Who We're Looking forAs Arc's vehicle controls manager, you will lead the development of cutting-edge vehicle control systems across all of our programs. That means gathering requirements, allocating resources, and optimizing team performance, while having fun along the way.
This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters. You'll report to the Director of Software Engineering and work closely with a lean, high-trust team where everyone's work matters.
What You'll Do- Leading, mentoring, and growing a high-performing vehicle controls engineering team, providing employee guidance and career development support.
- Investing in processes that maximize efficiency, quality, and velocity.
- Improving team culture by modeling Arc's values and inspiring them in others.
- Partnering with electrical, firmware, and mechanical teams to lead cross-domain integration and resolve complex system-level issues.
- Collaborating with service and manufacturing teams to proactively triage controls faults, define service actions, and ensure high uptime across the fleet.
- Contributing to roadmap planning for future vehicle programs, identifying technical risks, staffing needs.
- Drive long term technical strategy to build moats and leapfrog our capabilities.
- Fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
Minimum Qualifications- 5+ years of hands-on experience in embedded systems, controls, or vehicle electrical integration, with a strong ability to guide and support engineers in troubleshooting and development.
- 2+ years of proven experience leading and managing engineering teams, including mentorship, performance management, and hiring.
- Demonstrated experience shipping complex hardware-integrated, real-time systems into production.
- Strong intuition for system-level tradeoffs under real-world constraints.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with a proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, lead a team, and deliver challenging feedback
Bonus Qualifications- Experience with EV or marine electrical and controls architectures.
- Proficiency in C/C++, Rust, or similar languages for embedded or automation development.
- Experience with model-based design or control algorithm development (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
- Enthusiasm for boating and the water.
What we offerThe base salary for this role is $215,000 annually
Highly competitive equity grants are included with full time offers. As well as semi-annual bonuses tied to your impact, not just your tenure.
Additionally, Arc offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
- Healthcare benefits - 99% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision
- Parental leave - 14 weeks fully paid for birthing and non-birthing parents
- Generous time off - Highly competitive PTO with an opportunity to earn more time with tenure
- Income protection - Life and disability insurance for all employees
- Retirement savings -Traditional and Roth 401(k) access
- Water fund - $500 for you to spend each year to get out on the water, however you choose
- Professional development - $500 annual reimbursement for professional development and a monthly AI stipend
- Safety Support- Annual reimbursement for PPE, ergonomic equipment and anything that ensures we keep our crew safe
- Captain training - Training and access to take Arcboats out with friends and family
- Office perks - Daily lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite
- Relocation assistance - Available depending on role eligibility.
Our valuesWe move with urgency and build with care. We value these five things above all else:
- Ownership over both your work and the company's success
- Empathy for colleagues and for customers
- Humility in problem solving and collaboration
- Pragmatism for navigating ambiguity quickly and sensibly
- Inclusion of different backgrounds, opinions, cultures, and perspectives.
We want people who share and embody these values. It is vital that our values align - we'd be happy to elaborate on any or all of these during the interview process.
