Master student / Internship (m/f/d) in Information Technology or Physics

Dlr; Oberpfaffenhofen; Remote; EUR 13.000 - 20.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

DLR – Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. in Oberpfaffenhofen offers a Master student internship in Information Technology or Physics.

Starting 01.12.2026, a 6‑month fulltime/part-time position focuses on real-time adaptive optics software and research in free-space optical communications. You will implement real-time approaches, define control-loop requirements, evaluate Linux real-time solutions, and optimize inter-component communications.

Qualifikationen

• Pursuing a Master in Information Technology or Physics.
• Fundamental knowledge of C++ and Linux.
• Interest in real-time control and adaptive optics is a plus.

Aufgaben

• Define real-time requirements for the adaptive optics control loop.
• Evaluate Linux-based real-time solutions (e.g., Ubuntu PREEMPT_RT).
• Introduce real-time thread scheduling, priorities and CPU affinity.
• Explore memory locking and preallocation to avoid delays.
• Improve data exchange between camera, processing, controller and deformable mirror.
• Investigate network/middleware effects on control-loop timing.

Kenntnisse

C++

Git

CMake

Linux Environment

Python

Docker containers

Real time systems

Ausbildung

Master student in IT or Physics

Tools

Ubuntu PREEMPT_RT

Jobbeschreibung

Master student / Internship (m/f/d) in Information Technology or Physics

Place of work: Oberpfaffenhofen

Starting date: 01.12.2026

Career level: Internship, Student research project and final thesis

Type of employment: Full-time, Part time

Duration of contract: 6 month

Remuneration

Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund).

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our12,000employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge?Then this is your place!

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 communications are an exciting technology under intense development to provide secure high bandwidth communications to all areas of the world. In order to provide reliable light reception at the Optical Ground Station, Adaptive Optics is used to sense wave-front aberrations in the light and correct it in real-time. This requires high optical precision, high performance control systems and accurate calibration procedures.

Your tasks

In this role, you will be responsible for implementing suitable real time approaches to our adaptive optics software. Your duties will include:

• Defining the real-time requirements of the adaptive optics control loop
• Evaluating suitable solutions. E.g. Linux-based real-time solutions, such as Ubuntu with the PREEMPT_RT real-time kernel
• Introducing real-time thread scheduling, thread priorities and CPU affinity
• Evaluating memory locking, preallocation and other techniques for avoiding unpredictable delays
• Optimising communication between the camera, wavefront-processing, controller and deformable-mirror components
• Investigating the influence of network and middleware communication on control-loop timing
• Developing a reproducible configuration and deployment procedure for the real-time system

Your profile

Familiarity with some of the following is desirable:

• C++,
• Git
• CMake
• Linux Environment
• Python
• Docker containers
• Real time systems

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 6412) please contact:

Dr. Douglas Laidlaw

Tel.: [phone]