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Principal Control Systems Engineer, PAT Systems

Greater Seattle Area💼 Full-time💰 $230,773–$230,773🗓 2026-08-24 → 2026-09-26

Core

Technical authority for control architecture, algorithms, and implementation of Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) for TeraWave optical terminals (satellite payloads and ground stations), ensuring high bandwidth tracking and link availability.

Role type

Principal Control Systems Engineer (Space Systems)

Builds

TeraWave optical inter-satellite and space-to-ground communication terminals

Domain

Aerospace / Satellite Communications / Optics

Deliverable

production ML models | product features

Required skills

Classical and modern control theory (state space, LQR/LQG, H infinity, robust/adaptive), real-time control implementation on embedded platforms (C, C++, FPGA/SoC, RTOS), high-fidelity modeling of multi-body dynamics and optical pointing, sensor fusion (optical trackers, IMUs, encoders), MATLAB/Simulink, Python

Preferred skills

Space qualified hardware processes (thermal vacuum, vibration, radiation), free space optical communications, adaptive optics, safety and quality standards for space hardware

Technologies

FPGA, SoC, RTOS, MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C, C++

Responsibilities

Define control requirements and error budgets, lead trade studies for pointing mechanisms and control topologies, design and validate control loops for beam steering and acquisition, implement control algorithms in flight software, integrate PAT with spacecraft ADCS and avionics, lead test campaigns and on-orbit commissioning

Seniority

Principal, hands-on technical leadership

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