Principal Control Systems Engineer

Brightwing; Wixom (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightwing is seeking a Principal Software and Controls Engineer to lead embedded control solutions for complex vehicle and defense systems. You will own architectures from concept through validation, integration, and deployment with cross‑functional engineering teams.

You will develop closed‑loop controllers in C/C++, leverage model‑based design in MATLAB/Simulink, and ensure production‑level reliability for mission‑critical applications.

Qualifications

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience in embedded controls, software, or systems engineering.
• Proven experience delivering complex control systems from concept through production.
• Strong communication and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, analyze, and optimize closed-loop control systems for electromechanical applications.
• Design control strategies using traditional and advanced methodologies.
• Evaluate stability, robustness, and performance of systems.
• Create multi-loop control structures for single and multi-axis systems.
• Implement algorithms in model-based environments and produce embedded software.
• Support SIL/HIL testing and vehicle/lab verification.
• Calibrate, commission, and tune performance throughout development.

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Stateflow

dSPACE

OpenECU

Raptor

MotoHawk

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Principal Software and Controls Engineer to lead the development of advanced embedded control solutions for complex vehicle and defense-related systems. This role combines deep technical expertise with hands-on implementation responsibilities, supporting the creation of control architectures from initial concept through validation, integration, and deployment.

The successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert in control systems engineering, embedded software development, and system integration. This position requires strong analytical skills, practical engineering experience, and the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-performance, mission-critical solutions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, analyze, and optimize closed-loop control systems for complex electromechanical applications.
• Design control strategies utilizing both traditional and advanced control methodologies.
• Evaluate system behavior with respect to stability, robustness, transient response, and overall performance objectives.
• Create and refine multi-loop control structures for single-axis and multi-axis systems.
• Implement algorithms within model-based development environments and generate production-level embedded software.
• Support controls verification activities through Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), laboratory, and vehicle testing.
• Perform calibration, commissioning, performance tuning, and troubleshooting activities throughout product development and deployment.

Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis

• Create mathematical representations of mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and vehicle systems using analytical and data-driven approaches.
• Apply system identification techniques to characterize dynamic system behavior.
• Correlate simulation results with physical testing data and update models accordingly.
• Use simulation environments to assess design alternatives and evaluate control system performance.
• Establish system requirements and performance targets based on modeling outcomes.

Embedded Software Development

• Develop embedded software components using C and C++ for real-time applications.
• Integrate control algorithms into microcontroller, RTOS, or Linux-based platforms.
• Support software architecture development, code reviews, debugging, and validation efforts.
• Collaborate with systems and hardware engineers to ensure seamless implementation of control functionality.

Hardware and System Integration

• Support the selection, integration, and validation of sensors, controllers, actuators, and electrical subsystems.
• Define electrical and mechanical interface requirements with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Assist in controller hardware selection based on processing, communications, and I/O requirements.
• Diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and system-level integration issues.
• Participate in vehicle-level and subsystem-level testing activities.

Required Qualifications

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant engineering experience in embedded controls, software, or systems engineering.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex control systems from concept through production or deployment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary engineering organizations.

Preferred Technical Experience

• MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow for modeling, simulation, and controls development.
• Classical control methodologies including:
• PID control
• Feedforward control
• Cascaded control architectures
• Advanced control methodologies including:
• State-space modeling
• Kalman filtering and state estimation
• Linear Quadratic Regulators (LQR/LQG)
• Robust and adaptive control strategies
• Numerical optimization techniques for controller tuning and model parameter estimation.

Embedded Systems and Model-Based Development

• Automatic code generation using Simulink/Stateflow and related model-based development toolchains.
• Experience with platforms such as dSPACE, MotoHawk, OpenECU, Raptor, or similar environments.
• Embedded software development for real-time control applications on microcontrollers, RTOS platforms, or embedded Linux systems.

Vehicle and Defense Systems

Experience in one or more of the following specialized domains is highly desirable:

• Weapons systems integration
• Turret drive and ammunition handling systems
• Autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle functions
• Electric and hybrid-electric vehicle systems
• By-wire control systems
• High-performance actuator control systems

Communications and Networking

• Automotive communication protocols including CAN, LIN, J1939, XCP, and CCP.
• Experience with industry-standard tools such as Vector, Kvaser, CANalyzer, CANoe, and INCA.
• Industrial and distributed networking technologies including:
• Ethernet
• TCP/IP
• UDP
• EtherCAT
• DDS
• Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)

System Development and Analysis

• Vehicle and system-level simulation tools such as CarSim, TruckSim, ADAMS, Dymola, and FMI/FMU-based environments.
• Experience with electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical system modeling.
• Data acquisition systems and test instrumentation.
• System diagnostics, root-cause analysis, and field troubleshooting.