Canoo’s mission is to bring EVs to Everyone and build a world-class team to deploy this sustainable mobility revolution. We have developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with pioneering technologies, award-winning designs, and a unique business model that spans all owners in the full lifecycle of the vehicle. Canoo is starting production in 2022 and is distinguished by its pioneering and experienced team of technologists, engineers, and designers. With offices around the country, the company is scaling quickly and seeking candidates who love to challenge themselves, are motivated by purpose, and possess a strong desire to get things done.

The “Canoo Way”

Canoo’s success is the direct result of our disciplined application of our core operating principles and drills, which are based on three main principles: Think 80/20 (“Important versus less important”), Act 30/30 (“Reduce waste and increase output”), and Live 90/10 (“We have each other’s back”). We hire based on “MET” - Mindset, Equipment and willingness to Train - and seek individuals that take accountability and deliver results while being Humble, Hungry to succeed, and Hunting for opportunities to win. We train our team to engage with each other by modulating between their intellect (iQ) and emotional intelligence (eQ), applying Facts, Finesse, and Force when they communicate. The principles and drills of the CANOO Way have been fundamental to our success, our ability to grow, continuously improve, innovate and are at the core of our day-to-day operations.

We are looking for a senior motor controls developer with a solid in controls and calibration of electric motors and related topics, and ideally some automotive experience. In this position you will be developing controls algorithms and software for the traction motor drive as part of a well-rounded, experienced team at an innovative, fast-paced automotive company in Southern California. 

Responsibilities (80s of the Position) 

• Design, development, implementation, and verification of motor controls algorithms for electrical machines including interior permanent magnet machines (IPM), surface permanent magnet machines (SPM), and induction machines (IM).
• Specification and development of requirements related to the motor controller.
• Documentation of algorithm development and testing results, and integration of the documentation within the relevant tools.
• Provide guidance on advanced technical topics related to motor controls
• Develop and/or improve validation plans for the evaluation of the traction motor controls software
• Testing and verification of motor control algorithms for electrical machines on dyno and in-vehicle
• Provide feedback and assistance to other systems requiring motor controls support like machine prototype development, powertrain controls development, or traction inverter development.
• Interact with vendors, suppliers, and customers as needed.
• Good understanding of traction inverter drives and electric motors including IPM, SPM, and IM.
• In depth knowledge and hands on experience of field-oriented control for PM and/or IM. Experience with complex vector current control schemes is desirable. Experience with direct-torque control strategies is a plus. 
• Experience with pulse width modulation (PWM) schemes including sine PWM and space vector PWM. Experience with discontinuous modulation schemes, and overmodulation techniques up to full voltage utilization (six-step) is a plus.
• Knowledge of digital observer and filter design and implementation.
• Skilled in control system theory and its applications, including system modeling and simulation, linear, nonlinear, and multi-variable control design techniques

• Master’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering.
• Proficient with modeling, simulation and validation using tools like Matlab/Simulink.
• Basic knowledge of embedded C and capability of converting an algorithm in efficient C-code that is compliant with automotive (e.g., MISRA) and company standards. 
• Familiarity with common development stages and tools like model in the loop (MIL), software in the loop (SIL), hardware in the loop (HIL), and full system level testing (dyno, vehicle). 
• In office/lab work with position located at Canoo in Torrance. 
• Occasional remote work feasible.

Preferred Experience  

• 3 years of work experience after a PhD, or 5 years after a Masters, related to motor controls, electric drives and/or electric machines. 
• Familiarity with practical considerations like dead-time compensation, delay compensations (PWM, ADC, etc), consideration of voltage limits, variation of the switching frequency. 
• Familiarity with position and speed measurement devices like resolvers and encoders.   
• Familiarity with at least one or two MCUs relevant for motor controls.  
• Basic knowledge of communication interfaces like CAN, SPI, I2C. 
• Experience with debugging tools like CANape and CANalyzer.  
• Good trouble shooting skills and understanding at the system level (electrical propulsion system including gearing, powertrain controls and battery system).  
• Experience with IDE tools like CCS or Eclipse, software management systems like GitHub, software versioning tools like Git, and familiarity with software validation and release process.  
• Functional safety related qualifications (ISO26262) are a plus. 

Travel Requirements

• Up to 25% domestic travel

Physical Requirements for Non-Physical Positions

While performing the duties of this job, employees may be required to sit for prolonged periods of time, occasionally bending or stooping, lifting up to 10 pounds, and prolonged periods of computer use. 

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Meaningful, challenging work that will redefine the automotive landscape and make EVs available to everyone
• Comprehensive Health Insurance
• Equity Compensation
• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Casual workplace with an unbelievable feeling of energy

Canoo is an equal opportunity-affirmative action employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, past or present military service or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

Canoo maintains compliance with the OFCCP. As such, please feel free to review the following information:

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/posters

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/olms/poster/labor-rights-federal-contractors

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please call (310) 702-7907 or email us at talentacquisitionteam@canoo.com

Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Canoo Inc. and its subsidiaries and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Canoo unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting. 

Salary will be determined based on a number of factors, including but not limited to years of experience, training, skillset, location, etc.  Expected salary range in CA – $119,900 - $143,900