Principal Engineer - Engine Control Systems

About POWERTECH

POWERTECH is a center of excellence for propulsion technologies, specializing in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of combustion engines, expendable turbojet engines, and turbofan engines for a wide range of aerospace, defence, and autonomous applications, including fixed- and rotary-wing UAVs and other advanced platforms.

The Engine Control Systems Lead is responsible for the leadership, architecture, integration, and delivery of electrical and electronic subsystems related to the control of gas turbine engines. This includes the design and oversight of engine control units (ECUs/FADECs), sensor interfaces, power electronics, embedded software coordination, and system-level compliance with aerospace and defense standards. The role combines deep technical expertise with team management, project coordination, and cross-functional collaboration across performance, mechanical, and software teams.

Key Accountabilities:

Leadership & Management

• Lead a small team of electrical and electronic engineers, providing technical direction, mentorship, and task prioritization.
• Drive system architecture decisions for electronic control and power systems on all engine platforms.
• Interface with program managers, systems engineers, and engine design teams to align control system development with overall engine development milestones.

System Design & Integration

• Own the design and integration of the ECU/FADEC, including hardware architecture, power distribution, sensor interfaces, and harnessing.
• Oversee the specification, selection, and qualification of sensors, actuators, and auxiliary electrical components.
• Ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), thermal, and vibration resilience of all electronic systems.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure all designs and documentation meet relevant standards including DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-461, and ARP4754A.
• Support safety assessments and FMEA for control and electrical systems.
• Lead or support control system qualification and certification activities, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.

Collaboration

• Work closely with Embedded Software Engineers to ensure hardware-software integration is seamless.
• Liaise with mechanical teams for packaging, cooling, and structural considerations of electronic units.
• Coordinate with the manufacturing and test teams to support ECU production, validation, and engine integration.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in electrical/electronic systems design, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Strong experience with aerospace-grade control hardware, power systems, and embedded system integration.
• Hands-on knowledge of aerospace/military standards (e.g. DO-254, MIL-STD-704, DO-178C).
• Experience with control system simulation, signal conditioning, and high-reliability designs.

Desired Skills:

• Familiarity with engine control architectures and gas turbine systems.
• Experience with digital/analog circuit design, PCB layout reviews, and component derating.
• Knowledge of software development lifecycle and safety-critical embedded systems.
• Proficiency in system-level troubleshooting, lab instrumentation, and validation tools.

Behavioral Attributes:

• Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities.
• Proactive, hands-on, and collaborative.
• Able to handle technical complexity and ambiguity in fast-paced R&D environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

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