Propulsion Controls & Software Engineer

Kaizen Resourcing Ltd; California; Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaizen Resourcing Ltd is helping to source a Staff Propulsion Controls & Software Engineer for hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion. The role spans controls, embedded software, and simulation, with ownership from model to flight-ready implementation.

You will work on PMSM control, SiC stages, energy-management logic, and high-fidelity propulsion models, coordinating MIL/SIL/HIL validation and real-time firmware deployment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years developing controls and embedded software for high-power motor drives or power converters.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in PMSM control (d-q theory, FOC, SVPWM/DPWM, sensorless observers, flux-weakening, fault detection).
• Working knowledge of SiC MOSFET stages to design control and protection logic with device physics in mind.
• Fluency in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS.
• Production embedded experience on DSPs (fixed-point, real-time scheduling, on-target debugging).
• Track record of taking a controls or embedded subsystem from concept to flight- or field-ready.
• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or Controls preferred (strong BS candidates with relevant experience considered).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and tune discrete-time control loops for PMSM drives, active rectifiers, and DC/DC converters.
• Develop EMI-aware modulation and switching strategies for SiC stages (20-40+ kHz).
• Build the supervisory power-split and energy-management logic coordinating turbogenerator, battery, DC bus, and propulsion inverters.
• Create high-fidelity propulsion models in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS; correlate models to bench data.
• Stand up MIL/SIL/HIL environments (Typhoon HIL, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat) with regression and fault-injection suites.
• Translate algorithms from model to production firmware on DSPs (TI C2000, ARM Cortex) via Embedded Coder or hand-written C/C++.
• Define real-time communications and ICDs (CAN/CAN-FD/Ethernet) and support dyno/iron-bird integration.
• Produce design specs, modeling reports, and verification evidence aligned to DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754B.

Skills

PMSM control

Embedded software

MATLAB/Simulink

SiC MOSFETs

DSPs

Real-time debugging

Flight hardware integration

Education

MS in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Typhoon HIL

OPAL-RT

Speedgoat

TI C2000

ARM Cortex

Job description

Staff Propulsion Controls & Software Engineer - Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

I'm looking for a high-ownership Staff-level engineer to own the controls, embedded software, and simulation infrastructure for SiC-based propulsion power electronics on next-generation hybrid-electric aircraft (both unmanned and VTOL platforms).

You'll own the motor drives, active rectifiers, DC/DC converters, and the Hybrid System Controller that coordinates the full powertrain. Hardware is designed by peer engineers; your job is to make the systems perform in simulation, on the bench, and in flight. This is an individual-contributor role with real latitude to shape how the controls and simulation function scales.

What you'll do

• Design, implement, and tune discrete-time control loops for PMSM drives, active rectifiers, and DC/DC converters (FOC with MTPA/MTPV, flux-weakening, sensorless observers, SVPWM/DPWM, PLLs, digital filters)
• Develop EMI-aware modulation and switching strategies for SiC stages (20-40+ kHz)
• Build the supervisory power-split and energy-management logic that coordinates the turbogenerator, battery, DC bus, and propulsion inverters (mode transitions, sequencing, fault arbitration)
• Create and maintain high-fidelity propulsion models in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS; correlate models to bench/rig data
• Stand up and run MIL/SIL/HIL environments (Typhoon HIL, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat) with automated regression and fault-injection suites
• Take algorithms from model to production firmware on DSP platforms (TI C2000, ARM Cortex, etc.) via Embedded Coder or hand-written C/C++
• Define real-time communications and ICDs (CAN/CAN-FD/Ethernet) and support dyno / iron-bird integration
• Produce the design specs, modeling reports, and verification evidence aligned to DO-178C, DO-254, and ARP4754B

What you bring

• 8+ years developing controls and embedded software for high-power motor drives or power converters
• Deep, hands-on expertise in PMSM control (d-q theory, FOC, SVPWM/DPWM, sensorless observers, flux-weakening, fault detection)
• Working knowledge of SiC MOSFET stages sufficient to design control and protection logic with device physics in mind
• Fluency in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS
• Production embedded experience on DSPs (fixed-point, real-time scheduling, on-target debugging)
• Track record of taking a controls or embedded subsystem from concept to flight- or field-ready
• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or Controls preferred (strong BS candidates with relevant experience considered)

Preferred

• Aerospace or eVTOL powertrain experience and familiarity with FAA/EASA certification
• DO-178C experience in a regulated environment
• Hands-on experience with Typhoon, OPAL-RT, or Speedgoat plus Python/MATLAB test automation and Git-based CI
• Generator-mode / active-rectifier control, wide-range flux-weakening, ride-through or limp-mode strategies
• BMS and flight-control integration over CAN/CAN-FD/Ethernet (TSN/PTP a plus)