Avionics Systems/Test Engineering Intern – Summer 2027

K2Spacecorporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Travel stipend

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking a motivated Avionics Systems/Test Engineering Intern to join our team in Torrance for a 3-month internship. You will design, analyze, test, and integrate avionics on large satellites, working hands-on with integrated AVIONICS interfaces, harnessing, and RF components.

You’ll collaborate with engineers, mentor teams, and develop systems documentation. The role requires real hardware exposure, and prior space-electronics experience is valued.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree in electrical or computer engineering.
• 6+ months of technical engineering experience outside of university settings (lab, projects, internships).
• 12-week internship in person at HQ in Torrance, CA.
• Experience with environmental testing for space electronics (thermal, vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC).
• Competence with electrical test equipment (power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers).
• Experience with Linux, Bash, C++.
• Networking systems and testing tools: TCP/UDP, IP, VLANs, iperf, tcpdump.
• Vehicle-level testing incl. test procedures, data review, and health assessment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Responsible Engineer for avionics system design, performance, hardware, and test across the satellite bus.
• Collaborate within cross-functional Engineering teams to capture requirements, lead design trades, build avionics test systems, and integrate flight hardware into the spacecraft.
• Create and update technical documentation including diagrams, interface control documents, procedures, and test/anomaly reports.
• Design, build, and program automated test stands for avionics hardware.
• Execute avionics component and system testing on flight hardware through development, acceptance, qualification, and integration testing.
• Support spacecraft integration testing, issue dispositions, troubleshooting failures, and risk management.
• Design, develop and build avionics production infrastructure.
• Write modular and reusable test, analysis, and automation software in Python and Rust.
• Manage and communicate project plan, milestones, and schedule execution.

Skills

Engineering basics

C++

Linux

Bash

Test equipment

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

Altium PCB

PCB schematic capture

Electrical test equipment

Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.

The Role

We’relooking for a stellar Avionics Systems/TestEngineeringIntern to join our team for a3monthinternship. Working closely with our engineers, you willbe responsibleforsystem design, analysis,testingand integration of avionics on some of the largest, most powerful, rapidlydesignedand manufactured satellites. You will work hands‑on with novela vionics interfacing, harnessing, instrumentation, RF components, and GNC actuators used across the satellite,while getting exposure to other subsystems within the engineering organization. K2 Space is a highly collaborativeenvironment,and our interns will be encouraged to work with mentors and other team members to execute complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Responsible Engineer foravionicssystem design, performance,hardware, and testacrossthe satellite bus

• Collaborate closely within the cross functionalEngineeringteamsto capture requirements, lead design trades,buildavionicstest systems,and integrateflight hardwareinto the spacecraft

• Create and update technical documentation including systemand test assetdiagrams, schematics, interface control documents, procedures,andtest/anomaly reports

• Design, build, and program automated test stands for avionicshardware

• Executeavionicscomponentand system testing on flight hardware through development,acceptance, qualification, and integration testing

• Support spacecraft integration testing, production issue dispositions, troubleshooting failures, and managing overall spacecraft risk

• Design, develop and buildavionics production infrastructure

• Write modularand reusable test, analysis, and automation software in Python andRust

• Effectively manage and communicate project plan, milestones, and schedule execution

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in aBachelor’s or Master’sdegree in electrical or computer engineering

• 6+ months experience of technical engineering skills outside of the university setting classroom (eg: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personalprojectsor prior internship/work experience)

Additional Requirements

• Available for a minimum 12-week internship in person at our HQ in Torrance

Nice to Have

• Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers

• Hands‑on experience withenvironmental testing for space electronics and harnessing such as thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, radiation, and EMI/EMC testing per SMC‑S‑016

• Competence with electrical test equipment (power supplies,multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers,etc.)

• Experience withhigh‑voltageelectrical systems

• Experience with NX or similar CAD software

• Experience in PCB schematic capture and board layout, ideally using Altium or similar software

• Experience with Linux, Bash, C++

• Experience withnetworking systems and associated testingtools:TCP/UDP, IP, VLANs,iperf,tcpdump

• Experience with vehicle level testing including writing test procedures, creating robust and efficient test sequencing, and analytical data review to evaluate hardware health

Compensation and Benefits:

• Hourly pay range for this non-exempt role is $30 - $40 per hour

• Hourly rate will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

• Housing and travel stipend may also be available

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.