Automation & Controls Engineering Associate (Summer 2027)

Astranis
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Automation and controls engineering students with hands-on experience in embedded systems and Python will find this hardware-software integration role in the satellite industry.

Best fit for

  • Students with coursework in electrical circuits and embedded systems who enjoy hardware-software integration
    — “Experience through coursework, projects, research, internships, clubs, or personal work in one or more of the following areas: Electrical circuits, instrumentation, sensors, or data acquisition”
  • Candidates with a background in industrial automation and a strong grasp of Python programming
    — “Strong proficiency in Python”
  • Individuals comfortable with lab or factory environments and capable of executing hands-on hardware tasks
    — “Willingness to work in a lab or factory environment and perform hands-on hardware tasks”

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship or residency is required due to export regulations
    — “U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required”

How to stand out

  • Emphasize projects involving hardware integration with software or automation systems in your resume
    — “Support the design, build, integration, and commissioning of automated test systems for spacecraft hardware and ground-support equipment”
  • Highlight experience with embedded systems, PLCs, or industrial automation in your application materials
    — “Experience through coursework, projects, research, internships, clubs, or personal work in one or more of the following areas: Embedded systems, PLCs, or industrial automation”
  • Showcase your ability to work in cross-functional teams through specific collaboration examples
    — “Collaborate with environmental test, mechanical, electrical, reliability, manufacturing, and software teams”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Designing and building automated test systems
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams
  • Ensuring safe and repeatable spacecraft testing
Typical background
Electrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringComputer Science

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical EngineeringAutomationControls EngineeringEmbedded SystemsPLC ProgrammingTest Automation

Preferred

Satellite CommunicationsSpacecraft Testing

Stack & domain

Electrical EngineeringMechatronicsComputer SciencePythonEmbedded SystemsCommunicationTeamworkProblem SolvingSatelliteAutomationControls Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Astranis via Greenhouse

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 $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Automation & Controls Engineering Associate (Summer 2027)

As an Automation & Controls Engineering Associate, you’ll help build the automated test infrastructure used to shake, heat, cool, evacuate, and otherwise stress satellite hardware during environmental testing. From electrical control systems and safety interlocks to test automation software and telemetry pipelines, your work will help enable safe, reliable, and repeatable spacecraft testing.

You’ll work at the intersection of hardware and software, collaborating with experienced engineers and technicians from early design and prototyping through commissioning, validation, and operational support.

Role

Support the design, build, integration, and commissioning of automated test systems for spacecraft hardware and ground-support equipment

Own electrical controls hardware, including control panels, wiring, sensors, actuators, relays, power distribution, DAQ systems, and safety interlocks

Integrate automated systems with environmental test equipment, including thermal and thermal-vacuum chambers, vibration systems, pumps, valves, and programmable controllers

Collaborate with environmental test, mechanical, electrical, reliability, manufacturing, and software teams to build safe and repeatable test solutions

Requirements

Hold a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a related technical degree

Experience through coursework, projects, research, internships, clubs, or personal work in one or more of the following areas:

Electrical circuits, instrumentation, sensors, or data acquisition

Embedded systems, PLCs, or industrial automation

Control systems, state machines, or hardware/software integration

Strong proficiency in Python

Clear written communication skills and the ability to work effectively on a cross-functional, hands-on engineering team

Willingness to work in a lab or factory environment and perform hands-on hardware tasks

The base salary for this position is $1,925 per week.Base Salary$1,925—$1,925 USDU.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

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Source: Astranis careers (Greenhouse)

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