Space Situational Awareness Internship / Master Thesis (m/w/d)

Your mission

Join us in shaping the future of safe and sustainable space operations. At OKAPI Orbits, we develop innovative technologies and data-driven solutions to protect the space environment and empower decision-makers across the space industry. Whether you're building intelligent software, analyzing orbital dynamics, or designing user-friendly tools, your work will contribute to minimizing risks, enhancing operational safety, and enabling responsible space exploration for generations to come.

Please note that the internship needs to be part of your university curriculum.

Your tasks and responsibilities

We have a variety of topics in which you can contribute. Some of them are:

• Orbit determination
• Covariance realism
• Atmospheric modelling
• Conjunction risk assessment
• Maneuver optimization
• Maneuver detection and pattern extraction
• Space debris environment modelling

The content described serves as a guideline. Tasks and focus areas may be adjusted depending on availability and current projects.

Your profile

Must-haves

• Possibility to relocate to Brunswick from within the EEA with a valid working permit
• Enrolled student (BSc or MSc) in a study program related to Space Engineering
• Strong knowledge of orbital mechanics
• Exceptional academic track record
• Independent working style
• English intermediate (at least B2)

Nice-to-haves

• Proven analytical thinking through past research projects
• Programming experience in Fortran, Python and/or Java

Why us?

• With a lean hierarchy and small working groups, you define your own way of work including flexible work hours.
• Work on groundbreaking space sustainability challenges with a team of top-tier engineers and scientists.
• After your on-boarding time in Braunschweig, you can choose between staying in our office, working remote (within Germany) or a hybrid approach.
• Enjoy technical freedom. Influence system architecture, research methodologies, and data integration approaches.
• Grow continuously with access to training budgets, industry conferences, and networking opportunities.
• Be part of a strong engineering culture, with regular knowledge-sharing sessions, technical deep dives, and innovation sprints.
• Great team spirit, with company-wide events such as monthly all-hands lunches, and social activities like laser tag, dinners, and team-building outings.

From Application to Offer: Our Hiring Process

• You send us your application
• We review your profile and get back to you with a short questionnaire
• A first interview with our HR team
• A second interview with a member of the team you would join
• A final interview with the department lead