2026 Fall Optical Engineering Internship

About the role#

Ephemeris Net is seeking engineering interns to contribute to the development of optical terminals for space-based laser communications and networking services for satellite constellations. Interns will be matched to projects based on their background and company needs, with the opportunity to work on production systems that may either fly in orbit or inform the architecture of a space-based network.

What you'll do#

• Design and implement optical transceiver FPGA firmware.
• Build a space network simulator to test and refine network architecture.
• Design and fabricate test fixtures for optical terminal prototypes.
• Build high-speed optoelectronic communication test equipment.
• Write embedded flight software.
• Scope, execute, and present technical projects under the guidance of an assigned mentor.

What you'll need#

• Demonstrated ability to build things through personal projects, research, coursework, or prior internships.
• Strong fundamentals in at least one of the following: embedded systems, FPGA development, software engineering (C, C++, Python, or Rust), optical or mechanical design, electrical engineering, information theory, or networking and simulation.
• Prior experience with FPGA development (Verilog, VHDL, or SystemVerilog).
• Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics.
• Must be a US person (15 CFR § 772.1).

Location & details#

• Term: Fall 2026.
• Work Modality: On-site, 3 days a week minimum in either Oakland, CA or El Segundo, CA.
• Duration: Minimum of 3 months.
• Employment Type: Full-time internship.
• Compensation: Paid position.