Sr. Principal Engineer Model Based Design & Control Algorithm

Develops Control Systems algorithm, models and code for HVAC equipment for world’s largest HVAC company based in Greater Houston, TX. This role will interact with advanced thermal and Mechanical Engineers, will understand key operating principles of electro-mechanical systems and will develop advanced and smart control mechanism.  The role leads developing advanced controller models in Matlab and Simulink, using toolboxes like Stateflow, Simulink Coder, Control System toolbox.
The role will be responsible for assisting with the design and development of control system requirements for various engineering projects. The engineer will be participating in the development of control system requirements, including functional requirements, performance specifications, and design constraints.

The role will be responsible for design, modeling and development of control system requirements for various engineering projects, in thermal and fluids. The engineer will be participating in the development of control system requirements, including functional requirements, performance specifications, and design constraints. Also, the engineer will be collaborating with cross-functional teams, including mechanical and electrical engineers, to ensure control system requirements are integrated into the overall project design by creating of system-level design documents and other engineering deliverables. In addition, they will be responsible for conducting testing and validation of control system requirements, ensuring they meet all necessary specifications and standards and Assisting with the identification and resolution of any issues or risks related to control system requirements. 

They are responsible for maintaining documentation and tracking progress of control system requirements throughout the project lifecycle. To be successful in this role, they should have a degree in control system engineering or a related field, and experience with control systems or related technologies. You should also have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication abilities, and a willingness to learn and work collaboratively with others 

Position Responsibilities May Include: 

Technical: 

• Develop system level requirement and verification plan for consumer appliances and Smart Home devices - Air Handler, Furnace, Thermostat, Smart Home devices, wired and wireless sensors, IoT Edge devices. 
• Create controller model in Matlab and Simulink, using Stateflow and Control system toolbox. Familiarity with Simulink coder is highly desirable. 
• Develop system and sub-system requirement, involving complex flow chart, state diagram to control electromechanical system.
• Ensure controls system requirements are captured, structured, and modeled
• Utilize an analytical approach for open and closed loop controls design using MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow
• Developing Matlab/Python scripts to accommodate design decisions, proper configuration of Simulink models, integrate with development tools and enhance workflows
• Use standard model-based verification tools and infrastructure including model-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop simulation to validate the control algorithms
• Follow standard procedures to automatically generate software control code from models for specific embedded platforms
• Develop System dFMEA and boundary diagrams. 
• Develop test plan/strategy for bench and lab testing of firmware and hardware. 
• Support and troubleshoot software bugs and issues in products in field. 
• Analyze system requirements and translate them into system design specifications. 
• Collaborate with hardware and software engineers to ensure seamless integration of system components. 
• Develop and maintain system documentation, including system architecture documents, requirements documents, and test plans. 
• Debug and troubleshoot system issues using tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debuggers. 
• Develop and implement algorithms for system control and data processing. 
• Develop and maintain system version control and release processes. 
• Conduct system testing and verification to ensure adherence to design requirements and specifications. 
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical expertise and recommendations. 
• Ensure compliance with software and hardware development standards and guidelines. 
• Conduct system performance testing and analysis to optimize system performance.
• Collaborate with the quality assurance team to ensure system compliance with regulatory standards. 
• Develop and maintain system development tools, such as build scripts and continuous integration systems. 
• Participate in product design and development meetings to provide system expertise and recommendations. 
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful project completion. 
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation plans for potential system failures or vulnerabilities.

Other: 

• Interface well with other teams to perform root cause analysis and develop solutions to production problems. 
• Develop standard documents for system architecture definition and V&V across the organization. 
• Present and justify design decisions in design review meetings. 
• Manage requirements are tasks in JIRA or similar tools 
• Mentor and train junior engineers. 
• Develop best practices training material for internal engineering training. 
• Responsible for consult and advise cross-functional team to arrive at balanced, appropriate engineering solution. 
• Support junior engineers in technical capacity. 
• Responsible for maintaining documentation and tracking progress of control system requirements throughout the project lifecycle. 
• Perform additional projects/duties to support ongoing business needs. 

Nature & Scope:

• Subject matter expert 
• Has broad and comprehensive expertise in leading-edge theories, techniques and/or technologies within own function or discipline 
• Proactively identifies and solves the most complex problems that impact the management and direction of the business 
• Participates in the development of the product or business strategy 
• Leads multidisciplinary projects or initiatives 

Knowledge & Skills:

Technical 

• Expert in Linear and Non-Linear controller design, Matlab, Simulink and Stateflow
• Expert in developing systems architecture and requirements for System-Vee, waterfall, and agile projects. 
• Expertise in requirement management systems - Jazz/JIRA/JAMA etc. 
• Ability to develop requirements and pseudo-code for Embedded C or C  
• Expertise in developing requirement for sensors and actuators. 
• Understanding of electro-mechanical system. 
• JIRA, Git, Test Management Suites. 
• Experience with requirements management and traceability. 
• Familiarity with system engineering methodologies and standards. 
• Ability to model system behavior and performance using simulation tools.
• Understanding of system architecture and design patterns. 
• Knowledge of system development tools, such as modeling and simulation software. 
• Experience with risk management and mitigation planning. 

Process:

• Software Project Management and Lifecycle. 
• Requirement Management and V&V management. 
• Test Automation 
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills. 
• Understanding of system-level performance optimization and resource management. 
• Excellence in Microsoft office tools - including Advanced Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, MS Word, Automation via VBA and Macro and SharePoint. 
• Shall posses excellent communication, ability to explain complex technical contents, desire to work in diverse, cross-functional team and work towards common objective. 
• Proven repeated experience with development and troubleshooting of firmware in embedded systems using C & C . 

Experience:

• 8 - 15 years of post-baccalaureate relevant experience (Other experience level will also be considered for other positions)
• Evidence of career progression 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex projects, with distributed, medium to large size project team 
• Manage multi-year control system development projects 
• Exposure to control systems and system engineering 

Education/Certification:

• Bachelors in computer, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, with control system focus required.  
• Master's or PhD preferred 
• Professional Engineer Designation (PE Certification) preferred 
• People Management: No 

Physical Requirements / Work Environment:

• Must be able to perform essential responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. 
• Minimal Traveling requirement of up to 10% 

Reports To: Manager, Control System Engr. 

Qualified Applicants must be legally authorized for employment in the United States. Qualified applicants will not require employer sponsored work authorization now or in the future for employment in the United States.

The Company provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of a person’s race, color, religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), creed, national origin (including language use restrictions), citizenship, uniform service member or veteran status, ancestry, disability, physical or mental disability (including HIV/AIDS), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for protected leave, marital status, sex, pregnancy, age (over 40), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company will comply with all federal and state regulations and statutes pertaining to individuals with disabilities.