Staff Propulsion Controls & Software Engineer

About the Role

Odys Aviation is at the forefront of developing hybrid-electric aircraft to enable sustainable regional air travel. As the Staff Propulsion Controls & Software Engineer, you will be responsible for the controls, embedded software, and simulation infrastructure supporting our SiC-based propulsion power electronics for both the Laila (UAV) and Alta (Hybrid-electric VTOL) programs.

You'll own the controls and embedded software for the propulsion power electronics on both Laila(UAV) and Alta (hybrid-electric VTOL) - the motor drives, active rectifiers, DC/DC converters, and the Hybrid System Controller that coordinates them. Power electronics hardware is designed by peer engineers; your job is to make their systems perform - in simulation, on the bench, and in flight.

You'll set the direction for how we model, verify, and ship this stack: building high-fidelity simulation models, standing up MIL/SIL/HIL infrastructure, and delivering production firmware that holds up to aerospace certification and real flight conditions. This is a high-ownership, individual-contributor role with the latitude to shape how the controls and simulation function works as the team scales.

Responsibilities

• Control Algorithms
• Design, implement, and tune discrete-time control loops for PMSM drives, active rectifiers, and DC/DC converters - FOC with MTPA/MTPV, flux-weakening, sensorless observers, SVPWM/DPWM, PLLs, and digital filters.
• Develop EMI-aware modulation and switching-frequency strategies for SiC stages (20-40+ kHz), managing DC-link ripple, torque ripple, and acoustic constraints in software.
• Hybrid System Controller (HSC)
• Build the supervisory power-split and energy-management logic that coordinates the turbogenerator, battery, DC bus, and propulsion inverters.
• Own mode transitions, startup/shutdown sequencing, and powertrain-level fault arbitration.
• Modeling & Simulation
• Build and maintain high-fidelity propulsion models (machines, SiC inverters/rectifiers, DC-link, batteries, propulsors, sensors) in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS.
• Identify parameters from bench and rig data and resolve model-vs-test discrepancies.
• Stand up and run MIL/SIL/HIL environments (Typhoon HIL, OPAL-RT, Speedgoat), including automated regression and fault-injection suites with Git-based CI for real-time model releases.
• Firmware & Integration
• Take algorithms from model to target via Embedded Coder or hand-written C/C++ on DSP platforms (TI C2000, ARM Cortex-R/M, or similar) - fixed-point implementation, FDIR, diagnostics, and safe-state behavior.
• Define real-time comms and ICDs for CAN/CAN-FD/Ethernet; support dyno and iron-bird integration and correlate simulation with hardware performance.
• Systems & Compliance
• Translate system architecture into control specs, simulation studies, and firmware requirements; flag implementation risk to the systems architect early.
• Produce design specs, modeling reports, calibration guides, and verification evidence aligned to DO-178C, DO-254, and ARP4754B; help standardize templates and review processes for the controls/sim workflow as we grow.

Requirements

• 8+ years developing controls and embedded software for high-power motor drives or power converters.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in PMSM control: d-q theory, FOC, SVPWM/DPWM, sensorless observers, flux-weakening, and fault detection.
• Working knowledge of SiC MOSFET-based stages (switching behavior, gate-driver interaction, dead-time effects, HV protection) sufficient to design control/protection logic with device physics in mind.
• Fluency in MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and PLECS for powertrain modeling.
• Production embedded experience: Embedded Coder or hand-coded C/C++ on DSPs, fixed-point arithmetic, real-time scheduling, on-target debugging.
• A track record of leading a controls or embedded subsystem from concept to flight/field-ready.
• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or Controls preferred; candidates with a BS and significant relevant experience will also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace or eVTOL powertrain experience, with familiarity in FAA/EASA certification.
• DO-178C experience in a regulated environment, plus exposure to DO-254, ARP4754B, FMEA/FTA, and requirements traceability.
• Hands-on time with Typhoon, OPAL-RT, or Speedgoat, and Python/MATLAB test automation with Git-based CI.
• Production sensorless control, wide-range flux-weakening, ride-through, or limp-mode strategies in flight or field applications.
• Generator-mode/active-rectifier control for high-speed machines, including multi-three-phase PWM sync and circulating-current mitigation.
• BMS/flight-control integration over CAN, CAN-FD, or Ethernet, with TSN/PTP time-sync familiarity.
• SPICE experience for device-level analysis.