Optical Terminals & Space Networking Internship, Fall 2026

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 with projects based on their technical background and the company's current engineering needs, with the goal of contributing to hardware destined for orbit or advancing internal network simulation capabilities. You will work within a small, focused engineering team, receive mentorship, and present your project results at the end of the term.

What you'll do#

• Design and implement optical transceiver FPGA firmware.
• Develop and build a space network simulator.
• Design and fabricate test fixtures or mechanical subsystems for optical terminal prototypes.
• Construct high-speed optoelectronic communication test equipment.
• Write embedded flight software.

What you'll need#

• A demonstrated ability to build things, such as personal projects, research, coursework, or prior internships that produced tangible results.
• Strong fundamentals in at least one of the following: embedded systems and 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).
• Must be a US person (15 CFR § 772.1).
• Ability to work on-site for a minimum of 3 months, at least 3 days a week.

Location & details#

• Term: Fall 2026.
• Work Modality: On-site in Oakland, CA or El Segundo, CA.
• Employment Type: Full-time, paid internship.
• Compensation: $70,400 annual salary, prorated for the duration of the internship.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health care coverage.