Controls Engineer, Vehicle Controls

Harbinger Motors • Garden Grove, CA

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About The Position

Harbinger is seeking a Controls Engineer to join its Vehicle Controls team and develop, validate, and debug control algorithms for medium-duty electric and hybrid vehicles. The role focuses primarily on supervisory controls, including vehicle state management, powertrain and energy management, torque arbitration, and fault handling. The engineer will translate system requirements into production-quality MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow models, verify models through model-in-the-loop testing, and debug behavior on vehicles using CAN data. The position also supports other control domains as program needs evolve.

The engineer will work closely with systems, electrical engineering, embedded software, calibration, and vehicle test teams. Responsibilities span requirements and traceability, model-based development and testing, diagnostics, code generation, CI automation, calibration, vehicle integration, and investigation of test or fleet issues. The position includes hands-on vehicle testing at test sites and customer locations, with occasional travel. Harbinger describes itself as an American commercial EV company developing an EV platform for medium-duty vehicles and hybrids.

Requirements

• 2–5 years of experience developing automotive or vehicle control software using model-based design.
• Strong hands-on proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow for control algorithm development and debugging.
• Experience applying control theory techniques such as PID control, LQR/optimal control, and Kalman filtering or state estimation to real systems.
• Experience writing software requirements and developing and executing MIL test cases.
• Working knowledge of C, including the ability to read and debug auto-generated or handwritten embedded code.
• Experience with CAN communication and CAN-log analysis using Vector tools such as CANalyzer, CANape, and/or vSignalyzer, including work with DBC files.
• Experience calibrating control parameters on bench or vehicle, such as with CANape using XCP and A2L files.
• Solid understanding of control systems fundamentals and vehicle systems, such as powertrain, high-voltage battery, inverter/motor, or vehicle state management.
• Experience with version control such as Git and working in a structured software development process.
• Comfort working hands-on with vehicles and safely around high-voltage systems; HV safety training is provided.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel occasionally to test sites and customer locations.
• Strong problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills, and comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Mechatronics, or Controls Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with EV or hybrid vehicle supervisory controls, energy management, or powertrain controls.
• Experience with SAE J1939 and commercial vehicle networks.
• Experience with automotive diagnostics, including OBD, UDS (ISO 14229), DTCs, DIDs, CDD, and ODX/PDX, using tools such as Vector CANdelaStudio.
• Familiarity with AUTOSAR and its toolchain, including Vector DaVinci Developer/Configurator or Simulink AUTOSAR Blockset, and integrating model-generated code as AUTOSAR software components.
• Experience with Embedded Coder, Simulink Test, Model Advisor, or Polyspace, and SIL/HIL testing such as dSPACE, NI, or Vector VT System.
• Experience building CI pipelines for model-based development using Jenkins, GitLab CI, or MATLAB CI/CD tools.
• Familiarity with EV charging standards such as SAE J1772, CCS, and ISO 15118.
• Familiarity with ISO 26262 functional safety and ASPICE.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as Jama, Polarion, or DOORS, and scripting for data analysis or test automation using MATLAB, Python, or CAPL.
• Experience analyzing field or fleet data to resolve customer issues.
• Master's degree in Controls, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve control algorithms in MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow, primarily for vehicle supervisory controls such as vehicle state machines, charging controls, thermal management, drive modes, torque request and arbitration, energy management, and diagnostics and fault reactions.
• Write, review, and refine software requirements derived from system-level requirements, and maintain traceability among requirements, models, and test cases.
• Develop and execute model-in-the-loop (MIL) test cases and test harnesses, analyze results, report coverage, and drive issues to closure.
• Develop and maintain CI pipelines, such as Jenkins or GitLab CI, to automate model checks, code generation, and regression testing.
• Generate production code from models and review generated C code to support integration with the embedded software team.
• Develop and integrate OBD/UDS diagnostic functions, including DTC definitions, fault detection and debounce, fault reactions, and DIDs; maintain diagnostic definitions in CDD/ODX and verify them on bench and vehicle using Vector tools.
• Calibrate and tune control parameters and debug control behavior on bench, HIL, and vehicle using CAN logs captured and analyzed with Vector tools.
• Perform root-cause analysis of issues identified in vehicle testing and customer fleets using field data and logs, then implement and verify model fixes.
• Participate in hands-on vehicle testing at test sites and customer locations, including occasional travel.
• Support model reviews, modeling guideline checks, and configuration management of models and test artifacts.
• Collaborate with systems, calibration, embedded software, and vehicle test engineers to define interfaces, including signals and CAN messages, and support vehicle integration and validation.
• Support control domains beyond supervisory controls, such as chassis, body, and auxiliary systems, as program needs require.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of employee coverage paid.
• Early-stage stock options.
• Retirement savings benefits, including 401(k), HSA, and FSA.
• Generous paid time off and parental leave.
• Annual vacation bonus.
• Wellness and fertility benefits.
• Cell phone stipend.
• Complimentary meals and stocked kitchens.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level