Motor Control Engineer

RED CAT HOLDINGS•South Salt Lake, UT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for a Motor Control Engineer to join our propulsion systems team. You will lead the development, optimization, and testing of high-performance brushless motor systems that drive the core functionality of our UAVs. This includes embedded motor control firmware, ESC design, current/voltage regulation, and efficient propeller-motor integration. Your work will directly impact flight stability, energy efficiency, and system reliability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechatronics.
4+ years of experience in BLDC motor control design and implementation.
Strong knowledge of FOC, PWM generation, sensorless/sensored feedback systems.
Proficiency with embedded systems programming (C/C++), and experience on STM32, TI, or similar MCUs.
Experience with power electronics design and hardware debugging tools (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, etc.).
Familiarity with UAV systems or robotics platforms.

Nice To Haves

Experience with high-frequency switching and thermal design in compact UAV ESCs.
Familiarity with drone-specific motor testing, thrust stands, and performance tuning methods.
Simulation experience using MATLAB/Simulink or PLECS for motor dynamics.
Knowledge of EMI/EMC design practices and compliance testing.

Responsibilities

Motor Control Development
Design and implement motor control algorithms (FOC, trapezoidal, sensorless/sensored BLDC control).
Develop embedded code (typically in C/C++) for motor controllers and ESCs.
Select and validate motor drivers, MOSFETs, current sensors, and gate drivers for high-efficiency operation.
Power Electronics & ESC Design
Design and test ESCs tailored to drone propulsion systems with an emphasis on thermal performance, switching frequency optimization, and EMI reduction.
Work with PCB designers to develop compact, thermally-managed layouts for power electronics boards.
System Integration & Performance Tuning
Integrate motors and controllers into UAV platforms, optimizing thrust-to-weight ratio and dynamic response.
Tune PID and control loop parameters for flight stability and minimal latency.
Analyze power draw, efficiency curves, and torque-speed characteristics across flight envelopes.
Testing, Validation & Failure Analysis
Set up and run bench and flight tests to measure thrust, RPM, current draw, and heat dissipation.
Use oscilloscopes, current probes, and data loggers to debug and refine system behavior.
Perform root cause analysis of electrical or mechanical failures in motor systems and recommend design changes.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with mechanical engineers on propeller sizing, vibration mitigation, and mount design.
Coordinate with flight control and embedded systems teams to ensure compatibility between propulsion and control logic.
Contribute to motor safety features, redundancy strategies, and startup/shutdown sequencing.