Ground Software Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

Description

The company builds software for high-performance satellite constellations. The software team covers spacecraft software, ground stations, cloud systems, and visualization and simulation.

As an intern you own a project from start to finish. Work could include adding a new spacecraft capability, simulating a new component, writing software for new hardware, or deploying new algorithms that process images and other sensor data.

The company is a fast-growing startup in Silicon Valley-based aerospace. Interns get direct mentorship from experienced aerospace professionals, and your decisions and contributions shape the company's results. The company was founded in 2021 as an end-to-end space systems provider that designs, builds and operates LEO satellite constellations for mission-critical data, from climate monitoring to national security.

Responsibilities

• Take a well-defined software project through design, implementation and testing, with engineers guiding you at each stage.
• Build and contribute to ground software, or to tools that support development and testing.
• Suggest software designs and refine them with input from the team.
• Join code reviews and write documentation so other engineers can use and maintain your work.
• Work alongside software and hardware engineers to build reliable spacecraft software.
• Find and fix problems in unfamiliar tools and systems by testing assumptions until you have a working result.

Requirements

• You are enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in computer science, computer engineering, aerospace, systems, or a closely related technical field.
• You have taken coursework in or have practical experience with data structures, algorithms and core software development.
• You can program well in at least one language, such as Python, C++ or Rust.
• You solve problems well, breaking them down, testing assumptions and working through bugs.
• You communicate clearly and work well with others on a fast-moving team.
• Nice to have: previous internship, co-op or software team experience.
• Nice to have: knowledge of a satellite subsystem or domain such as orbital mechanics, RF communications or power systems.
• Nice to have: experience building and deploying SaaS applications on IaaS platforms.
• Nice to have: experience building or training ML models.
• Nice to have: experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL/HITL) testing or system integration.

Conditions

Pay is $40 per hour for Bachelor's students, $45 per hour for Master's students and $50 per hour for PhD students.

The internship is full-time and on-site in Mountain View or San Jose, CA.

Start dates run from May to September, depending on your university schedule.

The company can hire in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA and WA.

This role requires access to export-controlled information under U.S. government regulations. You must be a U.S. person (a citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee), or be eligible to access the information without an export authorization, or be eligible and reasonably likely to obtain one. The company may decline to pursue an export license for business reasons.

Benefits

• Full-time employees receive equity and medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401k, short and long term disability cover and life insurance.
• Full-time employees get three weeks of paid vacation in their first year, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.