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.
• Experience 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.
• Experience in optical engineering and optical design, particularly related to tracking and beam steering systems.
• Experience with C++ and general programming for embedded or real-time systems.
• System tracking and robotics experience, especially within aerospace defense contexts.
• Embedded systems experience, including working with control electronics and sensors.
• Experience with autonomous systems such as self-driving cars, drones with collision avoidance, or other platforms operating in complex real-world environments.
• Exposure to dynamic, high-stakes technical projects with long-term roadmaps and evolving system requirements.

Work Environment

The Controls Engineer (PAT Engineer) works in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, partnering closely with a dedicated Software Engineer and other technical team members. The role is strongly lab-based, with extensive hands-on interaction with existing hardware to bring systems online, run experiments, and validate control loop performance. You will operate within a problem-solving culture focused on making complex control systems work better, particularly in the face of non-linearities, oscillations, and other real-world challenges. The environment centers on developing and testing control electronics and sensors, progressing from initial hardware activation to flight-ready components for a space launch. This is a long-term, high-impact project with a clear trajectory extending through and beyond a major launch milestone, where your contributions are fundamental to the overall effort. The work is dynamic and evolving, involving iterative development, system refinement, and potential real-time code adjustments during critical operations, all within a technically rigorous and innovation-driven setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Reno, NV.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $96.15 - $132.21/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully remote position. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Aug 14, 2026.

About Actalent

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