Senior Controls Engineer, Parallel
$150-220k
+ Equity
Powering autonomous rail
Job no longer available
Powering autonomous rail
21-100 employees
Job no longer available
$150-220k
+ Equity
21-100 employees
Company mission
To provide a safer, more efficient, and sustainable alternative to short-haul trucking, seamlessly integrating with existing rail operations and powering the future of freight.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
- 5+ years of experience developing control software for embedded systems or hardware platforms
- Strong understanding of control theory, including PID, state-space, observers, and system dynamics
- Proficiency in C/C++, Python, or similar languages used in embedded systems development
- Familiarity with development tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing
Desirable
- Hands-on experience with embedded platforms (e.g., ARM Cortex, DSPs, RTOS-based systems)
- Exposure to the automotive, aerospace, or robotics industries
- Experience developing with Rust, especially in embedded platforms
- Experience with sensor fusion, motion control, braking systems, or electric powertrains
- Prior ownership of a systems project from design through implementation, testing and deployment in the field
What the job involves
- Parallel is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer with deep expertise in control systems development to join our engineering team
- This role focuses on designing, developing, and implementing robust software that controls the electrical and mechanical systems on our rail vehicles
- The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in control systems theory, experience with real-world hardware integration, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality, real-time control software
- Design and implement control algorithms for embedded systems and hardware platforms
- Determine sensor and actuator requirements to meet system performance needs
- Perform modeling, simulation, and analysis of dynamic systems using tools such as MATLAB/Simulink
- Support system integration, bring-up, and debugging of software-hardware interactions, including live testing in the field
- Ensure high reliability, safety, and performance in all control software implementations
- Contribute to software architecture and long-term technical direction of the software stack
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the team
Our take
The huge freight networks of the U.S. currently face the significant challenge of optimizing their supply chain logistics whilst meeting regulations for the mitigation of global warming. Whilst electric trucking startups provide a small-scale solution, the $700B industry is enormous, and replacing trucks would be unaffordable to most companies.
Parallel designs autonomous, zero-emissions freight transportation systems for railways, providing a sustainable alternative to freight trucking. The automated rail vehicles use existing railway networks to increase infrastructure utilization and open railroads to new markets, whilst providing an alternative to logistics companies that is safer, faster, zero-emission, and lower cost.
While the company faces competition in fellow autonomous railcar company Intramotev, Parallel shows promise to disrupt the market by being based on pre-existing infrastructure that is faster, safer, and cheaper than road-based logistics. Through this approach, the company can help logistics companies become carbon-neutral whilst increasing their access to railway freight, thus saving them money and boosting opportunities for revenue growth.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
66% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds)
Apr 2025
$38m
SERIES B
Jan 2022
$49.6m
SERIES A
Total funding: $91.2m
Company HQ
Arts District, Los Angeles, CA
Leadership
Matt Soule
(Founder & CEO)Prior to Founding Parallel in 2020, Matt spent 13 years at SpaceX, joining in 2006 as an Avionics Engineer. They then held various roles at the company before becoming a Principal Avionics Engineer. Before this, they were an Electrical/Controls Engineer at Northrop Grumman and an Electrical Engineer at Lockheed Martin.
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