use models to develop and test controls algorithms
• System Hardware Integration
• Support design, selection, and integration of electronic components
• Communicate mechanical requirements of system to design staff
• Identify controller hardware to meet I/O and computational requirements
• Troubleshoot and resolve system and electrical issues
• 8+ years of engineering experience

Requirements

• Control system modeling and simulation in MATLAB, Simulink, and State flow
• Classical control techniques including PID, lead-lag compensation, loop shaping, root locus design, feedforward control, and cascaded loop architectures
• Modern control techniques including state-space modeling, LQR/LQG, Kalman Filtering, Model Predictive Control (MPC), robust control and MIMO system design
• Numerical optimization methods for parameter fitting and control tuning
• Embedded Model-Based Development tools (Simulink/State flow Coder, Moto Hawk, Raptor, Open ECU, dSPACE)
• Embedded software in C/C++ on microcontrollers, Linux, or RTOS-based platforms

Expertise in specific areas such as

• Weapon Systems
• Combat Vehicle Engineering
• Turrets and Ammo Handling Systems
• Knowledge of MIL Standards for software, electronics, communications, cyber and functional safety (MIL-STD-498, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-882E, DO-178C, DO-254)
• Networking protocols and standards (Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP, EtherCAT, DDS, TSN)
• Automotive protocols (CAN, LIN, J1939, XCP/CCP) and Tools (Vector, Kvaser, INCA)
• Actuator controls (motors, valves) and by-wire design
• Electric and Hybrid vehicle architecture
• Vehicle/system level simulation (ADAMS, Dymola, CarSim/ TruckSim, FMI/FMU)
• Vehicle and system troubleshooting experience
• Electrical/Mechanical/Hydraulic/Pneumatic system design and simulation
• Data acquisition hardware and software experience

Education

• MS or PhD in Automotive, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Mechatronic Systems