Electrical Engineering Intern (Summer 2026)

About Us:

Samara Aerospace is revolutionizing satellite design by addressing the challenges of deploying and managing large satellite constellations. Our innovative Hummingbird spacecraft bus offers a modular and scalable platform that streamlines satellite production and deployment, significantly reducing launch costs. Hummingbird's compact architecture maximizes launch capacity, making it the most efficient and agile spacecraft in the industry. At the core of our technology is the patented Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control (MSAC) system. Unlike traditional wheel-based pointing control systems, MSAC utilizes actuators embedded in the hinges of deployable solar panels to provide 3-axis attitude control and active jitter cancellation. This design eliminates the need for spinning wheels, reducing mass and potential points of failure, while enhancing pointing precision.

Role:

The Avionics team at Samara is seeking an Electrical Engineering Intern to support the design, analysis, build, and testing of next-generation spacecraft at our headquarters in San Francisco. You’ll work closely with experienced electrical engineers and the team at-large, gaining exposure to spacecraft avionics, power systems, and ground support equipment, helping design next-gen hardware in a fast-paced startup environment.

Samara internships generally last 12 weeks onsite at Samara Headquarters in San Francisco with an hourly rate intended for current students.

Responsibilities: 

• Support the design, building, and testing of spacecraft avionics and ground testing equipment
• Complete Schematic Capture, Layout of PCBs, and Bring up of new hardware
• Assist in developing, simulating, and validating circuit designs for efficiency, reliability, and performance in space environments.
• Participate in system-level integration and test activities (AIT), including verifying interfaces, evaluating functionality, and debugging issues.
• Documenting test results, analyzing data, and recommending design changes

Qualifications: 

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Coursework or project experience in digital electronics, analog circuit design, and power systems
• Familiarity with circuit simulation and analysis tools (LTSpice)
• Exposure to PCB design concepts and tools (Altium, KiCad, etc.).
• Hands-on experience building hardware (Soldering, Harnessing, Mechanical Assembly)

Bonus: 

• Understanding of radiation effects, thermal challenges, and reliability considerations in space systems.
• Programming experience: Embedded and/or scripting (Python or C).
• Familiarity with Digital Signal Processing
• Working on team projects with significant individual contributions
• Experience with prototyping or fabrication tools (machine shop, 3D printing, etc.).

 

Why Join Us?

• Be a key player in a groundbreaking aerospace startup
• Work on exciting projects with the potential to revolutionize the satellite industry
• Collaborate with a passionate and driven team

Base Hourly Pay

The base hourly pay for this role is $40/hr