Student placement (f/m/d): Control-Loop Implementation for High-Performance Fast-Steering-Mirrors Job Details

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Student placement (f/m/d): Control-Loop Implementation for High-Performance Fast-Steering-Mirrors

Job Description

Req ID: 2530

Place of work: Oberpfaffenhofen

Starting date: October 1st, 2025

Career level: Student employment, Internship, Student research project and final thesis

Type of employment: Part time, Full-time

Duration of contract: 3 to 6 months

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

What to expect

In recent years, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has played a pioneering role in the development of innovative laser communication terminals (LCTs). So-called fast-steering mirrors (FSMs) are used to achieve precise alignment of the laser beam. The challenge is to develop and validate a control system for a high-performance system.
A Bachelor-/Masterthesis or Internship might be also possible.

The aim of this work is to put a new driver circuit for an FSM into operation. An important aspect of this project is the implementation of software and the characterization of the behavior of the control loop.

Your tasks

10% Literature review: a comprehensive review of existing literature on FSM control algorithms and related topics.
10% Selection of a suitable microcontroller, DSP or FPGA
40% Implementation of the control system
40% Experiments and validation: Conducting experiments to validate the functionality of the FSM control algorithms and to benchmark their performance.

Your profile

Hands-on experience in embedded C/C++ programming for microcontrollers (e.g. PlatoformIO, Code Composer Studio, Microchip Studio, or similar).
Proficiency in using Matlab/Simulink.
Experience with hardware projects at university or as part of a hobby is an advantage.
Interest in optical communications.
Ability to work independently.
Very good technical English or German language skills are required.

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 2530) please contact:

Dr. Christopher Schmidt
Tel.: +49 8153 28 3091