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Automotive Control Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Viavi Solutions

NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$73K - $95K/yr

... industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. We are the people behind the ... and control plans. * Train production personnel on new product assembly, test procedures, and ...

Viavi Solutions

NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Germantown, MD

$73K - $95K/yr

... industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. We are the people behind the ... and control plans. * Train production personnel on new product assembly, test procedures, and ...

Viavi Solutions

Sales Engineer

Paeonian Springs, VA

... industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. We are the people behind the ... control (MRU, DTS) solutions. Established in 2001, today Inertial Labs is one of the fastest ...

Umbra

Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

Creating detailed design documentation, including drawings, design guides, and Interface Control ... Automotive Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * 3-5+ years of professional experience in ...

Umbra

Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

Creating detailed design documentation, including drawings, design guides, and Interface Control ... Automotive Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * 3-5+ years of professional experience in ...

Blue Origin

Radiation Effects Engineer II

Reston, VA

$99K - $138K/yr

Experience in the following: * the use of commercial or automotive parts in a radiation environment ... Export Control Regulations Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or ...

Leidos

CAV Tech Transfer Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

A strong candidate will have the following: a background in electrical, civil, automotive, or other ... signals control, traffic management systems, vehicle guidance systems, and transportation ...

Lynk

Flight Software Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

If you've built embedded or autonomy software in an adjacent domain - robotics, automotive, drones ... Communications; and Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems. This includes: * Contributing to the ...

Ametek

Field Application Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

In aerospace and automotive, we work with firms like SpaceX, NASA, Tesla, and Volvo among others ... Ensure that all customers are served within established timing parameters (self-control)

Blue Origin

Sr Mechanical Engineer

Reston, VA

$145K - $203K/yr

Experience in the aerospace, defense, or automotive industry. Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is ... Export Control Regulations Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or ...

RightEye

QA Test Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site +1

$44.25 - $60.25/hr

... automotive, healthcare, and elite performance in military and sports. What You'll Do * QA & Testing ... Experience with Jira (or similar) and version control with Git/GitHub * Strong written ...

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All JobsAutomotive Control Engineer JobsAutomotive Control Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

Automotive Control Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$37.5K

$84.3K

$131.6K

How much do automotive control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for automotive control engineer in Reston, VA is $84,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62,400.00 and $100,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Automotive Control Engineer vs Automotive Software Engineer?

AspectAutomotive Control EngineerAutomotive Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Automotive Engineering; knowledge of control systemsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related; programming skills
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing control algorithms in automotive systemsDeveloping and testing software applications for vehicles
Industry UsageUsed in vehicle control systems like engine management, braking, and stability controlUsed in infotainment, navigation, and vehicle communication systems

Automotive Control Engineers focus on designing and implementing control systems that manage vehicle functions, while Automotive Software Engineers develop the software that runs these systems. Both roles require technical expertise but differ in their focus areas within automotive technology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Automotive Control Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Automotive Control Engineer, you need a strong background in control systems, automotive engineering, and programming, typically supported by a degree in electrical, mechanical, or automotive engineering. Familiarity with tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, CAN communication protocols, and automotive diagnostic systems is essential, and certifications like Functional Safety (ISO 26262) can be advantageous. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are key soft skills that set top performers apart in this field. These competencies are crucial for designing reliable control systems that ensure vehicle safety, efficiency, and compliance with industry standards.

What are some of the common challenges faced by Automotive Control Engineers when working on new vehicle models?

Automotive Control Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new software and hardware systems within tight development timelines and ensuring compatibility with evolving vehicle architectures. They must also balance the need for innovation in control algorithms with rigorous safety and regulatory requirements. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as mechanical and electrical engineers, is essential to resolve integration issues and optimize system performance. Adapting to rapid technological advancements and managing complex testing procedures are also frequent aspects of the role.

What does an Automotive Control Engineer do?

An Automotive Control Engineer designs, develops, and tests electronic control systems used in vehicles, such as engine management, braking, and stability systems. They work on integrating software and hardware to ensure optimal vehicle performance, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards. Their responsibilities often include modeling control algorithms, calibrating sensors and actuators, and troubleshooting system issues during development and production. Automotive Control Engineers collaborate closely with other engineers, such as mechanical and electrical engineers, to deliver reliable and efficient vehicle control solutions.
What are popular job titles related to Automotive Control Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Automotive Control Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Automotive Control Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Automotive Control Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Automotive Control Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Automotive Control Engineer job openings:
Automotive Control Engineer jobs near you
Senior Staff Engineer, Ground System Software (R5199)

Senior Staff Engineer, Ground System Software (R5199)

Shield AI

Washington, DC • On-site

$180K - $270K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Software Systems Engineer with a strong background in software design and development and a working knowledge of systems engineering processes, methodologies, and tools. This individual will play a key role in defining, developing, integrating, and validating complex software systems while ensuring alignment with system-level requirements, architecture, and program objectives.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical software expertise with an understanding of systems engineering principles, including requirements management, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), verification and validation, configuration management, customer communications and cross-functional technical leadership.

What you'll do:

Software Architecture & Development

  • Participate in the development of software architectures for complex, distributed, and mission-critical systems.
  • Engage in software design activities from concept through deployment and sustainment.
  • Work with software responsible engineers to develop and model high-quality, scalable, maintainable software solutions using modern programming languages, frameworks & System Modeling Tools.
  • Develop, review and maintain architecture diagrams to support government reference architectures.
  • Engage with internal stakeholders to develop software architecture behavior diagrams/ documents to support customer deliverables.
  • Communicate technical concepts effectively to engineering, program management, and customer stakeholders.

Systems Engineering Integration

  • Collaborate with systems engineers to derive software requirements from system-level requirements and operational needs.
  • Ensure software solutions maintain traceability to stakeholder, system, and subsystem requirements.
  • Participate in architecture trade studies and technical decision-making activities.
  • Support system decomposition, interface definition, and allocation of requirements.
  • Contribute to system design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and related technical milestones.
  • Work closely with hardware, network, test, and integration teams to ensure end-to-end system performance.
Required qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.
  • 8+ years of software engineering experience.
  • 3+ years of software architecture or technical leadership experience.
  • Proficiency in a strongly typed programming language (e.g. C#, TypeScript, Java, C++) with exposure to lower-level systems or protocol integration.
  • Familiarity with software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies.
  • Understanding of systems engineering processes and standards.
  • Experience with requirements management and traceability practices.
  • Experience using version control and CI/CD tools.
Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, aviation, automotive, telecommunications, or other complex systems domains.
  • Experience with GCS software, mission planning tools, or real-time visualization platforms.
  • Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies.
  • Experience with systems engineering tools such as:
    • Cameo Systems Modeler / MagicDraw
    • IBM DOORS Next
    • Jama Connect
    • Stell
    • JIRA
    • Confluence
  • Experience with cloud-native architectures, containerization, and orchestration technologies.
  • Familiarity with Autonomy Government Reference Architectures, Open Mission Systems and Universal Command & Control Interface.
Desired skills:
  • Ability to operate effectively across multiple engineering disciplines.
  • Strong systems thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to translate complex system requirements into practical software solutions.
  • Experience balancing technical, programmatic, and operational constraints.
  • Strong leadership and collaboration skills.
  • Interface Control Documents (ICDs) development and management
$180,000 - $270,000 a year
#LI-SM1
#LF

Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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