Sr. Controls Engineer

nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is a leading developer of Directed Energy systems, focusing on High Energy Laser (HEL) technologies for the U.S. military. Located in Longmont, CO, the company is committed to delivering innovative solutions that enhance military capabilities. We are seeking a Sr. Controls Engineer to join our team, responsible for developing and refining control systems for our HADES product line, ensuring reliable performance during threat engagements.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain full-system Simulink models to understand HADES capability and guide control-system design decisions.
• Correlate models with hardware test data to improve fidelity and assess performance across operating conditions.
• Define and refine controls architecture spanning component-level loops to full-system control across various frequency domains.
• Develop robust control strategies and translate system-level requirements into implementable control algorithms.
• Lead hardware integration, debugging, commissioning, and tuning in laboratory and test environments.
• Verify stable and robust control performance during integrated system operation and engagements.
• Collaborate with mission modeling, software, firmware, and hardware teams to ensure cohesive functionality of models and physical hardware.
• Communicate technical risks, test results, and design tradeoffs to facilitate informed decision-making.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical field; Advanced degree preferred.
• 10 years of experience in controls engineering or related field.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.

Skills:

• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or C#.
• Hands-on experience with control systems integration, tuning, and troubleshooting.
• Strong communication skills for conveying technical results and risks across teams.
• Demonstrated proficiency in designing and analyzing robust feedback control systems.
• Ability to develop system-level models and correlate results with hardware test data.