Senior HIL Engineer : OPAL RT

Senior HIL Engineer – OPAL-RT / Simulink Modeling at San Diego, CA

Position Summary#

We are seeking an experienced Senior HIL Engineer with 8+ years of experience in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, OPAL-RT, and MATLAB/Simulink modeling. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in developing real-time plant models, configuring HIL environments, defining HIL use cases, and executing system-level validation for automotive/embedded control systems.

Key Responsibilities#

• Design, develop, and maintain real-time plant models using MATLAB/Simulink/Simscape for HIL applications.

• Develop and execute HIL use cases and test scenarios based on system requirements and validation objectives.

• Configure, integrate, and troubleshoot OPAL-RT real-time HIL simulators and associated I/O interfaces.

• Develop and validate plant models for automotive systems such as ECUs, powertrain, EV, BMS, inverter, motor control, and vehicle dynamics.

• Perform model verification, validation, and real-time execution to ensure models meet HIL performance requirements.

• Create and execute HIL test cases, automated test sequences, and regression testing.

• Analyze test results, identify failures, perform root-cause analysis, and work with hardware/software teams to resolve issues.

• Integrate HIL systems with CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet, analog/digital I/O, PWM, and other automotive communication interfaces.

• Support requirement analysis and translate system requirements into HIL test scenarios and use cases.

• Optimize Simulink models for real-time execution, including solver selection, model discretization, timing, and computational performance.

Required Skills & Experience#

• 8+ years of experience in HIL, system validation, controls testing, or related automotive embedded testing.

• Strong hands-on experience with OPAL-RT real-time simulation/HIL platforms.

• Strong expertise in MATLAB/Simulink modeling and real-time model development.

• Experience developing plant models and HIL use cases.

• Strong understanding of HIL architecture, real-time simulation, I/O configuration, and signal conditioning.

• Experience with automotive communication protocols including CAN, CAN FD, LIN, and Ethernet.

• Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Simscape/Simscape Electrical or equivalent modeling environments.

• Knowledge of ECU integration, diagnostics, test automation, and system-level validation.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with EV, BMS, inverter, motor control, power electronics, or powertrain HIL.

• Similar Experience with dSPACE, NI, Vector CANoe/CANalyzer, or other HIL platforms.

• Knowledge of UDS, XCP, DoIP, and automotive diagnostics.

• Experience with Python, MATLAB scripting, CAPL, or test automation frameworks.

• Knowledge of ISO 26262 and automotive development/validation processes.

Education#

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.