Controls Engineer - Electrical Systems Control

Mainspring Energy•Menlo Park, CA

1d•$104,187 - $122,573•Hybrid

About The Position

Mainspring Energy is hiring a Controls Engineer to join its Electrical Systems Control team. The team coordinates the control of inverters, batteries, brake resistors, and generators on a common DC bus to provide consistent, reliable power. The role involves learning how these components work together and developing automation and control algorithms for Mainspring’s Linear Generator, a system with mechanical, electrical, fluid, thermodynamic, and thermal dynamics. The engineer will receive close mentorship from senior engineers, with a structured path toward technical ownership of critical control subsystems. The position starts with building simulation tests and supporting hardware validation of grid-tie inverter control algorithms. It includes control algorithm development and testing in simulation and on hardware, software implementation, diagnostics, fail-safes, test automation, system-data analysis, failure analysis, and validation. The engineer will also support fleet operations, manufacturing testing, and reliability work, collaborating with engineering teams across disciplines. This is a hybrid position based at Mainspring’s Menlo Park headquarters. Onsite work is required as needed for testing, troubleshooting, and manufacturing support. The listed annual salary range is $104,187–$122,573, subject to adjustment based on employee location and experience. Mainspring also offers pre-IPO company equity through Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or software engineering, specializing in control systems or power systems.
2–5 years of relevant work experience.
Experience designing, implementing, and testing controls and automation algorithms in software.
Strong communication skills.
Enthusiasm for active collaboration across diverse hardware and software engineering teams.

Responsibilities

Help integrate inverters, batteries, brake resistors, and generators on a common DC bus.
Design, implement, and tune control algorithms for coordinating the DC bus, batteries, and grid-tie inverters in simulation and on hardware.
Implement algorithms and continuous-integration tests (MIL, SIL, PIL) in C++17.
Develop automation, diagnostics, and fail-safes for an integrated platform.
Analyze system data and refine control strategies.
Develop and automate test plans, test cases, and traceability matrices.
Conduct failure analysis, risk mitigation, and validation to maintain robust control performance.
Debug sensors, actuators, and subsystems, addressing noise, disturbances, and calibration.
Support fleet generator operation, manufacturing testing, and reliability efforts.
Collaborate with power electronics, mechanical, thermal, firmware, and test teams to define requirements, integrate multi-physics systems, implement software features, and drive validation.
Build simulation tests and support hardware validation of new grid-tie inverter control algorithms, progressing toward technical ownership of critical control subsystems.