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Sr. Technical Specialist - HCU Controls, Software & Hardware

The Sr. Technical Specialist - HCU Controls, Software & Hardware serves as the senior technical authority for the Hybrid Control Unit as an integrated electronic control system. This role owns the complete HCU lifecycle—from vehicle and system requirements, controls and software architecture, and embedded implementation through hardware architecture, component selection, schematic and PCB design oversight, interfaces, integration, verification, release, production launch, and field support.

This individual establishes technical direction, makes system-level hardware/software tradeoffs, leads resolution of the most complex cross-functional issues, and ensures the HCU achieves vehicle performance, drivability, efficiency, functional safety, diagnostics, cybersecurity, electrical robustness, thermal performance, electromagnetic compatibility, manufacturability, quality, serviceability, and regulatory objectives. The role influences product and platform roadmaps, aligns internal teams and suppliers, mentors engineers, and advances reusable controls, software, and ECU hardware engineering practices across programs.

Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to):

• Own the end-to-end HCU technical strategy, architecture, requirements, interfaces, controls, embedded software, electronic hardware, integration, verification, release, and production support.
• Define scalable HCU hardware and software architecture, including processors, power supplies, I/O, communications and network interfaces, sensing and actuation circuits, application software, basic software interfaces, runnables, scheduling, state management, fault handling, diagnostics, calibration, bootloader, and software update strategies.
• Lead decomposition and traceability of vehicle and system requirements into HCU controls, software, hardware, electrical interface, diagnostic, functional safety, cybersecurity, OBD, regulatory, manufacturing, and service requirements.
• Architect and develop hybrid supervisory control functions, including operating-mode management, torque and energy coordination, engine start/stop, high-voltage enablement, regenerative braking coordination, thermal and power limits, charging interfaces, and degraded-mode operation.
• Define control, software, electrical, and communication interfaces with the engine, transmission, battery management system, generator and traction inverters, electric motors, DC/DC converter, charger, braking, thermal, body, and vehicle control systems, including signal conditioning, loading, protection, grounding, and wake/sleep behavior.
• Develop and govern model-based controls and embedded implementation using MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow, while ensuring alignment with ECU hardware constraints, I/O characteristics, timing, memory, processor loading, and circuit-level assumptions; establish modeling standards, reusable components, simulation practices, design reviews, and production code-generation workflows.
• Provide technical oversight for ECU hardware and embedded software development, including component selection, schematics, PCB layout, power and signal integrity, derating, worst-case and thermal analyses, design-for-manufacture and test, embedded C and auto-generated code quality, timing, memory, CPU utilization, configuration, build, integration, and release readiness.
• Lead HCU hardware/software integration and verification across simulation, component, bench, environmental, EMC, MIL, SIL, HIL, dynamometer, and vehicle environments; establish test strategy, coverage, acceptance criteria, regression methods, design validation, production validation, and defect closure.
• Drive system safety analyses and safety mechanisms in alignment with ISO 26262, including technical safety requirements, FMEA/FMEDA, fault-tree analysis, freedom-from-interference considerations, and safety validation.
• Lead diagnostics and serviceability design, including fault detection, DTC strategy, debouncing, limp-home behavior, freeze-frame data, UDS services, OBD compliance, and manufacturing/service tool interfaces.
• Establish and chair system, hardware, controls, software, calibration, design, code, and issue-resolution reviews; make data-driven technical decisions and document tradeoffs, risks, verification evidence, and approvals.
• Serve as the principal technical interface to HCU hardware and software suppliers and internal stakeholders; manage technical deliverables, interface agreements, BOM and component changes, design maturity, software maturity, change control, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and production readiness.
• Lead vehicle-level calibration and validation of hybrid operating behavior, performance, efficiency, drivability, robustness, emissions-related functions, and fault responses.
• Identify technical and program risks early, create mitigation plans, and communicate hardware and software status, dependencies, design maturity, validation results, quality metrics, and release recommendations to engineering and program leadership.
• Mentor controls, embedded software, and ECU hardware engineers; raise engineering standards, support technical career development, and promote disciplined reuse, automation, design robustness, and continuous improvement across disciplines.
• Provide technical training and launch support to manufacturing, quality, service, and field teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• Typically 12 or more years of relevant automotive controls, embedded software, and ECU hardware experience, including substantial ownership of production safety-critical electronic control systems; equivalent depth of experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of an HCU, vehicle control unit, powertrain control module, or comparable safety-critical embedded controller—including electronic hardware, controls, and software—from architecture through production launch.
• Expertise in hybrid or electric vehicle supervisory controls, vehicle operating modes, torque and energy coordination, component limits, fault management, and vehicle-level integration.
• Expertise in embedded controller hardware and software architecture, including microcontrollers, power supplies, analog and digital I/O, automotive communications, sensing and actuation interfaces, circuit protection, real-time execution, state machines, scheduling, diagnostics, calibration, configuration, and system integration.
• Advanced proficiency with MATLAB, Simulink, and Stateflow and with production auto-code generation using Embedded Coder and/or dSPACE TargetLink.
• Strong knowledge of embedded C, software design principles, ECU hardware design practices, component selection, schematic and PCB review, electrical and thermal analysis, version control, configuration management, build and release processes, static analysis, and structured peer review.
• Demonstrated ability to create clear, testable system, controls, software, hardware, electrical-interface, diagnostic, manufacturing, and safety requirements with end-to-end traceability.
• Extensive experience with ECU hardware and software verification, including electrical bench testing, environmental and EMC validation, MIL, SIL, HIL, dynamometer and vehicle testing, test automation, regression, calibration, data analysis, troubleshooting, and root-cause resolution.
• Working knowledge of CAN and automotive protocols, UDS diagnostics, OBD requirements, and common calibration and network-analysis tools.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 26262 functional safety practices across hardware and software, including hardware metrics, dependent-failure analysis, FMEA/FMEDA, fault-tree analysis, hazard analysis, safety mechanisms, and verification of safety requirements.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical decisions, influence without direct authority, manage supplier technical execution, and communicate effectively with engineering and program leadership.
• Excellent written, verbal, mentoring, and technical presentation skills.

