We're Hiring: Powertrain Modeling & Controls Engineer

Full-Time | Core Team

LAT Aerospace | STOL Aircraft

At LAT Aerospace, we're building a clean-sheet Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) aircraft to transform regional air mobility in India. We're looking for a Powertrain Modeling & Controls Engineer to architect, simulate, and validate advanced control strategies for our hybrid-electric propulsion system – from high-fidelity MATLAB/Simulink models to full hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation.

What you'll do

• Develop high-fidelity models of hybrid-electric powertrain components including engine, generator, inverters, DC-DC converters, and batteries.
• Design and implement supervisory power management and control algorithms for hybrid-electric operation.
• Tune and customize engine control parameters and maps for aircraft-specific requirements.
• Build and maintain full powertrain SILS (Software-in-the-Loop Simulation) environments in MATLAB/Simulink.
• Implement and validate control algorithms in real-time using HILS setups.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and electronics teams to integrate powertrain controls across hardware modules.
• Perform fault detection, isolation, and mitigation (FDI/FMECA) using robust control and system-level modeling.
• Ensure modular, clean model architecture with thorough documentation for scalable development.

What we're looking for

• 3+ years of experience in hybrid/electric powertrain modelling or control systems.
• Strong understanding of control system design, including PID, state-space modelling, observers, feedforward/feedback controllers, and stability analysis.
• Experience designing supervisory controllers for hybrid systems: power split, engine start/stop, load following, and real-time energy management.
• Familiarity with torque control, speed control, DC-bus control, and thermal control loops within a hybrid powertrain.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink for system modelling and controller implementation.
• Understanding of real-time constraints, scheduling, and embedded controller architecture.
• Experience with SIL/HIL validation, test case design, and debugging closed-loop behaviour.
• Strong knowledge of engines, generators, inverters, batteries, and DC power systems from a control perspective (actuators, sensors, dynamics).
• Bonus: experience with aircraft propulsion, UAV systems, or automotive hybrid ECUs.

Why LAT?

• Core team opportunity at a high-conviction deep-tech startup
• Real aircraft, real flying hardware, real impact
• Build the future of sustainable aviation in India