Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
5+ years of experience in developing control software for physical systems
Strong understanding of control theory including PID, state-space, and system dynamics
Proficiency in C/C++, Python, or similar languages for simulation and embedded systems
Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, Isaac Sim, and MIL, SIL, HIL testing workflows
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain models of vehicle dynamics, powertrain, and braking systems
Design and implement control algorithms, validating them in simulation
Build and manage simulation infrastructure for verifying control software
Derive sensor and actuator requirements using modeling and simulation
Correlate simulation results with test data to enhance model fidelity
Support system integration and vehicle testing, debugging issues with simulation
Ensure reliability, safety, and performance in control software implementations
Benefits
Collaborative and innovative work environment
Opportunities for professional development and growth
Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
Engagement in impactful projects within the transportation sector
Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
Full Job Description
Senior Controls Engineer
Parallel is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer with deep expertise in control systems development to join our engineering team. This role focuses on modeling, simulating, and designing the software that controls the electrical and mechanical systems on our rail vehicles, and on proving that software out in simulation before it reaches hardware. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in control systems theory, extensive experience using simulation to develop and verify controllers, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality, real-time control software.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain plant models of vehicle dynamics, powertrain, and braking systems, and use them to analyze, simulate, and tune controllers in tools such as MATLAB/Simulink or Python
Design and implement control algorithms for vehicle systems, validating them in simulation before deployment to embedded targets
Build and own simulation infrastructure, including model-in-the-loop (MIL), hardware-out-of-the-loop (HOOTL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) environments, used to verify control software ahead of vehicle testing
Use modeling and simulation to derive sensor and actuator requirements that meet system performance needs
Correlate simulation results against test and field data to validate and improve model fidelity
Support system integration and vehicle testing, using simulation to reproduce and debug issues observed on hardware
Ensure high reliability, safety, and performance in all control software implementations
What Success Looks Like
In 30 days: You have defined requirements and an architecture for the platooning simulation suite. You have run the existing code and have developed a feature roadmap to achieve the analysis goals required for the project
In 60 days: You have implemented the simulation MVP and are running real test cases. You have evaluated the baseline assumptions of our platooning model and have identified improvements to the controls stack to achieve better performance.
In 90 days: You have used the HOOTL simulation to drive performance upgrades in the controls stack and have implemented the onboard features required for real-world testing. You are running a test campaign using real Parallel vehicles to validate the outputs of the model and ground our software stack
Basic Qualification
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
5+ years of experience developing control software for physical systems, with substantial time spent in modeling and simulation
Strong understanding of control theory, including PID, state-space, observers, system dynamics, and system identification
Proficiency in C/C++, Python, or similar languages used in both simulation and embedded systems development
Proficiency with modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Isaac Sim or equivalent Python-based frameworks, and with MIL, SIL, and HIL testing workflows
Preferred Qualifications
Experience building simulation infrastructure, digital twins, or automated simulation-based regression testing for control software
Distributed or multi-agent control: string stability, cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC), or similar.
State estimation (Kalman filtering, sensor fusion) and system identification from field data.
Robust control, or hybrid systems that combine continuous dynamics with discrete events like contact and impact.
NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Omniverse, or similar simulators such as Gazebo, MuJoCo, or Drake.
Familiarity with embedded platforms (e.g., ARM Cortex, DSPs, RTOS-based systems)
Exposure to the automotive, aerospace, or robotics industries
Experience developing with Rust, especially in embedded platforms
Experience modeling and simulating vehicle dynamics, braking systems, electric powertrains, or sensor fusion
Prior ownership of a controls project from modeling and simulation through implementation, testing, and deployment
We are committed to providing fair and transparent compensation in accordance with applicable laws. Salary ranges are listed below and reflect the expected range for new hires in this role, based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and location. Final compensation may vary and will be determined during the interview process. The target hiring range for this position is listed below.
