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Control Theory Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Locomotion Control Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

We are seeking a Senior Locomotion Control Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and real ... Strong foundation in robotics, including dynamics, kinematics, estimation, and control theory.

This is a highly impactful role for an engineer with deep expertise in control theory and multi‑agent autonomy who can translate advanced research into robust, field‑ready solutions. 1. Vehicle ...

Expertise in communications systems, coding theory, estimation theory, control theory, signal ... BA/BS in an engineering field or equivalent experience. Advanced degree and/or proven experience ...

Mentor engineers and establish controls engineering best practices. * Support product roadmap ... Strong understanding of control theory, system dynamics, and embedded control systems. * Experience ...

Staff Engineer - Firmware

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together ... Control Theory & Implementation: Define and implement essential control algorithms, including ...

Software Engineer, Controls (C++)

Mountain View, CA

$53.50 - $68.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This is an opportunity to develop expertise in control theory, platform characterization, and software engineering. Kodiak supports a range of platforms, which has given rise to a cutting-edge ...

Staff Engineer Firmware

Pleasanton, CA

$163K - $213K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together ... Control Theory & Implementation: Define and implement essential control algorithms, including ...

Showing results 21-40

Control Theory Engineer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a control theory engineer?

To thrive as a Control Theory Engineer, you need a strong background in applied mathematics, dynamic systems, and engineering principles, often supported by a degree in electrical, mechanical, or aerospace engineering. Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, control system design tools, and simulation software, as well as certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help engineers collaborate and clearly explain complex concepts to diverse audiences. These abilities are essential for designing robust control systems that meet stringent technical requirements and function effectively in real-world applications.

What is a control theory engineer?

A Control Theory Engineer designs, analyzes, and implements control systems to optimize the performance of dynamic systems. This involves developing mathematical models, applying control algorithms, and fine-tuning system responses to achieve stability and efficiency. They work in various industries, including robotics, aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation, ensuring that processes and devices operate as intended.

What are some typical daily responsibilities of a control theory engineer?

Control Theory Engineers are usually engaged in designing, analyzing, and testing control systems for a variety of applications, such as robotics, vehicles, or industrial automation. Their daily tasks often include developing mathematical models of dynamic systems, simulating response behavior using advanced software, and fine-tuning controller parameters for optimal performance. They also collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams of mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to integrate their designs into larger systems and verify compliance with industry standards. Regular meetings and documentation are typical, ensuring clear communication across project stakeholders and ongoing progress toward project goals.

What are the most commonly searched types of Control Theory Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Control Theory Engineer jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Control Theory Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Control Theory Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Control Theory Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Control Theory Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Control Theory Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Senior Locomotion Control Engineer

Faraday Future

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

The Company:

Faraday Future (FF) is a California-based embodied artificial intelligence ecosystem company, leveraging the latest technologies and world's best talent to realize exciting new possibilities in mobility and robotics. We're producing user-centric, technology-first vehicles and robots to establish new paradigms in human-AI interaction. We're not just seeking to change how our cars and robots work - we're seeking to change the way we drive and interact with machines. At FF, we're creating something new, something connected, and something with a true global impact.

Your Role:

We are seeking a Senior Locomotion Control Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and real-world deployment of robot motion capabilities. This role is responsible for building robust locomotion systems that work reliably across simulation and hardware, and for driving the technical direction of gait, balance, terrain adaptation, and control integration.

Responsibilities:

  • Design, implement, and optimize robot locomotion systems, including gait generation, balance control, and terrain adaptation.
  • Develop and improve locomotion controllers using MPC, whole-body control, reinforcement learning, or hybrid control approaches.
  • Own the full loop from simulation to hardware deployment, including controller tuning, regression validation, and failure analysis.
  • Improve robot stability, robustness, safety, and energy efficiency in real-world operating conditions.
  • Work closely with runtime, simulation, behavior, and hardware teams to define clean interfaces and reliable integration paths.
  • Support real-robot bring-up, debugging, performance analysis, and root-cause investigation for motion failures.
  • Contribute to control architecture decisions, testing methodology, and technical roadmap planning for motion control capabilities.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Master's degree or above in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience developing robotics locomotion, motion control, or autonomous robotic systems.
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience supporting quadruped, humanoid, or legged robot development and deployment.
  • Strong foundation in robotics, including dynamics, kinematics, estimation, and control theory.
  • Hands-on experience with at least one locomotion approach such as MPC, whole-body control, reinforcement learning locomotion, or heuristic gait control.
  • Strong C++ skills for production robotics software development.
  • Proficiency in Python for research workflows, simulation, tooling, and analysis.
  • Experience deploying algorithms on real robots, ideally quadrupeds, humanoids, or mobile manipulation systems.
  • Prior experience deploying locomotion or control algorithms on physical robots is required.
  • Ability to diagnose real-system failures and translate observations into actionable control or systems improvements.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with RL locomotion, imitation learning, or policy-based control for physical robots.
  • Experience with sim-to-real workflows, including actuator modeling, latency compensation, domain randomization, or system identification.
  • Familiarity with MuJoCo, Isaac, RaiSim, Gazebo, or equivalent simulation platforms.
  • Experience with real-time robotics systems, ROS 2, controller scheduling, and control-runtime integration.
  • Background in contact-rich control, force control, or whole-body coordination.
  • Track record of shipping motion capabilities from prototype to robust field performance.

Annual Salary Range:

($110,000 - $135,000 DOE), plus benefits and incentive plans

 Perks + Benefits

  • Healthcare + dental + vision benefits (Free for you/discounted for family)
  • 401(k) options
  • Casual dress code + relaxed work environment
  • Culturally diverse, progressive atmosphere

Faraday Future is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.