Staff Controls Engineer

Anode Technology Company; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Anode Technology Company seeks a Staff Embedded Controls Engineer to own control architecture for our mobile energy storage platform. You will translate high-level requirements into production-ready embedded software across system ECUs, coordinating power electronics and BMS for safe, efficient energy delivery.

This hands-on role spans architecture and implementation, primarily in a Simulink environment with C/C++.

Qualifications

• Proficient in Simulink and C/C++ for embedded systems development and deployment.
• Experience with vehicle controls, system-level controls, power electronics, or coordination controls—implementation-focused.

Responsibilities

• Own the control architecture across the mBESS platform—structure, partitioning, and evolution as the product line grows.
• Translate high-level requirements into full-featured control software for system ECUs, coordinating inverters, DC-DC converters, contactors, and BMS.
• Develop and deploy Simulink-based embedded firmware for mBESS controllers.
• See features through prototype validation, bench/field testing, and production deployment.
• Develop and integrate communication protocols (CANbus, Modbus, Automotive Ethernet) for inter-system coordination.
• Set toolchain, model architecture conventions, coding standards, and release practices for the controls team.
• Provide technical direction across firmware, hardware, and systems engineering, mentoring engineers as they grow.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems, and integration teams to support bring-up, troubleshooting, and validation.

Skills

Simulink

C/C++

Vehicle controls

Architecture ownership

CAN/Modbus/serial

Power electronics

Prototyping & testing

Problem solving

Job description

Anode exists to accelerate the monumental shift away from the supersystem of extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels toward lightweight capture and consumption from entirely renewable sources. We’re building scalable, silent, flexible, and efficient mobile energy infrastructure to power the zero-emission future. Our mobile battery energy storage systems (mBESS) represent a new category of clean, deployable power.

Position Overview

Anode is seeking a Staff Embedded Controls Engineer to join our firmware and embedded controls team as a foundational hire. In this role, you will own key aspects of controls architecture for our mobile battery energy storage platform and implement the vehicle-level and system-level control strategies that bring it to life, translating high-level functional requirements into production-ready embedded software.

You will develop control software for system ECUs (electronic control units) that coordinate power conversion, energy management, thermal management, and battery system operation across our mBESS platform. These controllers manage inverter systems, DC-DC converters, contactors, and distributed battery management, orchestrating subsystem behaviors to deliver safe, efficient energy storage and delivery.

This is a hands-on individual contributor role that spans architecture and implementation. You will define how controls are structured across the platform, set the standards the team builds to, and take features through the full development lifecycle from prototype validation to production-intent code—primarily in a Simulink embedded environment with additional work in C/C++.

Key Responsibilities

• Controls Architecture: Own the control architecture across our mBESS platform—how subsystem controllers are structured, how responsibilities are partitioned between them, and how that architecture evolves as the product line grows.
• Controls Implementation: Translate high-level functional descriptions into full-featured control software for system ECUs, managing coordination of inverters, DC-DC converters, contactors, thermal systems, and distributed battery management systems.
• Embedded Firmware Development: Develop and deploy Simulink-based embedded firmware for mBESS system controllers.
• Prototyping to Production: See features through prototype development, bench and field testing, and ultimately production deployment.
• Communication & Integration: Develop and integrate communication protocols (CANbus, Modbus, Automotive Ethernet, and similar) to enable inter-system coordination between controllers, inverters, BMS, and external interfaces.
• Tooling & Standards: Set the toolchain, model architecture conventions, coding standards, and release practices the controls team works to.
• Technical Direction: Set technical direction across firmware, hardware, and systems engineering, and mentor engineers on the team as they grow into more complex controls work.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with hardware, systems, and integration teams to support system bring-up, troubleshooting, and validation—contributing to prototyping, harness builds, and test bench setup as needed.

Qualifications

Must Have:

• Strong proficiency in Simulink and C/C++ for embedded systems development and deployment
• Experience with vehicle controls, system-level controls, power electronics, or coordination controls—implementation-focused, not purely theoretical
• Track record of owning control system architecture, not only feature-level implementation
• Working knowledge of communication protocols such as CAN, Modbus, serial, or similar
• Familiar with AC and DC power systems and power electronics (inverters, converters, contactors, BMS)
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, early-stage hardware development environment with hands‑on prototyping and testing
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to take ownership of features from concept through production

Preferred:

• Experience with battery energy storage systems (BESS/mBESS), EV powertrains, or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)
• Background in vehicle controls or automotive systems engineering
• Experience writing and releasing safety-critical or certification-critical software
• Hands‑on experience with system integration, test bench development, and hardware troubleshooting
• Familiar with system-level validation, including thermal management, safety-critical controls, and fault handling
• Understanding of relevant standards and compliance requirements (UL 9540, UL 1741, UL 1973, IEC 61508 / ISO 26262, NFPA 855, and similar)

Why This Role Matters

As one of the early controls engineers at Anode, you will define how we architect, implement, test, and deploy embedded control systems for our mobile energy platform. You’ll work at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and systems engineering—taking ownership of real features with real impact on product performance and reliability. Your contributions will directly influence product direction, control architecture, and engineering culture as we grow.