Staff Embedded Controls Engineer, Thermal

Ford•Long Beach, CA
•$150,200 - $283,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Thermal systems span a diverse range of critical customer-facing attributes, hardware, and software domains. For example, our work keeps occupants comfortable, enables full vehicle powertrain capability, and empowers battery fast charging – in all weather conditions. We strive to balance heating/cooling performance, energy consumption, cost, reliability, NVH, and packaging trade-offs through physics-driven, cross-functional engineering collaboration. We work closely with mechanical engineers, aerodynamicists, battery and powertrain experts, electrical engineers, embedded/controls engineers, and more through all phases of vehicle development. Your role: bridge the gap between what’s possible (models/simulation) and reality by building a world-class controls framework to deliver an exceptional customer experience in all situations that may arise.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science, with evidence of exceptional ability, or equivalent
  • 8+ years of experience in developing control algorithms and applying them to physical systems.
  • High proficiency in programming experience using Python
  • Strong foundational background in control theory, system dynamics, and model-based design.
  • Highly collaborative mindset and strong communication skills
  • Experience with JIRA/Confluence or a similar system for tracking inputs/results.
  • Hands-on experience in hardware bring-up, system debugging, and code optimization.
  • Knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals including circuit analysis and design

Nice To Haves

  • A strong understanding of linear systems, state-estimation/observers is a plus.
  • Familiarity with thermal control algorithms, and experience implementing it on an embedded system.
  • Familiarity with refrigeration systems (compressors, heat exchangers, valves, sensors, charge and oil management) and HVAC systems.
  • Experience with automotive communication protocols and stacks (CAN, LIN, ethernet, UDS, etc.)
  • Knowledge of microcontroller peripherals such as ADC, GPIO, PWM, and SPI, and experience in sensors and digital signal processing
  • Experience with data management tools / using fleet data to guide design.
  • Proficiency in C and C++ and scripting skills in at least one common language (Python, Perl, Shell)
  • Experience developing control algorithms for thermal systems using modeling tools of various scales (Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar)

Responsibilities

  • Create control/estimation algorithms to support a broad thermal management scope: climate control, battery, powertrain, heat pump/refrigeration system, car computers, and more.
  • Deliver high-quality C code in a real-time embedded environment.
  • Write unit, SIL, and HIL test cases to ensure proper functionality.
  • Work closely with test and integration engineers to debug your control algorithms at the bench and vehicle level.
  • Adapt or create reduced-order thermal systems models to suit control-focused development/refinement workflows.
  • Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and firmware engineers to execute control strategies.
  • Develop fault detections and reaction strategies for seamless customer experience.
  • Develop and continuously improve models to compare alternative control algorithms quantitatively across many key metrics (cost, efficiency, performance, complexity, etc.)
  • Monitor fleet telemetry and use data analysis to close the loop on software quality and help ideate new software features.

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
  • Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
  • Tuition assistance
  • Established and active employee resource groups
  • Paid time off for individual and team community service
  • A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
  • Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
  • Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
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