# Vehicle Controls - Technical Lead

**Company:** [Applied Intuition](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/applied-intuition)
**Location:** Sunnyvale, CA
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $150k – $250k/yr
**Experience:** 6+ years
**Skills:** C++, Nonlinear Mpc, Mppi Control, Quadratic Programming, Numerical Optimization, Numerical Analysis, Differential Equations, Vehicle Dynamics, Trajectory Tracking, Actuator Control, Calibration Pipelines, System Identification, Safety-Critical Software, Physics
**Posted:** 2026-08-24

> Leads the technical direction and implementation of safety-critical vehicle controls, from actuator control and trajectory tracking through fleet-scale calibration and deployment. The role also mentors the controls team and requires production software experience, vehicle controls expertise, and strong numerical optimization foundations.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Set the technical direction for the controls stack across 0→1 platform bring-up and production programs, from prototype through deployed fleets.
- Design and implement controllers spanning low-level actuator control and lateral and longitudinal trajectory tracking.
- Design safe, redundant control systems for safety-critical environments.
- Characterize vehicle dynamics across haul trucks, excavators, wheel loaders, dozers, and other heavy equipment.
- Build calibration and vehicle-characterization workflows that scale controls performance across fleets without per-vehicle hand-tuning.
- Lead, mentor, and grow the controls team; set priorities, unblock engineers, and raise technical standards through design reviews and collaboration.
- Evaluate and apply academic research, including nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) and MPPI control.
- Collaborate with customer engineers and manage relationships through field deployments.

## Requirements
- 6+ years of experience building production software using modern software practices, including leading engineers or owning a technical area.
- Experience taking controls solutions from first prototype through deployment on production-grade vehicles.
- Ability to mentor engineers, prioritize roadmaps, and drive technical decisions across concurrent workstreams.
- Fluency in differential equations, numerical optimization, numerical analysis, and physics.
- Practical problem-solving ability in fast-paced, technically challenging environments.

## Nice-to-haves
- MSc or PhD in mechanical engineering, robotics, or computer science with controls coursework or research experience.
- Experience writing safety-critical, high-performance software in modern C++.
- Experience with quadratic programming and nonlinear optimization for robust, performant controllers.
- Experience with heavy equipment or off-road platforms in construction, mining, or agriculture.
- Experience building calibration pipelines or system-identification tooling used across a fleet.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary, equity, and benefits, including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off.

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