Internship for optical communication and ground stations (f/m/x)

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR); Weßling; On-site; EUR 12,000 - 17,000; Part time

Job summary

DLR's Optical Satellite Links section invites a student to join the Optical Ground Station Technologies group for hands-on work on laser communication projects. The role focuses on assembling expansion systems, testing configurations, and supporting experiments with satellite terminals and aircraft campaigns.

You will work with telescopes, lasers and environmental monitoring tools, gaining practical experience in space and telescope technology.

Qualifications

• Engineering-related studies required or in progress.
• Interest in space and telescope technology.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and integrate additional systems for ground stations (camera and laser systems, side telescopes, aircraft detection).
• Verify and test superstructures and systems.
• Support test campaigns with satellite terminals and ground experiments.
• Operate telescopes, lasers and support systems (weather monitoring, climate control).

Job description

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

What to expect

Optical free-space communication systems are a rapidly growing area in research and industry. The development, testing and implementation of new future concepts, particularly in the direction of quantum key distribution and new secure communication and data transmission options, are core tasks of the Optical Satellite Links department. The Optical Ground Station Technologies group at the Institute of Communications and Navigation is responsible for the support and further development of optical ground stations for experiments with laser communication in the air, in space and on land. We are able to establish high-speed optical downlinks between airplanes, satellites and the earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eecJqy_89I To expand our capabilities to carry out future laser communication projects, we are looking for a student to work with us on the optical ground stations.

Your tasks

• Assembly and integration of additional and expansion systems for the ground stations (camera and laser systems, side telescopes for special applications, aircraft detection and avoidance systems)
• Verification and testing of various superstructures and systems
• Support for test and trial campaigns with satellite terminals, aircraft campaigns and ground-to-ground experiments
• Operation of telescopes, lasers and support systems (sky monitoring, weather stations, climate management)

Your profile

• Studies in engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, optics, computer science, technical physics, electronics or similar
• Interest in space and telescope technology