(Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking) Controls Engineer, Aalyria Space

About Aalyria:

Aalyria is a leading Silicon Valley technology company that supplies laser communications technology and moving-network orchestration software platforms to the Communications, Aerospace, and Defense industries. Aalyria spun out of Google in 2022 and is at the forefront of innovation in the field of satellite and airborne mesh networks, as well as cislunar and deep space communications. Aalyria’s flagship product, Tightbeam, is a cutting-edge laser communications system that is capable of connecting land, sea, air and space targets across vast distances, with high reliability and with data-rates previously unachievable (100s of Gbps).

Role Overview:

Aalyria is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking Engineer to join our innovative team in our Aalyria Space business unit. In this pivotal role, the Engineer will play a crucial part in advancing our mission of pushing the boundaries of light-based communications through agile optical tracking systems. Expertise in engineering, coupled with a solid foundation in control theory and hands-on experience, is vital to the role's success.

Key Responsibilities:

The role of Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking Engineer at Aalyria Space will encompass a multifaceted approach. The Engineer will be responsible for advancing the design, construction, and field deployment of agile optical tracking systems to provide vital support for Aalyria Space's light-based communication initiatives. Expertise in control system design, modeling, and implementation, with a specific focus on multistage optical feedback and feedforward control systems, plays a pivotal role in achieving precise control. 

Additionally, the Engineer will seamlessly integrate data from both non-optical and optical sensors to rapidly generate accurate, multidimensional control signals. A solid understanding of control theory will ensure the precision and efficiency of Aalyria Space's tracking and acquisition systems. Moreover, strong project management skills will be essential as the Engineer oversees projects from their inception to completion, encompassing all stages from initial design conception through manufacturing, validation, and eventual product release. The Engineer's contribution in this role will be instrumental in Aalyria Space's ongoing mission to advance optical technology and drive the future of light-based communications.

Required Qualifications:

• Degree in relevant engineering discipline with 5 years of industry experience.
• Expertise in designing, building, and field deploying agile optical tracking systems for light-based communications.
• Proficiency with control system design, modeling, and implementation for multistage optical feedback and feedforward control systems.
• Experience with fusion of external non-optical and optical sensors to generate rapid, accurate and multidimensional controls signals. 
• A combination of strong fundamentals in control theory as well as hands-on experience in a laboratory and field environments.
•  Experience with executing across all project stages, from design conception to manufacturing, validation, and product release.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced degree in relevant engineering discipline with 10 years of industry experience.
• Prior experience in developing and deploying optical beam tracking and pointing systems for free-space optical communication systems.
• Expertise in machine-learning and other modem techniques to aid in developing novel high-performance beam controllers.
• Experience with open loop beam pointing and rapid acquisition algorithms in dynamic scenarios.

Compensation

• Base compensation range: $120,000 - $150,000
• This position is Bonus & Equity eligible