Thermal Intern (Summer 2027)
About the role
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.
Thermal Intern (Summer 2027)
Internships at Astranis typically last for twelve weeks, and are hourly roles designed for students who are currently enrolled at a four-year university.
As an Intern, you will have an amazing opportunity to work on hard problems - we pride ourselves on giving everyone at Astranis a chance to do meaningful work on complex projects, no matter their seniority. Many past interns have designed and tested hardware/software that is heading to space on our first satellite, and many of them are now full-time employees at Astranis.
If you have already graduated from a four-year university, please apply to be an Associate Engineer.
Role
- Work together with the engineering team to design, evaluate, build, and test satellite hardware and/or software.
- Support design trades that successfully balance performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule.
- Perform thermal analysis to varying degrees of fidelity (simplified to detailed) on a variety of different types of hardware such as propulsion components, batteries, high powered electronics, RF components, mechanisms, and printed circuit boards (PCBs).
- Design, evaluate, procure and test thermal solutions such as heaters, heat pipes, thermal interface materials, and surface coatings.
- Develop processes and procedures for integration and assembly which ensure thermal design intent is met. Collaborate with the integration and test team in the installation of thermal hardware as needed.
- Plan and run thermal vacuum testing and verification at the component and spacecraft level.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a B.S. or M.S. in mechanical, aerospace, or equivalent technical degree (e.g. physics or applied math)
- A passion and enthusiasm for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design and development
- Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from scratch.
- US Citizenship or Green Card
- Don't meet them all? Not a problem. Please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria.
Bonus
- Experience with CAD
- Experience with analytical software thermal analysis such as ANSYS and Thermal Desktop
- Experience with electronics systems design and packaging
- Experience (projects or previous internships) related to aerospace
The base pay for this position is $29.00 per hour.
Base Hourly Pay
$29 - $29 USD
U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required
(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))
Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.
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Copied from the listing Astranis published, verified 29 Oct 2026.
The application
Your details and CV, then 8 questions (2 written).
- 1.Astranis complies with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, therefore will you state which of the following applies to you:Pick one
- 2.Please tell us in a few sentences about the most impressive thing that you have built or achieved. (If you are describing a team effort or group project, please be specific about your personal contribution.)Written answer
- 3.Most modern windows use double pane glass to reduce the amount of heat transferred into or out of buildings. Consider a double pane window with 1 m^2 area and a 1 mm air gap between 2 window panes when the inner pane is held at 20 C, and thWritten answer
- 4.At the start of your internship with Astranis, what educational level will you be pursuing?Pick one
- 5.Please confirm the season you are applying for.Pick one: Summer 2027
- 6.When are you able to join Astranis as an intern? (12 week minimum)Short answer
- 7.When do you plan on ending your internship?Short answer
- 8.At Astranis, we value in-person collaboration and a strong work ethic. Are you comfortable with working onsite at our San Francisco HQ 5 days a week?Yes or no
Taken from the application form Astranis runs, verified 29 Oct 2026.
About Astranis
Designs, builds and operates high-orbit satellites for sovereign connectivity.
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