Principal Engineer

Actalent, Inc.; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 163,185,000 - 220,780,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent, Inc. seeks a Principal Engineer - Controls to lead the development of vehicle control strategies for engine, electric, and hybrid powertrains.

You will work on ECUs, motors, sensors, and related subsystems for on-road and off-road applications. Responsibilities include model-based design with MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow, and verification of control strategies, while mentoring engineers and guiding system architecture to meet safety standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with relevant experience.
• Experience in automotive/heavy-duty vehicle CAN bus and architecture.
• Embedded software development with C/C++.

Responsibilities

• Lead exploration of technologies, systems, and methods for vehicle control strategies.
• Develop and implement advanced control strategies and system-level requirements.
• Work on control strategy development and verification for components and systems.
• Draft functional requirements for control integration and adaptation.
• Utilize CAN Bus SAE J1939 and tools such as Vector and PEAK.
• Conduct PIL Testing and ensure safety standard compliance.

Skills

C++

Stateflow

CAN Bus J1939

MATLAB/Simulink

Embedded software

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vector/PEAK

Job description

Job Title: Principal Engineer - Controls

Job Description

The Principal Engineer - Controls is responsible for leading the exploration and development of vehicle control strategies. This role involves developing and implementing advanced strategies and system-level requirements for vehicle control systems, with a focus on engine and electric vehicles. The engineer will work on components such as electronic control modules, motors, drives, engines, sensors, material handling systems, and other auxiliary systems for both on-road and off-road applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the exploration of applicable technologies, systems, and methods for vehicle control strategies.
• Develop and implement advanced strategies and system-level requirements for vehicle control systems.
• Work on control strategy development and verification for various components and systems.
• Draft functional requirements for control integration and adaptation.
• Utilize CAN Bus SAE J1939 and relevant tools such as Vector and PEAK.
• Conduct PIL Testing.
• Ensure compliance with function safety standards such as ISO and IEC61508.
• Provide technical mentorship by reviewing architecture, setting standards, and guiding team members.
• Manage projects and contribute to model-based design using MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow.
• Develop electrification and hybrid powertrain strategies including HVBMS, inverter control, and motor torque strategies.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in C++ and design.
• Experience with Stateflow.
• Control integration and adaptation skills, preferably in mobile or hydraulics.
• Experience with CAN Bus SAE J1939 and tool usage such as Vector and PEAK.
• Knowledge of PIL Testing.
• Familiarity with function safety standards like ISO and IEC61508.
• Strong project management skills.
• Model-based design experience with MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with at least five years of relevant experience.
• Automotive or heavy-duty vehicle background with vehicle control system experience.
• Experience in automotive or heavy-duty vehicle CAN bus and architecture.
• Experience with Vector/PEAK/etc. tools.
• Advanced qualifications such as eight or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, five or more years with a master's degree, or two or more years with a Ph.D. in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience with MathWorks.
• Embedded software development experience using C/C++.

Work Environment

This position is based in an office setting. As a consultant, you will receive 10 paid holidays and two weeks of vacation.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hagerstown, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $67.00 - $67.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Hagerstown,MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 3, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

Contact Information Collection

We collect your phone number and email so that an Actalent representative can reach out to you regarding potential job opportunities. Please ensure that the phone number and email you provide are accurate, as an incorrect phone number or email may affect our ability to contact you.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.