Embedded Controls Engineer

EMBEDDED CONTROLS ENGINEERMesh Optical Technologies was founded on the belief that optical photons will be at the center of advanced technologies in the coming century. Making advanced technology ubiquitous means building at scale, and that's exactly what we're doing at Mesh.Our products and factory equipment rely on real-time control systems that must be precise, stable, and fast—from thermal regulation and optical alignment loops to motion control and process automation. We are seeking an Embedded Controls Engineer who combines deep embedded programming expertise with strong controls and algorithms knowledge. You will design, implement, and tune the control systems that keep our hardware operating at the edge of its performance envelope.RESPONSIBILITIESDesign, implement, and tune real-time control loops (PID, state-space, feedforward, adaptive) for thermal management, optical alignment, motion control, and process regulation across product and factory systemsDevelop embedded firmware in C/C++ for microcontrollers and DSPs, including bare-metal and RTOS-based architectures, with emphasis on deterministic timing and low-latency executionModel and simulate control systems to predict dynamic behavior, assess stability margins, and validate controller designs prior to hardware deploymentImplement sensor fusion, filtering (Kalman, complementary), and signal conditioning algorithms to extract clean, actionable signals from noisy real-world measurementsBring up and integrate new sensors, actuators, and motor drives, defining hardware-software interfaces and writing low-level drivers (I²C, SPI, ADC, PWM, encoder interfaces)Develop calibration routines and self-tuning algorithms that enable production-scale deployment of control systems with unit-to-unit variationInstrument control systems for observability—logging, telemetry, and diagnostic interfaces that support real-time monitoring, fault detection, and post-hoc analysisCollaborate with electrical, mechanical, optical, and manufacturing engineering teams to co-design systems where control performance is tightly coupled to hardware designSupport production deployment of control systems, including validation, fault handling, and graceful degradation strategies for field-deployed unitsContribute to Python-based tooling for system identification, data analysis, simulation, and automated testing of control system performanceQUALIFICATIONSBachelor's or Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline with coursework in control systems2+ years of experience designing and implementing real-time control systems on embedded platformsStrong proficiency in C and/or C++ for embedded development, including experience with bare-metal and RTOS environmentsSolid foundation in classical and modern control theory, including PID tuning, frequency-domain analysis, and stability assessmentExperience with sensor integration, actuator interfacing, and low-level peripheral drivers (I²C, SPI, ADC, PWM, encoders)Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for modeling, simulation, data analysis, and test automationStrong debugging skills across hardware and software boundaries, including use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and serial debug interfacesAbility to work independently in fast-moving, cross-functional environmentsWillingness to work extended hours and weekends as neededPREFERRED EXPERIENCEExperience with advanced control techniques: state-space controllers, LQR/LQG, model predictive control (MPC), adaptive control, or system identification methodsExperience with motion control systems, including stepper and servo motor drives, trajectory planning, and encoder feedbackExperience with thermal control systems, including multi-zone regulation and transient thermal managementFamiliarity with optical or photonic systems where control loops manage alignment, power regulation, or wavelength tuningExperience with FPGA-based control implementations or high-speed digital control loopsExperience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and simulation environmentsBackground in robotics, precision mechatronics, or semiconductor equipmentExperience deploying control systems at production scale, including calibration, self-test, and fault recovery for high-volume manufactured productsFamiliarity with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and collaborative embedded development workflowsCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:Pay range:Embedded Controls Engineer: $140,000.00 - $170,000.00/per yearTitle and base salary are determined on a case by case basis commensurate with experience and merit.In addition to base salary, compensation for this role includes:Eligibility for long-term incentives including company stock options and discretionary bonuses awarded for exceptional achievements.Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance with significant cost covered by the company for yourself and dependents.Paid parental leave and flexible PTO (3 weeks accrued vacation and 10 company holidays per year).401(k) retirement plan access.Relocation assistance to sunny Los Angeles.