Spacecraft Systems Engineering Intern

Job Description

Spacecraft Systems Engineering Intern | Planet

The Tone:
This is a full-time, paid internship at Planet, located in our San Francisco HQ Office. Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history, delivering an unprecedented dataset via a revolutionary cloud-based platform. This role is crucial for driving the design, build, and operation of our next generation of earth imaging satellites, ensuring they meet customer needs, transition to mass production, and operate properly on-orbit. You will contribute to a mission focused on using space to help life on Earth.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Pay: $35–$60 hourly
• Team: Works with an agile team; interfaces with Product, Manufacturing, and Mission Operations leads
• Mission: Drive the design, build, and operation of Planet’s next generation of earth imaging satellites.
• Tech Stack: Python, Julia, C++

What You’ll Actually Do
• Analysis: Provide system-level analyses to help define future spacecraft systems.
• Risk Mitigation: Assist in defining tasks and processes to reduce spacecraft risks.
• Verification & Validation: Collaborate with stakeholders on the verification and validation of spacecraft requirements.
• AI&T: Participate in the assembly, integration, and testing of R&D prototype satellite systems, including troubleshooting and implementing lessons learned.
• Collaboration: Interface with Product, manufacturing, and Mission Operations teams to ensure satellite systems meet customer needs and operational requirements.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Pursuing a BS in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or a similar field. This is an early career internship position.
• Experience: Understanding of one or multiple satellite subsystems, including Mechanical, Thermal, ADSCS/GNC, Propulsion, or Electrical. Experience collaborating with technical teams.
• Skills: Excellent communication skills. Excitement for working in an agile, fast-paced environment.
• Bonus: Working towards a Master’s in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or similar. Familiarity with requirement formulation, validation, and verification best practices. Experience with hardware testing, including both functional and environmental testing. Proficiency in Python, Julia, and/or C++. Coursework or project history where you designed, built, and tested an idea that you can discuss in depth. Understanding of the product development lifecycle process, including analysis and design, development tools and technologies, release and version control, and testing methodologies.