Preferred Qualification

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline with emphasis on embedded control systems, vehicle controls, or software engineering.
• Multiple production launches involving HCU hardware and software, hybrid powertrain controls, electrified propulsion, or centralized vehicle control at an automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier.
• Experience with automotive ECU hardware development and AUTOSAR Classic software integration, including microcontroller and peripheral selection, schematic and PCB reviews, power and I/O design, EMC and environmental qualification, RTE and basic software integration, MCAL interfaces, bootloaders, memory management, and over-the-air or service software update processes.
• Experience applying Automotive SPICE and disciplined ECU hardware and software lifecycle practices, including requirements traceability, design reviews, configuration management, component and software change control, verification evidence, and production release governance.
• Experience implementing ASIL-rated functional safety concepts and hardware/software safety mechanisms, including diagnostic coverage, safe-state behavior, hardware architectural metrics, fault injection, and safety-case development.
• Knowledge of automotive cybersecurity engineering across ECU hardware and software, including hardware security modules, secure boot, secure diagnostics, key protection, software authenticity, secure update mechanisms, and ISO/SAE 21434 principles.
• Deep knowledge of powertrain and electrified vehicle systems, including engine, transmission, motor, inverter, high-voltage battery, charging, braking, thermal, and power-conversion controls.
• Experience with ETAS INCA, ATI VISION, Vector CANoe/CANalyzer, dSPACE toolchains, requirements-management tools, issue-tracking systems, and automated test frameworks.
• Experience with OBD certification, diagnostics verification, end-of-line manufacturing support, service procedures, and field issue resolution.
• Record of patents, publications, technical standards contributions, platform reuse, or other recognized technical impact in controls, embedded software, or ECU hardware.

Physical Requirements:

Note: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee should have the:

• Ability to frequently use or operate a computer, mouse, and/or other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, etc.
• Ability to frequently use hand(s) for repetitive actions (grasping and fine manipulation).
• Ability to frequently walk or move – to regularly move about inside the office.
• Ability to frequently see or detect, identify, recognize, or assess surroundings while in the office.
• Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, turn, and stoop.
• Ability to frequently sit or be stationary for extended continuous periods of time.
• Ability to stand for occasional periods of time.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or push/pull up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing their job.

Total Rewards (Benefits, Perks & Compensation)

Benefits & Perks:

In addition to our competitive compensation, you will also be eligible for the following at Karma:

• Medical Plan
• Dental & Vision Plans
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Health & Well-Being Program Events
• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• 401(k) with Employer Match
• Relocation Assistance (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick Time, Vacation time and Personal Floaters
• Paid Holidays including Company’s Annual Year End Shutdown
• Karma Cares Program (Quarterly Lunch)
• Work life Balance (Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule)
• Employee Driving Program
• Pre-taxed Commuter Benefits & much more!

Compensation:

$200,000 - $230,000 /annual salary. Compensation will vary DOE.

At Karma, our base pay is one part of our total rewards package.

Compensation offered may vary on multiple factors, including market location, education, skills and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position being offered.

Karma Automotive, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender identity and expression, color, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions (including breastfeeding), national origin/ancestry, religion, military/veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, intersectionality or any other characteristic and group protected by applicable law. Karma Automotive, Inc complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to all qualified individuals with a physical or mental disability. Valid driver’s license may be required based on essential duties.