Principal Controls Firmware Engineer

Jacobi Motors Inc; Missouri City (TX); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Health savings account

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Jacobi Motors Inc in Houston, Texas is seeking an accomplished controls engineer who can personally develop motor control algorithms, implement embedded firmware, and validate hardware on real systems.

You will work with our controls experts on core technology, from control strategy through bench and dynamometer validation. The role will expand into charging controls as our power electronics programs grow, emphasizing deep controls expertise, rapid problem-solving, and measured results.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience with motor controls, embedded firmware, and power electronics.
• Proven track record taking motor-drive algorithms from concept to embedded implementation, commissioning, tuning, and validated hardware performance.
• Deep knowledge of electric machines, field-oriented control, and reference-frame transforms.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and tune motor control algorithms including FOC, current/torque regulation, speed control, and regenerative operation.
• Collaborate on variable flux memory motor control and magnetization strategies.
• Implement deterministic C/C++ firmware on microcontrollers/DSPs with synchronized ADC, PWM, feedback, and communications.

Skills

Motor control algorithms

Embedded firmware

Power electronics

C/C++ RTOS

CAN/CAN FD

Python testing

Control theory

Matlab/Simulink

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

TI C2000

STM32

DSPs

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Location / employment: Houston, Texas / Full-time (proposed)

Proposed base salary: $145,000–$195,000 annually, depending on relevant experience and qualifications.

Jacobi Motors is developing variable flux memory motor technology. We are seeking an accomplished controls engineer who can personally develop algorithms, implement embedded firmware, and make motors, power electronics, and test systems perform reliably on real hardware.

You will work alongside our existing controls experts on core technology and assigned product programs, from control strategy through bench and dynamometer validation. We value deep controls expertise, sound engineering judgment, rapid problem-solving, and measured results. The role will expand into charging controls as our power electronics programs develop.

What you’ll do

• Develop, implement, and tune motor control algorithms, including field-oriented control, current and torque regulation, speed control, field weakening, and regenerative operation.
• Collaborate on variable flux memory motor control, including magnetization strategies, flux-state estimation, operating limits, and coordination with electromagnetic design.
• Implement deterministic C/C++ firmware on microcontrollers or DSPs; integrate synchronized ADC sampling, PWM, position feedback, communications, and inverter hardware.
• Develop and commission motor test-system controls, coordinating the motor under test, dynamometer/load drive, DC power equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
• Define focused validation tests, characterize system dynamics, tune loops, and verify stability, transient response, efficiency, and operating limits against measured data.
• Diagnose hardware–firmware interactions, including sensing errors, timing, noise, inverter nonlinearities, and control instability; implement and verify corrective actions.
• Develop startup and shutdown sequences, limits, fault detection, safe states, and recovery logic in coordination with hardware protections and test-cell interlocks.
• Extend control and firmware capability into charging and bidirectional power conversion, including current/voltage regulation, converter sequencing, and system coordination.
• Share algorithm development and hardware debugging, lead technical reviews, mentor engineers, and maintain reusable, documented, version-controlled implementations.

What you’ll bring

• Extensive relevant experience, typically 10+ years, with substantial hands‑on responsibility for motor controls, embedded firmware, and power electronics.
• A record of personally taking motor‑drive algorithms from concept through embedded implementation, commissioning, tuning, and validated hardware performance.
• Deep practical knowledge of electric machines and field‑oriented control, including reference‑frame transforms, current loops, PWM, field weakening, and voltage/current constraints.
• Strong control‑theory fundamentals: system modeling, loop stability and bandwidth, sampling and computation delays, filtering, anti‑windup, and parameter identification.
• Advanced C/C++ skills for real‑time embedded systems (TI C2000m STM32 or similar automotive‑grade MCUs), with practical command of interrupts, timers, ADC/PWM peripherals, execution timing, and hardware debugging.
• Hands‑on experience with inverters, motor dynamometers, programmable power equipment, and instrumentation; ability to interpret schematics and debug signals and power‑stage behavior.
• Experience controlling and automating test equipment using CAN/CAN FD, SPI, I2C and UART; proficiency in Python for testing and analysis.
• Ability to quickly understand an existing system, isolate the dominant problem, and deliver measured improvements while maintaining disciplined validation and protection.
• Ability to collaborate as a technical peer, explain control decisions clearly, and transfer practical knowledge to other engineers.
• A degree in electrical engineering, controls, computer engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience. Demonstrated controls accomplishments are essential.

Additional experience we value

• Power‑factor correction, DC/DC and bidirectional converter control, constant‑current/constant‑voltage regulation, or charging state machines.
• MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS or comparable modeling tools; hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing; sensorless control and state observers.
• Variable flux machines, integrated chargers, or production electric‑drive controls.

Pay: $145,000.00 - $195,000.00 per year

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Missouri City, TX 77489