Interesting project!
I was a Broadcast Engineer for 16 years, working with High Voltage that killed one or two Engineers a year back in the 1960's..
My Dad was Chief Engineer of WELI and has survived to 100 years old. He had two rules: (1) NEVER Work alone with the transmitter cabinet doors open. (2) Opening any transmitter cabinet door turned off the High Voltage, but an emergency override could turn the HV back on AND several big flashing red lights.
You are sort of duplicating that situation, with the second person being remote. Think about the red lights, though.
I agree about the "Stepwise Refinement" approach. Get all the pieces working elsewhere first.
OTHER: There are large electrostatic and magnetic fields in the area of 11Kv. You should think "Grounded Metal Box" that contains your circuitry.
Let us know how this progresses....