Development Verification Test Intern

Capella Space • San Francisco, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Capella is seeking an Intern to join the Development Verification Test (DVT) Engineering team in San Francisco, CA. This internship offers hands-on experience supporting the lifecycle of test engineering for spacecraft hardware, including ground test infrastructure. You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, RF, software, and sensor design teams to learn how spacecraft hardware is tested and qualified to meet functional, performance, and reliability requirements. This role provides an excellent growth opportunity for students or recent graduates interested in spacecraft test engineering and hardware validation.

Requirements

• Currently attending a degree program and available to work full time for 10 weeks outside of university term time.
• In their penultimate academic year or returning to a degree program after completion of the internship.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field.
• Basic understanding of hardware testing concepts and hands-on experience with electrical or mechanical components preferred.
• Familiarity with test planning, execution, and documentation processes a plus.
• Strong curiosity and eagerness to learn about spacecraft systems and test engineering practices.
• Good communication skills and ability to work well within a team.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and maintain attention to detail in test procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the verification and troubleshooting of spacecraft hardware (avionics, RF, mechanical) across various phases of design, validation, and qualification.
• Help develop and execute test plans and procedures to ensure thorough test coverage for electrical and mechanical systems.
• Support building and maintaining test fixtures and test setups.
• Participate in subsystem bring-up and testing activities, both in the lab and simulated environments (e.g., thermal vacuum chambers).
• Assist with documentation of test results, procedures, and hardware configurations.
• Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and vendors to support test execution and hardware improvements.
• Learn best practices for testing mission-critical aerospace hardware and supporting cross-functional teams.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees