About the role
Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.
Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
Hardware Design Intern, Software Defined Radio Team (Fall 2026)
Internships at Astranis typically last for twelve weeks, and are hourly roles designed for students who are currently enrolled at a four-year university.
As an Intern, you will have an amazing opportunity to work on hard problems — we pride ourselves on giving everyone at Astranis a chance to do meaningful work on challenging projects, no matter their seniority. Many past interns have designed and tested hardware/software that is now flying on our first satellite, and many of them are now full-time employees at Astranis.
If you have already graduated from a four-year university, please apply to be an Associate Engineer.
Role
- Design, simulate, implement, and test our internally developed software defined radio hardware
- Bringup and debug hardware in the lab with top of the line instruments and equipment
- Write code to help evaluate performance and automate testing of satellite hardware
- Integrate these systems into the spacecraft by working closely with the rest of the team
Requirements
- A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design and development
- Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
- Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test PCBA hardware from scratch (student design team projects, design competitions, personal projects)
- Solid EE foundation in one or more of the following areas:
- analog design (op amps, transistors, RLC filters)
- digital design (FPGAs, SOCs, SERDES, DDR, LVDS)
- mixed signal design (ADCs, DACs, power integrity)
- RF design (Lineups, s-parameters, impedance matching)
Bonus
- Experience building or using software defined radios
- Experience with Altium Designer (or other PCB design software)
- Experience with analysis software (ADS, ANSYS, Matlab)
- Experience with Python or similar programming languages
- Experience with soldering and rework
- Experience with EE lab bench equipment (power supply, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, network analyzers, etc)
Aplyr's read
Astranis is revolutionizing satellite communications by delivering affordable internet to underserved regions, attracting engineers passionate about bridging the digital divide.
What's promising
- •Astranis focuses on affordable internet access for underserved regions, addressing a critical global need.
- •The company develops small, low-cost satellites, reducing deployment costs and increasing accessibility.
- •Astranis offers diverse engineering roles, providing opportunities for career growth in aerospace technology.
What to watch
- •The satellite communications market is highly competitive, posing challenges for Astranis.
- •High initial investment in satellite technology can strain financial resources.
- •Limited public information about Astranis' long-term financial sustainability.
Why Astranis
- •Astranis specializes in small, low-cost satellites, differentiating them from traditional large satellite providers.
- •The company's mission to bridge the digital divide is central to its operations.
- •Astranis' focus on underserved regions sets it apart in the satellite communications industry.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Astranis
Astranis Space Technologies is a satellite communications company that focuses on providing affordable internet access to underserved regions around the world. By developing small, low-cost satellites, they aim to bridge the digital divide and enhance connectivity in remote areas.
