Senior Motor Control Engineer

Turntide’s Transport group is based in the Northeast of England and is focused on delivering electrification systems – energy storage, power electronics and advanced electric motors – to deliver emissions-free mobility and industrial machines across global markets.

There is a massive change happening across industrial Transportation.  Globally there is a rapid shift to new electrified platforms to meet the demands of their end users looking to reduce carbon emissions and create entirely new product types.  Our Turntide for Electrification solutions help ease the customer journey and accelerate their transition. 

Job Overview

The Senior Motor Control Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and testing of motor control algorithms for various motor types, including PMAC, Induction Motor, and SRM. This role involves utilizing dynamic system simulation tools and engaging in high-performance motor control algorithm research. The Senior Motor Controls Engineer will work closely with cross-functional teams, providing support to applications, validation, and software teams, and ensuring compliance with safety standards and company procedures.

Job Role

In this role the Senior Motor Control Engineer will have following key responsibilities:

• Design and Testing:
  • Design, development and test of motor control algorithms for PMAC (including IPM), Induction Motor, SynRM, and SRM (Switched Reluctance Motor), as well as potentially other motor types.
  • Design, development and test of controls schemes for vehicles.
  • Develop dynamic system simulation models using MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, and other tools.
  • Accurately model motor, inverter, and system performance to meet target specifications.
  • Developing procedures for motor and system testing
• Algorithm Development:
  • Research and develop novel high-performance motor control algorithms.
  • Carry out motor characterization and motor controller sign-off procedures.
• Support and Specification:
  • Provide technical support to applications, validation, software, and sales
  • Review system requirement and specify design and test requirements.
  • Document design architecture and high-level designs, producing user guides and white papers to be consumed by all levels of the business and externally.
• Software Development:
  • Develop software modules and tools using C and Python.
  • Ensure software design follows company quality and safety procedures.
  • Interpret customer and product specifications to create functional software specifications.
• Compliance:
  • Ensure work is carried out safely and complies with local 5S protocols.
  • Communicate findings, issues, constraints, delays, and progress to internal customers and supervisors.

Travel and Flexibility:

• Willingness to travel within the UK and abroad for business needs.
• Flexible approach to work, recognizing changes in the emphasis of duties.

Reporting

The job holder reports to the Director, Software & Control Engineering and work collaboratively within the team and wider business.

Experience and Skills

We are looking for candidates with the following experience and skills:

• Extensive knowledge of core motor types used in traction drive applications and their operation.
• Proficiency in vector control methods and modulation schemes for VSIs.
• Strong understanding of physical principles in motor drives and vehicle applications.
• Basic understanding of power electronics and electrical laws.
• Extensive experience with MATLAB/Simulink and associated code generation tools.
• Familiarity with MAB Modelling Guidelines and debugging models.
• Experience and proficiency in development of real-time embedded software (e.g. C/C++ language) as well as debugging on real-time embedded systems.
• Experience with laboratory test equipment, dynamometers, and performance testing equipment.
• Experience working in high voltage labs.
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

It would also be great (but not essential) if in addition to the above you also had:

• Experience working on projects for use in automotive safety critical applications (e.g. ISO26262, ISO21434), or similar systems, using agile development techniques.
• Experience using Python.
• Experience in the whole software development lifecycle, ideally, the V-model lifecycle.
• Experience working alongside and collaborating with controls and hardware engineering teams.
• Knowledge of typical optimisation techniques and how to apply these to real-time systems.
• Experience of software development for safety critical applications standards required by ISO26262.
• Experience of software development for cybersecurity applications standards required by ISO21434.

Qualifications

A degree or equivalent in the following discipline is required:

BSc (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering or equivalent. 2.1 or higher grade

Relevant experience would also be beneficial.

Attributes

The ideal candidate will have the following personal qualities:

• Enthusiastic, flexible, and able to thrive and succeed in times of ambiguity and change.
• Structured individual with ability to interact and communicate at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communications and relationship building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Good commercial awareness and proactive problem-solving skills to ensure business needs are understood and agreed solutions are delivered.
• This is a very hands-on position – we expect a person with a ‘roll up your sleeves’ attitude.
• Ability to work well under pressure, prioritise work accordingly and meet tight deadlines.
• Pro-active taking ownership of tasks given and follow through to completion.
• Must model highest degree of moral and ethical behaviour.
• Must be able to work alone with minimum guidance, but also be able to operate effectively as part of a team.
• Confident, thoughtful, and able to articulate ideas to both technical and non-technical team members.
• Must have an agile approach to work.
• Tackle problems with creativity and innovation.
• Hungry for success, self-motivated, results-driven, and ambitious.