CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Bascom Hunter is seeking an Associate Control Systems Engineer to support the modeling, development, integration, and verification of control systems for aerospace and defense applications.

This role is intended for new graduates and engineers with approximately 0-3 years of experience. Working under senior engineering guidance, you will develop dynamic system models, implement and tune control algorithms, support Model-in-the-Loop (MIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, and participate in system integration and verification.

Assignments will increase in scope and independence as technical capability develops. Control architecture, safety-critical decisions, and final verification approaches remain subject to senior technical review.

Responsibilities

Control Systems Development

• Develop dynamic models using MATLAB, Simulink, Simscape, and Stateflow for thermal, fluid, mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems.
• Translate system requirements into measurable control and software requirements.
• Develop and tune control algorithms including feedback control, sequencing, state logic, limiters, protection functions, fault handling, and actuator commands.
• Support control strategies for motors, compressors, fans, pumps, valves, heaters, sensors, and related equipment.
• Analyze system dynamics, stability, transient response, operating limits, and control authority.
• Develop block diagrams, state diagrams, interface definitions, and control-system documentation.

Modeling, Simulation, and Verification

• Develop and execute MIL simulations across nominal, transient, boundary, and fault conditions.
• Support SIL and HIL testing and real-time simulation as programs mature.
• Develop test scenarios, automated scripts, and data-analysis tools.
• Analyze simulation and test results to identify instability, performance limitations, model discrepancies, or unexpected behavior.
• Correlate analytical models with laboratory and system-test data.
• Support requirements-based verification and document test results, anomalies, and acceptance evidence.

Integration and Testing

• Work with systems, software, electrical, mechanical, FPGA, and test engineers to integrate controls with production-representative hardware.
• Support bench, subsystem, and system-level testing of sensors, actuators, controllers, motor drives, and related equipment.
• Assist in troubleshooting controls, communications, timing, sensor, actuator, and integration issues.
• Participate in prototype builds, laboratory testing, system-performance testing, and qualification activities.
• Support resolution of differences between model predictions and physical system behavior.

Engineering Process and Documentation

• Maintain models, requirements, interfaces, test artifacts, and technical documentation under configuration control.
• Support requirements traceability from system requirements through implementation and verification.
• Participate in design reviews, peer reviews, Test Readiness Reviews, and engineering change activities.
• Support implementation of model-based designs into embedded software and review generated or manually developed C/C++ code where applicable.
• Learn and apply applicable aerospace development processes and standards, including DO-178C, DO-331, and MIL-STD-882, as required by the program.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Controls, Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Approximately 0-3 years of relevant experience; prior full-time engineering experience is not required.
• Foundational understanding of dynamic systems, feedback control, and classical control concepts.
• Academic, project, internship, or professional experience with MATLAB and Simulink.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, engineering data, plots, schematics, and control diagrams.
• Strong problem-solving, technical communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• U.S. citizenship required with ability to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience or exposure in one or more of the following areas is beneficial:

• Simscape, Stateflow, or other physics-based modeling tools.
• PID, feedforward, gain-scheduled, state-space, or supervisory control development.
• MIL, SIL, or HIL simulation and testing.
• Real-time platforms such as Speedgoat, dSPACE, or National Instruments.
• Embedded controls, real-time systems, microcontrollers, or C/C++.
• Sensors, actuators, motor drives, compressors, pumps, valves, fans, or other electromechanical systems.
• MATLAB or Python-based data analysis and test automation.
• Aerospace or defense development standards including DO-178C, DO-331, MIL-STD-882, DO-160, or MIL-STD-461.

Additional Information

All positions at Bascom Hunter are subject to background investigations. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable background screening, including criminal-history and identity verification.

Bascom Hunter is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.