Nope. When I graduated from the Air Force Academy the Air Force put me in an airplane. Not too much design work in that. By the time I got out the field had changed too much for me to work in it.
At the risk of dating myself, my field was optimal control (mostly math). The main tool I used for modeling potential solutions was an analog computer. It was much more accurate than my slide rule. Hand held calculators weren't out yet...
(Yes, my grand kids think I'm older than dirt...)
My senior project was designing the control systems to keep a satellite pointed directly at the sun with minimal use of fuel. They actually used it, although a lot more work by other people went into it before it went into space.
My engineering degree, heavy on math, gave me a running start on high tech "stuff". My first civilian job was assessing new product ideas and possible acquisitions for Chevron. I did the same thing for SOHIO before BP bought them.
PID similar algorithm? If all analog components, PI and/or PID would have some interesting challenges to keep a long time period algorithm faithful. I see what you mean about your prior comment about knowing "how to make things work". You'd have to know the design & components physics/specs inside and out - especially for a space application.
Thank you for your service to our country.