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Controls Engineer - Actuation

Apptronik· Advanced Technologies
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Austin, TXFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Controls Engineer focusing on actuator models and actuator-level control for real hardware, bridging bench characterization, simulation, and deployment on Apollo humanoid robot.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain high-fidelity actuator models in simulation, capturing friction, compliance, thermal, torque and current limits.
  • Design, tune, and deploy actuator-level control — closed-loop torque and current control and the low-level control for reliable joint behavior on hardware.
  • Design and run hardware test campaigns to characterize actuator behavior and extract parameters for models and controllers.
  • Apply system identification to extract trustworthy physical models from experimental data and inform controller design and gain selection.
  • Quantitatively validate sim-to-real fidelity for models and controllers using appropriate metrics and understand limitations.
  • Build and maintain robust Python/C++ tooling for experiment automation, model extraction, controller tuning, and simulator integration.
  • Collaborate with Controls, Firmware, and Simulation teams to ensure fidelity and performance meet practical needs and understand sim-to-real gaps.
  • Support hardware bring-up and deployment, translating validated models and controllers into real robot configuration.

Qualifications

  • Strong C++, including experience extending a simulator or physics-engine codebase.
  • Deep grounding in motor electromechanics and classical control (closed-loop torque/current control, controller design and tuning, frequency-domain analysis).
  • Hands-on actuator or servo control on real hardware (designing, tuning, validating low-level controllers).
  • Hands-on system identification and modeling from real data for both simulation and control.
  • Proficiency in Python (test automation, data analysis, tooling) and maintainable Git-based code delivery in a fast-moving R&D environment.
  • Ability to work cross-functionally with controls engineers and other teams to ensure models/controllers are actionable in practice.

Skills

Required:C++Motor electromechanicsControl systemsSystem identificationPythonGit / software engineering practices
Nice to have:Cross-functional collaboration

Benefits

  • Not specified in the description
Last updated Sep 13, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Apptronik

One Platform for the Future of Work

Apptronik designs humanoid robotics platforms with mobility, manipulation, and human-centered interaction to support people in the workplace.

3PLApolloApollo for ManufacturingApollo for RetailApollo for WarehouseBuilt for the Real WorldForm That Fits the WorkGoods-to-Person
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