Controls Engineer

Job Title:

Controls Engineer (PAT Engineer)

Job Description

The Controls Engineer (PAT Engineer) plays a critical role in developing and implementing advanced control systems for hardware that moves beams and tracks objects in complex, real-world environments. This position focuses on applying deep control theory to sophisticated electro-optical and tracking systems, ensuring stable, high-performance operation in challenging aerospace and defense applications.

Responsibilities

+ Develop control algorithms and software, in close collaboration with a Software Engineer, to move beams and accurately track objects using existing hardware platforms.

+ Design, analyze, and tune control loops that acquire and track targets in aeronautical, space-based, and other demanding real-world applications.

+ Identify, understand, and address system limitations, with particular focus on non-linear responses, oscillations, and other control theory challenges.

+ Integrate control logic with current hardware, creating maintainable and reusable code to support precise beam steering and object tracking.

+ Work hands-on in a lab environment to bring existing hardware online, run experiments, and validate control loop performance.

+ Use tools such as MATLAB, C, and Python to model, simulate, implement, and refine control algorithms for hardware-in-the-loop systems.

+ Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary team members to iterate on system design, improve tracking performance, and ensure robust operation under dynamic conditions.

+ Contribute to the development of flight-ready control electronics and sensors, supporting progression from lab prototypes to space launch hardware.

+ Participate in ongoing system optimization and troubleshooting, including potential real-time code modifications during critical operational milestones.

+ Support the long-term evolution of the tracking and control system, helping to refine and extend capabilities beyond initial launch.

Essential Skills

+ Deep, hands-on experience in controls engineering and control theory, with a strong track record of real-world application in systems with non-linear responses.

+ Significant experience (likely around 8-10+ years) designing and implementing control loops that acquire and track targets in aeronautical, space-based, or similarly challenging environments.

+ Proven ability to design, analyze, and tune complex control loops to solve high-impact technical problems.

+ Experience working directly with hardware to develop control software that moves beams and tracks objects.

+ Strong proficiency in MATLAB, C, or Python for modeling, simulation, implementation, and maintenance of control algorithms and codebases.

+ Ability to clearly discuss prior work on control loops for target tracking in domains such as aerospace, space systems, autonomous vehicles, or other demanding applications.

+ Solid understanding of non-linearities, oscillations, and stability considerations in control systems, and the ability to engineer practical solutions.

+ Experience in controls development and controls programming, including control loop design for complex systems.

+ Background in one or more of the following areas: missile guidance control, electro-optical tracking, LiDAR, space systems, or similar high-performance tracking domains.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Prior optical communications experience, especially laser communication (lasercom), is highly valued but not strictly required.

+ Laser communication (lasercom) domain experience is strongly preferred and sits at the top of the desired tracking domain hierarchy.

+ LiDAR experience is highly preferred and considered very similar and complementary to laser communication work.

+ Relevant experience in missile guidance control, electro-optical tracking, and space systems is beneficial.

+ Background in optical engineering and optical design, particularly related to tracking and beam steering systems.

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Experience with C++ and general programming for embedded or real-time systems.

+ System tracking and robotics experience, especially within aerospace defense contexts.

+ Embedded systems Background, including working with control…