> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2250844-principal-control-systems-engineer-pat-systems](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2250844-principal-control-systems-engineer-pat-systems). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Control Systems Engineer, PAT Systems - **Company:** Blue Origin - **Location:** Seattle, WA, United States - **Salary:** $230,773.0 - $323,082.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** C (Programming Language), Data Analysis, Systems Engineering, Biometrics, C++ (Programming Language), Encodings, Data Centers, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Network Control, Performance Tuning, Real-Time Operating Systems, Sensor Fusion, Simulink, Visual Systems, Computer Network Operations, Modeling and Simulation - **Published:** August 26, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.localjobnetwork.com/apply/add/88135766/1 ## About the Role * M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * 12 or more years of experience in control systems design for precision electro-optical or opto-mechanical systems. * 5 or more years of experience in a lead engineering role with ownership of complex subsystems. * Expertise in classical and modern control theory, including state space, LQR/LQG, H infinity, and robust or adaptive control. * Experience with real time control implementation on embedded platforms using C, C++, FPGA/SoC, or RTOS. * Experience with high fidelity modeling and simulation of multi body dynamics and optical pointing systems. * Experience with pointing and tracking systems for laser communications, telescopes, or comparable high precision applications. * Experience with sensor fusion using optical trackers, IMUs, or encoders, and multi-rate control loop design. * Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and/or C/C++ for control design, simulation, and data analysis. Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum., * Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. * Experience with space qualified hardware and processes, including design for thermal vacuum, vibration, and radiation environments. * Background in free space optical communications or satellite communications, including link budgets and atmospheric turbulence modeling. * Experience with adaptive optics or tip/tilt control for ground based optical systems. * Familiarity with safety and quality standards applicable to space hardware development and long life reliability. * Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts across disciplines and to senior leadership. * Track record of delivering flight hardware or fielded systems from concept through operations. ## Description As Principal Control Systems Engineer for the Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking system, you will serve as the technical authority for the control architecture, algorithms, and implementation of pointing, acquisition, and tracking for TeraWave optical terminals, spanning both satellite payloads and ground stations. You will own the PAT control strategy from concept through flight operations, driving high bandwidth tracking, rapid link acquisition, and integration across optics, mechanisms, avionics, and network operations. This is a hands on technical leadership role with direct impact on link availability, data throughput, and overall system performance for a constellation that customers depend on for data center interconnects. You will lead a focused team of controls engineers while working in close partnership with optical, mechanical, thermal, avionics, and systems engineering disciplines., * Own the end to end PAT control architecture for TeraWave optical inter satellite and space to ground terminals. * Define control requirements, error budgets, and key performance metrics, including pointing accuracy and acquisition time. * Lead trade studies evaluating pointing mechanisms, sensors, and control topologies for terminal designs. * Design and validate control loops for fine beam steering, coarse pointing, and beacon acquisition. * Develop acquisition strategies, including scan patterns, dwell time optimization, and satellite to ground handover procedures. * Implement control algorithms in flight software, FPGA and SoC platforms, and MATLAB or Simulink simulation environments. * Integrate PAT control with spacecraft ADCS, avionics, timing systems, and the network control plane. * Build and maintain dynamic models of PAT subsystems, covering mechanisms, actuators, sensors, and structural modes. * Lead PAT test campaigns and on-orbit commissioning, including anomaly investigation and performance optimization. * Collaborate across disciplines with optical, mechanical, thermal, structural, and avionics engineers., Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S.as a refugee or granted asylum. Background Check * Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check * Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation * Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training. * Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical, Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on "Know Your Rights," please see here. Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e. current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1157-1158. Learn more about the ITAR here. Equal Employment Opportunity Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on "EEO Is the Law," please see here and here. ## Related Videos - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions) - [A Brief History of Data Storage](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/974-a-brief-history-of-data-storage) - [Robots are coming into the wild! 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