Job Description

We seek a Staff Controls Engineer to develop the control foundations for the next generation of Physical AI systems on Arm. You will create algorithms and production software that translate plans and sensor feedback into stable, precise, and efficient motion on autonomous machines and robotic devices.

You will provide technical leadership from dynamic modeling and controller design through embedded implementation and system validation. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of control theory, robotics, real-time software, and edge computing, with a focus on dependable behavior under real-world constraints.

Key Responsibilities

Control architecture and algorithm development

• Design and implement feedback, feedforward, trajectory-tracking, and supervisory control algorithms for robotic and autonomous systems.
• Develop dynamic models, system-identification methods, estimators, and observers that support robust control across operating conditions.
• Define control architecture, interfaces, rates, and timing requirements from high-level planning through low-level actuation.

Embedded implementation and tooling

• Translate control designs into maintainable C++ and embedded software that runs deterministically on Arm-based platforms.
• Build tools for tuning, calibration, telemetry, logging, replay, and analysis across simulation and physical systems.
• Create reusable APIs and reference components that help teams integrate controllers with sensors, planners, and actuator drivers.

Verification, performance, and robustness

• Evaluate stability, tracking performance, constraint handling, latency, numerical behavior, and sensitivity to model uncertainty.
• Develop simulation, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop tests for nominal, boundary, and fault conditions.
• Optimize control execution for real-time deadlines, limited compute and memory, and heterogeneous hardware.

Technical leadership and collaboration

• Partner with robotics, perception, hardware, safety, and product teams to translate system goals into measurable control requirements.
• Lead technical reviews, mentor engineers, and guide decisions on control architecture, validation, and implementation tradeoffs.
• Contribute documentation, reference designs, and example workflows that raise controls capability across teams and the Arm ecosystem.

Vital Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of experience designing and deploying control systems for robotics, autonomous machines, automation, vehicles, or related products.
• Proficiency in C or C++, plus Python or MATLAB for algorithm development, simulation, and analysis.
• Strong understanding of:
• Classical and modern control, discrete-time systems, stability, and time- and frequency-domain analysis
• State estimation, filtering, system identification, optimization, and numerical methods
• Real-time software, scheduling, sensor and actuator dynamics, latency, and quantization
• 3+ years of experience taking control algorithms from simulation through embedded deployment and physical validation.
• Experience building models, test harnesses, and metrics for control performance and robustness.
• Ability to diagnose issues spanning mechanics, electronics, sensing, software, and control behavior.
• Excellent technical judgment, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with model predictive control, optimal control, adaptive control, or learning-enabled control.
• Experience with multibody dynamics, mechatronics, motors, power electronics, hydraulics, or actuators.
• Familiarity with ROS 2 or comparable real-time robotics middleware.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop systems, automated tuning, or high-fidelity simulation.
• Knowledge of functional safety, fault detection, redundancy, and degraded-mode control.
• Experience optimizing numerical workloads across CPUs, GPUs, NPUs, DSPs, or microcontrollers.
• Contributions to open-source controls, robotics, simulation, or embedded-software projects.

Why this role matters

Control systems determine whether intelligent machines behave accurately, safely, and predictably when models are imperfect and conditions change. They must close the loop within strict timing and resource limits while coordinating closely with sensing, planning, and hardware.

In this role, you will shape the control capabilities of Arm-powered robotic and autonomous devices. Your work will turn advanced algorithms into reliable physical behavior across industrial, commercial, and consumer systems.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

In Return:

You will have the opportunity to work on important technical challenges in AI and platform engineering as part of a growing team in Seattle. This position offers a chance to contribute to core platform capabilities. You’ll work alongside skilled colleagues from various subject areas and help invent the way new AI services are built and scaled at Arm.

In addition to meaningful technical work, Arm offers an environment that values thoughtful engineering, collaboration, and continuous learning. This opportunity suits someone who enjoys solving complex systems problems, working across teams, and contributing to technology important to the future of AI at Arm.

Additional Information

Please note that a relocation package (including visa sponsorship assistance) is offered for this role, for candidates who need it.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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Salary Range:

$209,100-$282,900 per year

We value people as individuals and our dedication is to reward people competitively and equitably for the work they do and the skills and experience they bring to Arm. Salary is only one component of Arm's offering. The total reward package will be shared with candidates during the recruitment and selection process.

Accommodations at Arm

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email accommodations@arm.com. To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed as necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working at Arm

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities at Arm

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.