About Archangel Lightworks
Archangel Lightworks is a laser communications company building wireless technology. Founded in 2017, we believe that laser communications to and from satellites is a key component of next-generation infrastructure. Our core product, the TERRA-M, is a deployable optical ground station with proven capability for space - ground data transfer.
Our team develops and operates products that advance the security and resilience of critical national infrastructure. We value compassion, resilience, curiosity, ownership and integrity. Our start-up is a fast-paced and supportive environment, where you can contribute to novel technology with meaningful applications like reducing the Digital Divide.
Archangel Lightworks recently closed over £10 million of investment in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. Our company is also supported by the UK Space Agency, the UK’s Department of Science and Technology (DSIT) and the UK Ministry of Defence.
About the job
We’re looking for a Systems Analysis & Simulation Engineer to join our experienced engineering team and deliver transformative laser communications technology. You will be responsible for performing simulation and analysis to optimise optical Space-to-Ground communication links and services.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Development and testing algorithms for forecasting link availability based on meteorological forecasts and terminal sensor data
- Link performance estimation, optimisation based on expected conditions and analysis of empirical data to enable continuous improvement
- Develop and utilise Archangel Lightwork's laser communications network simulation tool to assess network level performance of optical communication systems, supporting site selection and network architecture development. This includes use case, scenario and KPI definition, analysis of large simulation datasets, and optimisation of simulation efficiency
- Generate technical reports, visualisations, and presentations to communicate results to internal and external stakeholders
- Support the development & testing of other analysis and simulation tools to improve product performance and service delivery.
Requirements:
- 3 years of experience
- Has developed complex models & simulations in MATLAB/Simulink, ideally using meteorological data, of involving networks/communications
- Has experience developing/testing/analysing empirical data
- Has experience processing and analysing large datasets efficiently
- MATLAB & Python experience.
Desirable additional skills:
- Satellite communications, lasercom experience
- Understanding of optical turbulence and associated modelling tools
- Understanding of orbital mechanics, satellite constellations, and NTN networks
- Experience developing link budgets and associated tradeoff analysis
- Experience using ML/neural networks for meteorological analysis, forecasting, network traffic or network modelling.
Location: Our office is based in Osney Mead, Oxford. There may be opportunity to work from home as agreed with your line manager. There may be opportunity for periodic business travel.
What we offer:
- Opportunity to work on advanced optical systems to support a world-changing vision
- A collaborative and transparent culture with strong links between functions
- Regular socials and weekly company lunch
- Professional development and skills growth within a specialist engineering field
- Competitive salary and benefits package, with equity options in a growing start-up
- 25 days annual leave allowance plus bank holidays
Archangel Lightworks is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. If you need any assistance or accommodation to complete your application or assessment, please contact us through the application form.
We recognise that many candidates use AI tools when applying. Please ensure your application reflects your own experience, skills, and thinking. We assess applications based on authenticity and accuracy, so anything generated with AI should be reviewed, personalised, and representative of you.
Skills Required
- 3 years of experience
- Developed complex models and simulations in MATLAB/Simulink, ideally using meteorological data and communications networks
- Experience developing, testing, and analysing empirical data
- Experience processing and analysing large datasets efficiently
- MATLAB experience
- Python experience
- Satellite communications and lasercom experience
- Understanding of optical turbulence and associated modelling tools
- Understanding of orbital mechanics, satellite constellations, and NTN networks
- Experience developing link budgets and tradeoff analysis
- Experience using ML/neural networks for meteorological analysis, forecasting, or network modelling
What We Do
Archangel Lightworks is a laser communications company building high-volume, secure, wireless technology to create the space-enabled networks of the future. Today, space and terrestrial networks are not well-connected leading to insecure, insufficient, and vulnerable infrastructure. Nearly 3 billion people are unconnected and many more are under-connected. Subsea cables, which form the backbone of global network infrastructure, are at risk from climate disaster and bad actors. Links between satellites, which offer an opportunity for resilient connectivity, and the ground are reliant on radio, which is bandwidth constrained, finite and not secure. Archangel Lightworks was set up to solve the space-ground connectivity problem. Wireless laser communications (lasercom) technology offers new solutions; however, adoption of the technology has been slow due to availability concerns, lack of interoperability standards, difficulties associated with lasercom on the move, and high production costs. Our tech solves these problems. We are driving down the size, weight, power & cost (SWaP-C) of optical ground equipment to make space-ground lasercom available and affordable. Our core product, TERRA-M is a miniature optical ground station which is approximately the size of a mini fridge. Compared to traditional networks such as radio, the TERRA-M allows more licence-free data transferred at low probability of detection (LPD) and low probability of interception (LPI). TERRA-M brings deployable, resilient connectivity to wherever it is needed, solving some of Earth’s most critical problems from economic inclusion to climate change. Archangel Lightworks is based in Oxford, UK and Archangel Lightworks USA is based in Orlando, Florida.
