Senior Controls Engineer – Vehicle Systems

Elemental Trucks Inc. (ETI)

Location: Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Work Arrangement: In office
Department: Engineering

About Elemental Trucks Inc.

Elemental Trucks Inc. (ETI) develops and commercializes hydrogen fuel-cell electric Class 8 trucks, combining advanced vehicle controls, electric powertrain technologies, and hydrogen systems to support next-generation heavy-duty transportation.

Position Overview

The Senior Controls Engineer will develop, integrate, and validate vehicle-level control systems, with a focus on the Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) and its interfaces with the fuel-cell system, high-voltage battery, electric powertrain, and supporting subsystems. The role involves controls development, vehicle commissioning, troubleshooting, testing, and validation to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient vehicle operation.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Vehicle Controls Development

- Design, develop, implement, and maintain vehicle-level control strategies using MATLAB/Simulink and model-based development tools.
- Develop vehicle operating states, torque management strategies, regenerative braking controls, energy management logic, and fault-handling strategies.
- Implement supervisory controls for high-voltage system startup, shutdown, precharge, and fault recovery.
- Develop and maintain Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) interfaces using Controller Area Network (CAN) and SAE J1939 communication protocols, as applicable.
- Maintain software calibrations, control requirements, and related technical documentation.
- Refine control logic to support reliable coordination between vehicle subsystems and optimize overall vehicle performance.

2. Vehicle Systems Integration

- Integrate hydrogen fuel-cell systems, high-voltage batteries, traction motors, inverters, and auxiliary vehicle systems.
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and software engineering teams to define subsystem interfaces, operating requirements, and integration strategies.
- Support low-voltage and high-voltage commissioning, vehicle bring-up, and system-level troubleshooting.
- Identify, investigate, and resolve subsystem interaction issues, communication faults, control-related problems, and vehicle performance concerns.
- Ensure effective coordination between the VCU and connected powertrain and vehicle subsystems.
- Support vehicle system integration and refinement throughout development, testing, and commercialization.

3. Testing and Validation

- Develop, document, and execute controls testing procedures and system-level test plans.
- Conduct vehicle testing, data acquisition, and performance analysis to evaluate vehicle controls and subsystem operation.
- Diagnose system and vehicle performance issues using CAN logs, telemetry,



engineering analysis tools, and other diagnostic methods.
- Validate control strategies and integrated vehicle systems against defined requirements, safety expectations, and operating conditions.
- Analyze test results, identify performance gaps, recommend corrective actions, and implement control system improvements.
- Support vehicle commissioning, instrumentation, and road testing as required.

4. Functional Safety, Diagnostics, and Reliability

- Develop fault detection, diagnostics, derating, and safe-state control strategies to support safe and reliable vehicle operation.
- Support hazard analysis, system risk assessments, and the development of safety-related system requirements.
- Coordinate with suppliers to understand subsystem fault responses, operating limits, interface requirements, and recovery behaviour.
- Incorporate design-for-testability and maintainability principles into vehicle controls and system integration activities.
- Investigate control system failures and recurring technical issues, implementing corrective and preventive improvements.
- Develop robust control strategies that account for subsystem limitations, abnormal operating conditions, and fault scenarios.

5. Technical Documentation and Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Maintain vehicle control requirements, subsystem interface definitions, design documentation, calibration records, and test reports.
- Support multidisciplinary engineering reviews, technical design decisions, and system-level problem-solving activities.
- Collaborate with internal engineering teams, external suppliers, and technical stakeholders to resolve integration challenges.
- Contribute to software release processes, configuration management, and continuous improvements to development and validation practices.
- Communicate technical findings, design considerations, testing outcomes, and recommendations clearly to engineering teams and management.
- Support the ongoing development, refinement, and commercialization of ETI's hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle platform.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Experience developing or working with embedded control systems, real-time control systems, or vehicle control applications.




- Practical experience with MATLAB/Simulink and model-based control development tools.
- Experience with CAN communication, vehicle network architectures, and vehicle network diagnostics.
- Strong understanding of control systems and electrical systems.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities involving complex technical systems.
- Ability to analyze technical data, identify root causes, and implement effective engineering solutions.
- Strong technical communication, documentation, and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, or heavy-duty vehicle controls.
- Familiarity with SAE J1939 and heavy-duty vehicle communication networks.
- Knowledge of high-voltage battery systems, Battery Management Systems (BMS), electric traction drives, inverters, and hydrogen fuel-cell systems.
- Familiarity with ISO 26262 functional safety principles and safety-related control system development.
- Experience with vehicle commissioning, instrumentation, road testing, and system-level validation.
- Experience with engineering requirements management, interface documentation, software configuration management, and version control.
- Ontario Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation or eligibility for professional engineering licensure in Ontario.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate combines strong control systems and MATLAB/Simulink expertise with hands-on vehicle integration and troubleshooting experience. They can work independently across software, electrical, and mechanical disciplines and are comfortable solving complex engineering challenges in a fast-paced vehicle development environment.

Why Join Elemental Trucks Inc.?

Join ETI to contribute to the development and commercialization of hydrogen fuel-cell electric Class 8 trucks. Work on advanced vehicle technologies and challenging engineering projects spanning controls development, powertrain integration, testing, and validation.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume highlighting relevant engineering education, controls development experience, and vehicle systems expertise, particularly in MATLAB/Simulink, embedded controls, CAN/J1939 communications, electric powertrains, and vehicle testing.

Employer: Elemental Trucks Inc. (ETI)
Position: Senior Controls Engineer – Vehicle Systems

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Accommodation is available upon request during the recruitment and selection process.

Pay: $90,000.00-$120,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

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