Junior Embedded Software Engineer for Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) Subsystems

Company Description

We are a dynamic and innovative technology company specializing in the development of advanced transceivers for future optical wireless communications. Founded by a team of professors and former PhD students with over 20 years of experience in the design and characterization of integrated photonics devices, our team is passionate about pushing the boundaries of optical wireless communication through the full photonic integration of the optical wireless transceiver.

Role Description

AGPhotonics is looking for a junior embedded software engineer to support the development of Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) subsystems for free-space optical communication (FSOC) applications. This role is ideal for an early-career engineer interested in embedded systems, control software, and the intersection of software, optics, and mechatronics

What you’ll do:

• Support the development of embedded software for PAT subsystems, including real-time control loops for pointing, tracking, and stabilization, under the guidance of senior engineers.

• Assist in implementing and testing control algorithms based on classical control theory (PID, state-space concepts), using simulation and hardware-in-the-loop approaches.

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware for microcontrollers, SoCs, or FPGA-based systems used in optical tracking and navigation subsystems.

• Interface embedded software with optical sensors (e.g., position-sensitive detectors, cameras, photodiodes) and non-optical sensors (e.g., IMUs, encoders), supporting sensor data acquisition and fusion efforts.

• Contribute to system bring-up, debugging, and performance characterization of opto-mechatronic hardware in laboratory environments.

• Support navigation- and tracking-related software components, including coordinate transformations, reference frame handling, and basic estimation algorithms.

• Document software design, interfaces, and test results, and communicate findings during internal design and test reviews.

What you’ll bring:

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field; MS preferred but not required.

• Experience with embedded software development in C/C++ (or similar), through coursework, internships, or personal projects.

• Foundational understanding of control systems (e.g., PID control, system dynamics, stability concepts); practical implementation experience is a plus.

• Familiarity with real-time embedded systems, including interrupts, timers, and low-level hardware interfaces (SPI, I²C, UART, GPIO).

• Exposure to sensor integration and basic signal processing; experience with IMUs, cameras, or optical sensors is a plus.

• Interest in or introductory experience with opto-mechatronic systems, such as motorized stages, actuators, gimbals, or fast steering mechanisms (nice to have, not required).

• Ability to work collaboratively with optical, mechanical, and systems engineers, and a willingness to learn across disciplines.

• Strong debugging mindset, attention to detail, and curiosity about hardware–software interaction in complex physical systems

What we offer:

• A great team with first class colleagues and experienced academic advisors.

• Work on a product-oriented deep-tech start-up in an early stage, enabling a professional career with huge potential for motivated and talented young people.

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.

• Relocation package if applies.

• Intensive summer days and every Friday of the year.

• 23 days’ vacation plus bank holidays.

• Cutting-edge equipment boosting your productivity. 

• Joining us means you’ll have full support to excel, grow, and embrace new challenges

Are you interested in this position? 

Please send us an email at careers@ag-photonics.com with a short presentation about you, including your previous experience (if any) and why would you like to join us.