Senior Vehicle Controls Engineer

What we're building
The marine industry supports recreation, global commerce, and national defense. And yet it runs on technology that hasn't meaningfully changed in fifty years. Until now.
Arc is on a mission to electrify the marine industry. We're rethinking powertrains, software, and vessel designs from first principles. And we're already executing. We started with consumers to develop and harden our core technology. We're now scaling production of our flagship model with new models and sectors on the horizon. Now we're extending our platform to commercial applications, starting with tugs, ferries, and defense, with years worth of signed contracts and a pipeline that spans every vessel type on the water.
The technology is proven, the momentum is building, and the opportunity is enormous. The marine industry is going electric and Arc is building the platform that powers it.
Who we're looking for
We're looking for someone fired up by the mission and ready to build. You'll thrive here if you move fast, take ownership, and care about the details.
This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters. You'll report to the Manager of Electrical Engineering and work closely with a lean, high-trust team where everyone’s work matters.
What you'll do
Own the vehicle level control architecture and end-to-end development of real time systems that power next generation sport watercraft capabilities, spanning foundational powertrain and BMS control to precision station keeping, intelligent propulsion, and advanced maneuvering
Translate vehicle-level requirements into robust, production-ready control architectures and implementations
Develop, tune, and validate control strategies and fault detection / mitigation logic for safety-critical systems
Lead system bring-up, vehicle integration, and deep cross-domain debugging (electrical, firmware, and mechanical)
Drive structured root cause investigations using data, instrumentation, and experimentation
Define and execute validation strategies including bench testing, HIL, and production-level verification
Improve system reliability, diagnosability, and serviceability across product iterations
Contribute meaningfully to code reviews, design reviews, and technical problem solving within the controls team
Minimum Qualifications
5+ years of experience in embedded systems, controls, or vehicle electrical integration
Strong hands-on experience building and debugging real-time, hardware-integrated systems
Deep familiarity with CAN-based architectures and network-level debugging tools
Demonstrated experience shipping complex hardware-integrated systems into production
Strong intuition for system-level tradeoffs under real-world constraints
Ability to operate independently and drive execution without heavy oversight
This position may require access to export-controlled information. To comply with U.S. export control laws, applicants must be a U.S. Person as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR §120.15)
Bonus Qualifications
Experience with EV or marine electrical architectures
Proficiency in C/C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages for embedded or automation development
Experience with model-based design or control algorithm development
Familiarity with DFMEA, functional safety, or reliability engineering practices
Experience building automated validation or HIL infrastructure
Comfort working directly with oscilloscopes, data loggers, and ECU flashing tools
Comfortable pushing at a fast but sustainable pace
Enthusiasm for boating and the water
At Arc, we encourage diversity and consider all qualified applicants equally for employment, regardless of background, identity, or status. You're always welcome to reach out even if you don't meet many of these qualifications. Passion and aptitude make up for a lot.
Our values
We move with urgency and build with care. We value these five things above all else:
Ownership over both your work and the company's success
Empathy for colleagues and for customers
Humility in problem solving and collaboration
Pragmatism for navigating ambiguity quickly and sensibly
Inclusion of different backgrounds, opinions, cultures, and perspectives.
We want people who share and embody these values. It is vital that our values align — we'd be happy to elaborate on any or all of these during the interview process.
What we offer
Salary P3: 180,000 P4: $205,000
Highly competitive equity grants are included with full-time offers, as well as semi-annual bonuses tied to your impact, not just your tenure.
Additionally, Arc offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Healthcare benefits — 99% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision
Parental leave — 14 weeks fully paid for birthing and non-birthing parents
Generous time off — Highly competitive PTO with an opportunity to earn more time with tenure
Income protection — Life and disability insurance for all employees
Retirement savings — Traditional and Roth 401(k) access
Water fund — $500 for you to spend each year to get out on the water, however you choose
Professional development — $500 annual reimbursement for professional development and a monthly AI stipend
Safety support — Annual reimbursement for PPE, ergonomic equipment, and anything that ensures we keep our crew safe
Captain training — Training and access to take Arcboats out with friends and family
Office perks — Daily lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite
Relocation assistance — Available depending on role eligibility.