Avionics Test Engineering Intern (summer 2026)

Avionics Test Engineering Intern (Summer 2026)

As an Avionics Test Engineering Intern, you will support the testing and integration of spacecraft avionics systems. As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working with flight electrical devices ranging from individual circuit boards to full spacecraft systems. You will assist engineers in developing, running, and improving test systems that ensure hardware is ready for spaceflight. This role offers exposure to multiple engineering disciplines, test equipment, and the full spacecraft development lifecycle — from design to launch. This internship will run from May to August 2026.

Responsibilities

Develop end-to-end test systems that validate flight electrical hardware including circuit boards, optical devices, and electromechanical assemblies.

Support the setup, operation, and troubleshooting of electrical test equipment and ground support hardware.

Develop automated testing solutions to collect, analyze, and document test data. Build and maintain test systems, racks, and setups for component level and integrated testbeds under engineer supervision.

Collaborate with avionics, propulsion, GNC, software, and integration engineers to verify complete test coverage of existing and new test systems.

Contribute to pre-launch test activities and learn how spacecraft are prepared for flight.

Minimum Qualifications

Recent completion or currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.

Strong academic foundation in circuits, electronics, or software.

Hands-on project, research, or lab experience involving hardware integration or testing.

Basic understanding of instrumentation, data acquisition, or troubleshooting methods.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Experience working on an engineering project involving vehicles or hardware (spacecraft, rockets, drones, cars, robotics, etc.)

Experience designing PCBs using Altium Designer or similar PCB design tools (KiCAD, Eagle etc.)

Experience writing automation software and data post-processing in Python (or another language like C, Matlab etc.)

Exposure to environmental test equipment (vibration tables, thermal chambers, etc.)

Experience with electrical lab test equipment such as DMMs, oscilloscopes, DAQs, power supplies etc.

Knowledge of safe handling practices for electrical or high-reliability hardware.

Interest in spacecraft systems and flight hardware testing.

Additional requirements: Willing and able to work on-site in Redondo Beach, CA for the duration of the internship. This role may require overtime hours; interns are eligible for overtime pay.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

About Impulse Space

Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.