Electronic Systems Controls Technical Specialist

Job Summary:

This controls focused position tailors electronic control systems for Cummins products. People in these positions will decompose product requirements into functional requirements and design and tune controls that operate on Cummins’ products in a variety of customer applications. Additionally, there is responsibility to configure (tune), and complete comprehensive validation testing of the fully integrated hardware and software systems. 

Key Responsibilities:

Contributes to the development of electronic controls (open and closed loop)and diagnostics for a variety of applications (internal combustion engine, power systems, powertrain, etc). Owns investigation, problem resolution, and documentation for these systems with guidance from more experienced team members. Uses strong knowledge of application of controls and first principles to guide decision making.
Works and improves electronic controls development processes and tools. Processes include system specification, modeling and simulation, calibration, Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R), and troubleshooting. Application of tools for simulation, calibration, and product life maintenance required.
Contributes to negotiations, translates and decomposes requirements and voices from customers into functional requirements for controls algorithms, designs algorithms to meet these requirements, tunes these algorithms, and designs tests to validate performance against these requirements.
Contributes to decisions in the areas of electronic and electrical controls and diagnostic design, requirements, calibration, and test that impact the quality and performance of individual calibrated features and/or components by using systems knowledge and understanding of product (internal combustion engine, power systems, powertrain, etc). Responsible for review of less-experienced controls engineers' work to ensure robust, reusable, and efficient design.
Contributes independent leadership of smaller business impact projects or ownership of complex components, products, systems or services with greater elements of ambiguity over the senior or lead engineer level and with full accountability to the project team.
Coordinates and directs work amongst technicians and temporary student employees, assists in the transfer of knowledge to lesser experienced engineers through either indirect (scope of influence) or direct management of a small, local group of engineers. Responsible for interacting and collaborating with cross functional teams.
Contributes as a recognized specialist in a discipline or product area within the immediate team.
Leads the development and improvement of work processes and systems across a functional discipline area within a business unit site.

The Research and Technology organization is seeking candidates to advance the state of the art in electrified powertrains for the commercial vehicle industry.

College Job type: Entry Level Full-time

Subfunction: Electronic Systems

Degree level: PHD

Educational Program: Open to EE, ME

Start date: (May 2027)

Job Skill Requirements: 

• Lead control system development for one or more Product Proceeding Technology (PPT) projects, including coordination of project plans, resources, and handoff material.
• Define control methodologies and processes to establish best practices for powertrain and electrification controls.
• Define the technical direction for powertrain and electrification systems and controls across multiple R&T projects.
• Champion continuous improvement in processes and tools for systems and controls development.
• Lead analysis and controls development of next-generation electrified powertrains, including concept development, controls and powertrain architecture entitlement studies, detailed model development and validation, performance and emission studies, hardware-in-loop (HIL) tests, and demonstrations.
• Expertise in advanced control methodologies, simulation-based controls development, and verification and validation in test cells and test vehicles.
• Excellent coding and simulation skills (Matlab and Simulink preferred) and good understanding of powertrain components and system integration, testing, and debugging (hardware in the loop, test cell, and test vehicles).
• High level of analytical ability and systematic approach towards new problems, with prior experience leading control algorithm or system development for a small project or a subset of a large project. 
• Investigate electronic application and systems problems, recommend appropriate actions, and own problem resolution while documenting results.
• Lead the development and improvement of work processes and systems across functional disciplines and provide independent leadership on smaller business impact projects.
• Coordinate and direct work among technicians and temporary student employees, assist in knowledge transfer to less experienced engineers, and influence technical direction within project teams.

Competencies:Design and Application of Mechatronics Systems - Specifies electronic hardware and interconnections that measure and control systems; applies electronic hardware and interconnections in Cummins' products.

Design and Application of Open/Closed Loop Controls - Specifies software features that interact with mechanical, hydraulic, chemical and electronic systems to deliver desired system states; specifies control system architectures which include appropriate measurements, correct actuation, and algorithms for Cummins' products; configures and/or understands open/closed loop feedback controls features and the system interactions between hardware and software in Cummins' products.

Machine Integration and Optimization - Combines various parts or sub-systems into a whole to achieve the output most desired by the customer; applies Cummins' installation requirements using our standard tools, processes and identified best practices to ensure optimization of performance, reliability, cost and quality; analyzes technical issues using proven problem-solving and troubleshooting techniques for rapid resolution.

Product Failure Mode Avoidance - Mitigates potential product failure modes, by identifying interfaces, functions, functional requirements, interactions, control factors, noise factors, and prioritized potential failure modes and potential failure causes for the system of interest to effectively and efficiently improve the reliability of Cummins’ products.

Product Function Modeling, Simulation and Analysis - Impacts product design decisions through the utilization and/or interpretation of computational tools and methods that predict the capability of a product's function relative to its system, sub-system and/or component level requirements.

Product Problem Solving - Solves product problems using a process that protects the customer; determines the assignable cause; implements robust, data-based solutions; and identifies the systemic root causes and recommended actions to prevent problem reoccurrence.

Product Verification and Validation Management - Develops product systems validation plans from a variety of inputs to identify failure modes, while managing product risk and relative priority; negotiates product requirements against capability to guide project scope; evaluates analytical, simulation and physical test results to verify product capability and validate requirements; assesses legacy versus proposed system solution capabilities and produces recommendations with technical documentation to support product decisions.

System Requirements Engineering  - Uses appropriate methods and tools to translate stakeholder needs into verifiable requirements to which designs are developed; establishes acceptance criteria for the system of interest through analysis, allocation and negotiation; tracks the status of requirements throughout the system lifecycle; assesses the impact of changes to system requirements on project scope, schedule, and resources; creates and maintains information linkages to related artifacts.

Systems Thinking - Defines the system of interest by drawing the boundaries, identifying its context within its environment, its interfaces, and that it has a lifecycle to aid in planning the problem statement, scope and deliverables ; analyzes linkages and interactions between elements that comprise the system of interest by using appropriate methods, models and integration of outcomes to understand the system, predict its behavior and devise modifications to it in order to produce the desired effects.

Technical Documentation - Documents information based on knowledge gained as part of technical function activities; communicates to stakeholders with the goal of enabling improved technical productivity and effective knowledge transfer to others who were not originally part of the initial learning.

Builds networks - Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

Communicates effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Decision quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

Drives results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

Manages ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.

Manages complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.

Values differences - Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
 

U.S. Early Careers Eligibility Requirements:

Exempt Entry Level: Designed for external candidates within 2 years of completing their highest level of degree (Bachelor, Master, PhD, MBA, or JD) from an accredited U.S. college/university, and currently reside within the continental U.S.

International Student Eligibility (U.S. based roles): F-1 visa students must have approved Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Occupational Practical Training (OPT) before their Early Career assignment begin. CPT/OPT must relate to their degree and be authorized by their university. Students are responsible for securing this approval through their school’s international office.

Education:

• Post-graduate (Master's) degree relevant to this discipline area may be required for select roles.
• This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.
   

Experience: 

• Prior Senior or Lead Engineer equivalent work experience in a relevant discipline area is required with a demonstrated track record of technical problem solving and quality decision making.
• Knowledge of MS Office tools is preferred.

Pay Range: 102,225.00 - 132,775.00 USD ANNUAL