GA Drilling · 23 hours ago
SIMULATIONS AND CONTROL SYSTEM ENGINEER
Houston, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expGA Drilling is developing next generation drilling technologies to unlock geothermal energy anywhere on Earth. They are seeking a highly specialized Simulation and Controls Engineer to drive the design, simulation, and control of the actuation systems integral to their downhole tools.
EnergyGeothermal EnergyInformation TechnologyMiningRenewable EnergySolar
Responsibilities
Develop high-fidelity, multi-domain (hydraulic, mechanical, control) dynamic models of the actuation system using tools like Simscape and MATLAB/Simulink
Perform dynamic simulations to predict drilling response, including steerability, torque and drag influence, and mitigation of stick-slip oscillations
Design, tune, and validate robust closed-loop control algorithms (e.g., adaptive PID, state-space, or model predictive control) for precise force control
Collaborate with firmware engineers on the implementation, optimization, and real-time testing of control algorithms on embedded processors
Define and execute rigorous component and system-level validation plans, including Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation and extreme environmental testing (e.g., flow loop, hot box)
Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on field failures related to hydraulics, control stability, or actuation performance, driving effective and timely design modifications
Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including design reports, FMEAs, and qualification procedures
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field
7+ years of professional experience in control systems, dynamic modeling, and hydraulic design, with a minimum of 3 years directly related to Downhole Tools (RSS, MWD, or similar)
Expertise in MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and control design
Deep understanding of electro-hydraulic servo systems and fluid power principles
Proven ability to design for extreme environments (HPHT, shock, and vibration)
Familiarity with downhole sealing technology and fluid compensation systems
Experience with advanced control techniques (e.g., optimal control, non-linear control)
Benefits
Competitive industry compensation & benefits
Company
GA Drilling
GA Drilling is developing a groundbreaking drilling technology PLASMABIT that enables revolution in geothermal energy, massive cost savings.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$134.59MKey Investors
EIC Scaling ClubExtantia CapitalNabors
2025-07-31Series Unknown· $82.72M
2024-04-18Series Unknown· $15M
2024-03-28Non Equity Assistance
Leadership Team
Tomas Kristofic
CTO and Founder
Dusan Kocis
Founder & COO
Recent News
2025-05-28
Google Patent
2025-05-04
Company data provided by crunchbase