Principal Robotic Controls Engineer

Clera
Los Lunas, US
On-site

Who this role is best for

Control theory experts with embedded systems experience will find this technical leadership role in defense systems, requiring on-site presence and deep collaboration with partner teams.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 10+ years of fielded precision pointing or stabilization systems experience and a strong academic background in control theory.
    — “10 or more years closing loops on precision pointing, tracking, or stabilization systems, including fielded systems with measured performance.”
  • Individuals with hands-on experience implementing microradian-class control systems and robust control methodologies.
    — “Strong background in robust control, including H-infinity, mu-synthesis, and LQG, and estimation methods such as Kalman variants, IMM, and nonlinear observers.”
  • Candidates who have successfully transitioned algorithms from simulation to real-time embedded platforms with kHz-rate control loops.
    — “Move algorithms from simulation to embedded hardware, supporting kHz-rate control loops and reviewing controls and sensor integration.”

Things to consider

  • On-site presence in Los Lunas is mandatory, which may limit remote flexibility.
    — “On-site in Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States.”
  • Security clearance is a requirement, which may add time and complexity to the hiring process.
    — “ability to obtain a security clearance are additional assets.”

How to stand out

  • Emphasize field validation of control systems and real-time embedded implementation in your resume and interview.
    — “Build and manage pointing error budgets ... validate precision against moving targets in the field.”
  • Highlight experience with multi-rate design and stage handoffs in your control architecture work.
    — “Design the control architecture for coarse gimbals and fine steering mirrors, including bandwidth allocation, multi-rate design, and stage handoffs.”
  • Showcase your ability to integrate systems with partner teams and manage complex hardware-in-the-loop testing.
    — “Integrate fire-control handoffs ... with partner engineering teams.”
  • Quantify your experience with precision pointing systems, such as microradian-class beam directors or telescopes.
    — “Hands-on experience with microradian-class pointing systems, such as beam directors, fine steering mirrors, gimbaled sensors, laser communication terminals, telescopes, spacecraft, or comparable precision mechatronics.”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Design control architecture
  • Develop estimators
  • Implement stabilization
  • Build pointing error budgets
  • Model plants
Typical background
Control TheoryMechatronicsElectrical Engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Precision PointingTrackingStabilization SystemsControl ArchitectureEstimationEmbedded HardwareField TestingLine-of-sight StabilizationJitter RejectionPointing Error BudgetsSystem DynamicsPlant ModelingSystem IdentificationControls And Estimation ArchitectureFire-control HandoffsEngagement SequencingDwell MaintenanceSafety InterlocksKhz-rate Control LoopsControls And Sensor Integration

Preferred

Defense TechnologyHigh-energy LaserAdaptive OpticsAtmospheric Propagation ModelingPublications Or PatentsSecurity Clearance

Stack & domain

Control TheoryEstimationCC++PythonRTOSKalman FilteringAdaptive ControlLeadershipProblem-solvingDefense TechnologyPrecision Pointing

About the role

Original posting from Clera via Ashby

ABOUT THE ROLE

Own the controls and estimation architecture for a precision laser beam director within a defense technology team. You will take algorithms from modeling and simulation through embedded hardware and field testing, helping deliver accurate tracking against dynamic targets.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Design the control architecture for coarse gimbals and fine steering mirrors, including bandwidth allocation, multi-rate design, and stage handoffs.
  • Develop estimators that fuse radar, EO/IR, and inertial data into predicted aimpoints, with latency compensation.
  • Implement line-of-sight stabilization and jitter rejection using inertial stabilization, accelerometer feedforward, and adaptive filtering.
  • Build and manage pointing error budgets across jitter, bias, latency, and atmospheric effects, then validate precision against moving targets in the field.
  • Model plants and identify system dynamics in time and frequency domains, validating models through hardware-in-the-loop testing.
  • Analyze robustness, stability margins, sensitivity, and performance under disturbances and parameter variation.
  • Integrate fire-control handoffs, engagement sequencing, dwell maintenance, and safety interlocks with partner engineering teams.
  • Move algorithms from simulation to embedded hardware, supporting kHz-rate control loops and reviewing controls and sensor integration.
  • Serve as a technical anchor and mentor through hands-on engineering contributions.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

  • 10 or more years closing loops on precision pointing, tracking, or stabilization systems, including fielded systems with measured performance.
  • PhD-level depth in control theory and estimation, or a master's degree with a research-grade record of applying control theory to fielded hardware.
  • Strong background in robust control, including H-infinity, mu-synthesis, and LQG, and estimation methods such as Kalman variants, IMM, and nonlinear observers.
  • Hands-on experience with microradian-class pointing systems, such as beam directors, fine steering mirrors, gimbaled sensors, laser communication terminals, telescopes, spacecraft, or comparable precision mechatronics.
  • Experience with C or C++ control loops on embedded or RTOS platforms, multi-rate and sampled-data design, and real-time hardware-in-the-loop validation.
  • Proven system identification and plant modeling experience with real structural dynamics.
  • MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, RTOS, Kalman filtering, or adaptive control experience is relevant.
  • Defense or high-energy laser experience, adaptive optics, atmospheric propagation modeling, publications or patents, and ability to obtain a security clearance are additional assets.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Base salary: $250,000 to $315,000 USD annually. Equity and visa sponsorship details were not provided.

LOCATION

On-site in Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States.

Source: Clera careers (Ashby)

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