Senior Reaction Controls Engineer

Onsite power generation for the net-zero carbon grid.

Location: Menlo Park, CA
Company size: 100–500
Posted: 5d ago
Via: Lever

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Job listing · Updated 17 SEP 2026

Senior Reaction Controls Engineer

Mainspring Energy· Menlo Park, CAView company profile

Job title: Senior Reaction Controls Engineer
Job location: Menlo Park, CA
Job listing URL: https://jobs.lever.co/mainspringenergy/cf13360c-e88d-4f3a-be61-f252498292fd
Job description: Job Overview

Do you love thermodynamics and dynamic system control? Have you thought about thermodynamic cycles as both continuous and discrete dynamic systems? As other industries convert their thermodynamic machines to electromagnetic machines and electrify their platforms, would you like to help generate that clean electricity?

Linear generators are a new platform that take advantage of mechanically unconstrained piston motion to cleanly and efficiently oxidize a variety of environmentally friendly fuels with disparate properties (like biogas, hydrogen, and ammonia). The linear generator reaction is close to an ideal Otto cycle, so knowledge and intuition of engine control, thermodynamics, and reaction kinetics are applicable here.

Mainspring has a high-impact opportunity for a Senior Controls Engineer on our reaction control team to help optimize the system performance by incorporating physics-based models with modern control algorithms to improve reliability, prolong service intervals, and increase power and efficiency.

Responsibilities

Implement models, algorithms, and continuous-integration (MIL, SIL, PIL) tests in C++

Develop novel fuel, air, compression ratio, and cooling automation and control strategies to improve performance, reliability, and expand the capabilities of the generator to address customer needs

Design, execute, and analyze experiments using Python on virtual or real generators to realize the impact of your work on real generators

Collaborate with other controls engineers on designs and architectures

Debug sensors, actuators, and subsystems for noise and disturbances and assist in calibration, verification, and validation. Communicate algorithms with block-diagrams, pseudo-code, code, etc.

Analyze complex thermodynamic-mechatronic systems with experimental data and create representative plant models

Support reliability and manufacturing testing of systems under control

Analyze data to assess performance capabilities and inform requirements and design decisions

Support fleet generator operation to enhance reliability and performance

Qualifications

Driven and self-directed enthusiastic contributor

Excellent communicator with demonstrated collaboration across multidisciplinary teams

Multiple years of experience designing, implementing, and testing algorithms in thermodynamic machines - experience with engines is a plus

BS + 5 years relevant experience, MS + 3 years, or Ph.D. in mechanical engineering or related degree