Controls Software Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in San Carlos, California, United States. Applicants must meet U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements, including U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected-individual status, or eligibility to obtain the required authorizations.

Salary: $170,000–$192,000 annually, plus equity.

Company

Builds modular satellite infrastructure for space-based solar energy, optical data transport, and on-orbit computing.

What you will do

• Own the pointing and tracking control loop from design through on-orbit operations.
• Design, implement, tune, and characterize closed-loop controllers for optical links between moving platforms.
• Translate control theory, state estimation, PID, state-space, and optimal-control methods into real-time embedded Rust software.
• Build simulation, analysis, automated testing, and hardware-in-the-loop validation tools.
• Integrate sensing and actuation across software and hardware, investigate anomalies, and drive root-cause fixes.
• Collaborate with GNC, optics, avionics, and firmware teams on interfaces, pointing architecture, and fault detection, isolation, and recovery.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience, or equivalent practical experience, in control systems, GNC, robotics, or embedded software.
• Hands-on experience designing, implementing, and tuning closed-loop control systems.
• Strong understanding of control theory fundamentals.
• Strong systems-programming skills in Rust, C, or C++, with willingness to work in Rust.
• Experience implementing control algorithms in real-time or embedded environments and integrating software with sensors and actuators.
• Must work on-site in San Carlos, California, and meet U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience with precision pointing, tracking, stabilization, gimbal control, spacecraft GNC, attitude control, or high-reliability aerospace, defense, or robotics systems.
• Professional Rust experience and familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink or Python-based modeling and analysis tools.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing, system validation, Kalman filters, sensor fusion, and fault-tolerant architectures.
• Degree in aerospace, electrical, mechanical, or robotics engineering, computer science, or a related field.

Culture & Benefits

• High-ownership work on complex space-based energy and communications systems.
• Equity and medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, paid time off, and 10 paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave and relocation assistance where applicable.
• Daily office lunch and a stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks.