Sr. Control Engineer, Electric Motors

Tula is driven by an overriding passion to increase efficiency and improve the environment. With more than 340 patents issued or pending for multiple technologies, and a combined 450 years of engineering behind those patents, we’re focused primarily on applications for passenger automobiles, commercial vehicles for on and off road and electric vehicles of any size. Our approach to improving efficiency sets us apart. We come at it with demonstrated software solutions, and we deliver proven results with more than one million vehicles on the road using our technologies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel savings. But we’re not stopping there. We’re working to reduce or eliminate the use of rare earth elements in electric vehicles through improved electric motor efficiency and exploring efficiency in other means of mobility, too, including robotics, e-aviation and industrial machinery. Tula drives efficiency.

In this role your primary responsibility will be to develop high-performance control algorithms for electric motor systems including motor-generators, power inverters, and energy storage systems, and create, maintain, and effectively use simulation and embeddable models of these systems for performance evaluation. You will be expected to derive high integrity plant and control models validating these through simulation and testing. This may involve auto-coding from the derived control simulation, hand coding and coding of the hardware abstraction layer. You are expected to be comfortable in an initially high uncertainty design environment which progressively removes uncertainties and builds toward releasable products that meet customer needs. We will require strong team membership skills, and the ability to lead and support multiple simultaneous projects related to Tula’s advanced control products implementing next-generation vehicle efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Manage development activity to project timelines and milestones
• Create high integrity simulation models of electrical components and systems
  • Motor / generators
  • Power converters
  • Energy storage subsystems
  • Control algorithms
• Utilize models to explore parameter dependence and sensitivities to stretch the bounds of highly-efficient and powerful motor control
• Debug and test embedded software and systems on the bench, at the dyno and in the field
• Follow development cycle process including: bug / defect tracking and reporting; unit, regression, and user-acceptance testing; documentation

Skills and Experience

• BS in EE, MS preferred, with at least 5 years of industry experience with advance control of electric motor and modeling
• Deep knowledge of high-performance motor control algorithms and software including various formulations of field-oriented control and direct torque/flux control
• Electric motor, power system and control algorithm modeling and simulation experience (Simulink)
• Implementation of control algorithms for electric motors and inverters in embedded C
• Experience with Digital Signal Processors
• Hands-on debugging and logical problem-solving experience
• Track record of project management/delivery to internal and external groups on time with required quality
• Great communication skills (both oral and written) and a positive, team-oriented attitude
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic small-company environment

Bonus Points

• Automotive powertrain experience
• TI Code Composer
• Power electronics
• Electric motor – generator design

Salary Range: $132,000 – 195,000 + benefits and stock options (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, level).