Antenna Design Intern: X-band Antenna Array Design for DOA applications

Loft Orbital; Toulouse; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lunch vouchers

Sustainable mobility package

International environment

Mentoring program

Job summary

Loft Orbital's RF team designs and integrates antennas across frequency bands for satellite platforms, from VHF to X-band. This 6-month end-of-studies internship in Toulouse offers hands-on work with CST/HFSS, Python/MATLAB, and collaboration with senior engineers to develop X-band antenna arrays for future missions.

You will conduct technology watches, perform simulations, write reports, and contribute to integration on Loft Orbital’s satellite platforms, while learning RF design in a genuinely

Qualifications

• Fluent English communication skills.
• Pursuing a masters in electrical engineering with emphasis on antenna/RF design.
• Experience with CST/HFSS/ADS or similar EM tools.
• Interest in space industry and RF design fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct technology watch and market survey on X-band antennas (9–12 GHz).
• Design and synthesize antenna structures using CST/HFSS.
• Collaborate with RF, mechanical, and systems teams to develop X-band arrays.
• Assist integration of antennas on Loft Orbital satellite platforms.
• Write technical reports and share findings with the team.

Skills

Fluent English

Python

MATLAB

Team collaboration

Scientific programming

Education

Pursuing a master's level degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis on antenna and RF design

Tools

CST

HFSS

ADS

Job description

Wanna join the adventure?
The RF team at Loft Orbital designs and integrates antennas across frequency bands, from VHF to X-band, onto satellite platforms. Besides single antenna elements, the team also designs arrays for DOA-based RF emitter geolocation from LEO. Loft has already designed and manufactured L/S and S/C antenna arrays and now wants to support X-band. This is where you come in!

You will work closely with senior engineers from the RF team and propose new antenna designs for future missions. Based on papers available in the scientific literature and commercial EM simulation tools, you will have the mission to simulate and validate those antenna concepts. These tasks are critical to saving valuable engineering time for the RF team, and your contributions will directly impact the future of upcoming RF payloads.

Location: Toulouse office, city center (Jeanne d’Arc metro station)
Duration: 6-month, end-of-studies internship— target start date: early 2027.

About this role:

• Conduct technology watch, market survey and state-of-the-art research X-band antenna (9-12 GHz) adapted to DOA applications
• Design and synthesize innovative structures using tools such as CST.
• Work with the RF team, the mechanicla team and the System Engineering team to develop new X-band antenna arrays.
• Contribute to the integration of these antennas on Loft Orbital’s satellite platforms.
• Learn and apply principles of RF and antenna engineering.
• Help optimize antenna performance/placement with simulation software.
• Write technical reports.
• Actively collaborate with the team by sharing ideas and knowledge.
• Pursuing a master's level degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis on antenna and RF design.
• Commercial electromagnetic simulation tools, such as CST (or HFSS).
• Scientific programming, particularly in Python or MATLAB.
• Writing technical and scientific documents.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal, to work effectively in our international team.
• Good understanding of passive RF circuits and impedance matching.
• Basic understanding of link budgets.
• Experience with ADS.
• Knowledge of RF measurement equipment (VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, etc.).
• Interest in the space industry.
• Gratification: €1,300 gross/month.
• Lunch vouchers (tickets restaurant), because let's be honest, we love food! (we even have a Slack channel about it: #loft-gourmand)
• Sustainable mobility package (forfait mobilité durable).
• A genuinely international environment comprising 20+ different nationalities.
• A genuine mentoring program to support you on a daily basis throughout the internship.