Automation & Controls Engineering Associate (Winter 2027)

Astranis
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for early-career engineers with hands-on experience in automation and controls who thrive in collaborative, hardware-software hybrid environments.

Best fit for

  • Early-career engineers with hands-on automation and controls experience and a background in electrical or mechatronic systems
    — “Support the design, build, integration, and commissioning of automated test systems for spacecraft hardware”
  • Candidates who can bridge hardware and software domains with a focus on safety and reliability
    — “Own electrical controls hardware, including control panels, wiring, sensors, actuators, relays, power distribution, DAQ systems, and safety interlocks”
  • Individuals skilled in Python and capable of working effectively on cross-functional engineering teams
    — “Strong proficiency in Python and the ability to work effectively on a cross-functional, hands-on engineering team”

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship or residency is required due to space technology export regulations
    — “U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required”
  • The role involves lab or factory work and requires hands-on hardware engagement
    — “Willingness to work in a lab or factory environment and perform hands-on hardware tasks”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with embedded systems, PLCs, or industrial automation in your resume and interviews
    — “Experience in one or more of the following areas: Embedded systems, PLCs, or industrial automation”
  • Emphasize projects involving control systems or hardware-software integration in your application materials
    — “Experience in one or more of the following areas: Control systems, state machines, or hardware/software integration”
  • Demonstrate Python proficiency with concrete examples of automation or data acquisition work
    — “Strong proficiency in Python”
  • Showcase your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams through specific 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

  • successful test system design and implementation
  • reliable test system operation
Typical background
electrical engineeringmechatronicsautomation

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical EngineeringAutomationControls EngineeringEmbedded SystemsPLC Programming

Preferred

Satellite TechnologySpace Industry Experience

Stack & domain

PythonElectrical EngineeringMechatronicsComputer ScienceEmbedded SystemsPlcsControl SystemsState MachinesHardware/software IntegrationCommunicationTeamworkSatelliteSpace Technology

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 (Winter 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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