Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer - Motor Control

Zipline; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline in South San Francisco, CA seeks a Motor Control Engineer to ship high-performance motor controller firmware for Zipline’s proprietary controllers. You will collaborate with hardware, flight software, and test teams, using C++, Rust, and Python on embedded platforms to deliver safe, reliable autonomous delivery solutions.

You’ll design estimators and controllers, implement on bare-metal ARM, validate with hardware-in-the-loop, build simulations in Rust, and help improve system

Qualifications

• Fluency in C/C++, with experience in Rust and Python.
• Mastery of nonlinear estimation techniques and classical control theory.
• Eagerness to learn in a fast-paced safety-critical environment.
• Some experience with mechatronic control systems (hobby or professional).
• Curiosity to work in embedded environments from bare metal to RTOS and embedded Linux.
• Experience supporting robotic systems in real-world edge cases for safety and reliability.
• Systems-engineering mindset with strong communication to non-technical stakeholders.
• On-site work in South San Francisco, CA required.
• Background in electronics design is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Design estimators and controllers for propulsion motors and actuators in collaboration with the vehicle controls team.
• Implement controllers in C++, targeting a bare-metal ARM microcontroller.
• Write peripheral drivers for new motor controller hardware revisions.
• Validate firmware on bench and in flight tests.
• Improve flight software reliability with fault management strategies and HIL tests.
• Build vehicle simulations in Rust for validation and regression testing.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to validate inverter designs.
• Develop automated systems to monitor fleet performance and direct maintenance.

Skills

C/C++ fluency

Rust

Python

Nonlinear estimation

Classical control theory

Embedded systems

Executive communication

Mechatronic control systems

Tools

ARM microcontroller

Job description

Zipline in South San Francisco, CA seeks a Motor Control Engineer to ship high-performance motor controller firmware for Zipline’s proprietary controllers. You will collaborate with hardware, flight software, and test teams, using C++, Rust, and Python on embedded platforms to deliver safe, reliable autonomous delivery solutions.

You’ll design estimators and controllers, implement on bare-metal ARM, validate with hardware-in-the-loop, build simulations in Rust, and help improve system