Automation & Controls Engineering Associate (Summer 2027)

Astranis • San Francisco, CA

7h • Onsite

About The Position

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.

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.

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
• U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

Responsibilities

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level