Staff Embedded Controls Engineer

Anode Technology Company; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Anode is seeking a Staff Embedded Controls Engineer to lead controls architecture for our mobile energy storage platform. You will translate high‑level requirements into production‑ready embedded software and own the control strategy across ECUs, power electronics and energy management.

This hands‑on role combines architecture and implementation, primarily in Simulink with C/C++. You will guide the team through prototype validation to production, collaborating closely with hardware and systems

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Simulink and C/C++ for embedded systems development.
• Experience with vehicle controls, system-level controls and power electronics.
• Track record in owning control system architecture end-to-end.
• Working knowledge of CAN, Modbus, serial communications.
• Familiarity with AC/DC power systems and BMS-related topics.
• Thrives in fast-paced hardware development with prototyping and testing.
• Strong ownership of features from concept to production.

Responsibilities

• Own the control architecture across the mBESS platform and evolve it as products grow.
• Translate requirements into embedded software for system ECUs and subsystems.
• Develop and deploy Simulink-based firmware for controllers.
• Take features from prototype through bench, field testing to production.
• Develop and integrate CANbus, Modbus, Automotive Ethernet communications.
• Set toolchain, model architecture conventions, coding standards, release practices.
• Provide technical direction across firmware, hardware and systems engineering.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems and integration teams for bring‑up and testing.

Skills

Simulink

C/C++

Vehicle controls

Control system architecture

CAN/Modbus/serial

Power electronics knowledge

Hands-on prototyping

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 softwareHands‑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.