Software Intern- Mission Control Center

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Visa sponsorship where applicable

Job summary

The Exploration Company is seeking a Software Intern, Mission Control Center, to help build and set up the systems powering our mission operations. You will own development, integration, and configuration of mission support tools used by flight controllers and engineers, while supporting testing and deployment in a fast-paced environment.

The role offers hands-on experience on a real flying program, with relocation assistance available for eligible candidates as we expand across our space

Qualifications

• Enrolled in or recently completed CS/SE/Aerospace degree.
• Proficient in Python; frontend with TS/JS.
• Experience with Git and Linux.
• Familiar with OO programming and basic design.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Assist in setting up and commissioning the Mission Control Center infrastructure.
• Develop, integrate, and configure mission support tools.
• Contribute across the software lifecycle from design to deployment.
• Collaborate with engineering and operations to meet needs.
• Write maintainable code and contribute to automated tests.
• Assist with infrastructure setup to streamline delivery.
• Support users and improve development workflows.

Skills

Python

TypeScript

JavaScript

Git

Linux

OO concepts

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Independent work

Education

CS/SE/Aerospace degree (enrolled or recently completed)

Tools

Docker

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecraft for humanity. We want you as a talented Software Intern, Mission Control Center to help us in our mission by building and setting up the systems that power our mission operations. You will support the setup of our Mission Control Center and own the development, integration, and configuration of mission support tools used by flight controllers and engineering teams. This is a hands-on internship on a real, flying program: the software you touch supports integrated testing and operations of Nyx.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting the setup and commissioning of our Mission Control Center, from infrastructure and workstation configuration to operational readiness
• Owning the development, integration, and configuration of mission support tools
• Contributing across the software development lifecycle, from design and implementation to deployment
• Collaborating with engineering and operations teams to understand and meet operational needs
• Writing maintainable, well-documented code and contributing to automated testing
• Helping with infrastructure setup to streamline delivery
• Supporting users of our tooling and helping improve development workflows

What we would love to see from you

In the role of Software Intern, Mission Control Center ideally, you will have the following:

Education

• Enrolled in (or recently completed) a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field

Experience

• Programming experience with Python
• Some exposure to frontend development with TypeScript/JavaScript and modern frameworks (React, Vue.js, or similar)
• Experience with version control systems such as Git
• Comfortable working in a Linux environment

Skills and Competencies

• Familiarity with object-oriented programming concepts and basic design principles
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently, ask questions, and take ownership of a scoped topic
• Motivation to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with agentic coding workflows (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor), with the judgment to review and validate output
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker)
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines
• Basic knowledge of networking or Linux system administration
• Prior project or academic work in the space industry or another safety-critical domain
• Personal or university projects involving ground segment, satellite operations, or hardware-in-the-loop testing

Why you should join us!

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind
• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them
• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?

The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.

If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.