Controls Engineer - Propulsion and Energy Controls

Do you have what it takes to make smart vehicles for a smart world? Join the Ford Research and Advanced Engineering team as a Controls Engineer - Propulsion and Energy Controls, where you’ll work with a cross-functional team of highly technical engineers to deliver propulsion systems for electrified vehicles of the future. We’re seeking forward-thinking, laser-focused professionals with a passion for bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We apply our knowledge of control algorithms, systems engineering methods, modeling and simulation to develop vehicle controls that enable new technologies and functions for future electrified vehicles. Our goal is to continuously improve the capability, robustness and value of our vehicles. As a team, we are relentless about continuous improvement for the entire control system development process. We are seeking a highly technical Controls Engineer - Propulsion and Energy Controls who will develop control systems for our newest powertrain technologies. You will focus on analyzing customer needs and defining required architecture and functionality early in the development cycle, modeling and simulating propulsion system operation, designing and implementing control algorithms, and validating designs in desktop simulation, hardware benches, test stands and prototype vehicles. Successful candidates for this position will possess a track record of strong independent thinking, effective communication, self-motivation, complex system troubleshooting, and thrive in an environment where they need to understand the complete workings of propulsion controls and the complex interactions between subsystems. **In this position...** - **True Innovation (Not Just Maintenance):** You will work in Research and Advanced Engineering, meaning you are developing technologies for future vehicle programs, not just fixing legacy code. - **The Full Spectrum of Controls:** Take your designs from pure math and desktop simulation (MIL/SIL) to hardware testing (HIL), and ultimately to calibrating and driving actual prototype vehicles. - **Modern Toolchains & AI Integration:** We value your time. You will leverage modern software practices, automated CI/CD pipelines, and cutting-edge AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot to accelerate development. - **Connected Vehicle Power:** You will harness the power of cloud computing, wireless vehicle data, and AI/ML to develop predictive, self-optimizing energy management systems. **What you'll do...** **Algorithm Design & Simulation**: Develop, simulate, and implement advanced embedded control algorithms (including feedback controls, state estimation, and Model Predictive Control) to optimize vehicle efficiency, performance, and drivability. **Virtual & Physical Validation**: Leverage Model-in-the-Loop (MIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments to rigorously test and validate your designs before they hit the road. **Dynamic System Modeling**: Utilize physics-based and data-driven CAE models of electric motors, batteries, engines, and mechatronic actuators to analyze complex system interactions and optimize parameters. **Next-Gen Tech Integration**: Collaborate with systems engineering and cloud teams to integrate connected vehicle data (traffic, route, weather) and machine learning models for advanced energy prognostics. **Global Collaboration**: Document and present your research to global engineering partners, facilitating the seamless transfer of advanced technology into production vehicle programs. **Minimum Requirements:** - M.S. or equivalent in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, systems engineering or similar field with a control systems focus - 6+ years of experience in dynamic systems modeling and real-time controls development for automotive or similar complex electromechanical systems - 6+ years in roles requiring understanding of automotive powertrain (including hybrid electrical vehicle) systems and contro…