Flight Software Engineering Intern (Summer 2027) New San Jose, CA

Muon Space, Inc.; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Muon Space, Inc. in San Jose, CA is seeking a Flight Software Engineering Intern for Summer 2027 to contribute to software that runs on satellites and testing tools. You will own a project from design to deployment with mentorship and hands-on experience.

The role focuses on C/C++ and Python, developing simulations, tests, and debugging software with hardware integration. This on-site internship offers real impact, mentorship from experienced aerospace engineers, and exposure to space-grade

Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft software development is a plus.
• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and software principles.
• Ability to break down problems, test assumptions, and debug effectively.
• Willingness to learn unfamiliar tools and systems, and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for spacecraft or supporting development and test tools.
• Propose and iterate on software designs with guidance from the team.
• Write automated tests and use simulation or hardware testing to validate work.
• Investigate and debug software issues, including software-hardware interactions.
• Participate in code reviews and document work for reuse by other engineers.

Job description

Flight Software Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

San Jose, CA

About the role

Summer internships will range between the months of May and September depending on university schedules. Internship is full-time and on-site in Mountain View or San Jose, CA.

The Software Engineering team at Muon is responsible for software on the spacecraft, at ground stations, in the cloud and for local tools, visualization and simulation. Interns can look forward to owning a project from start to finish which could involve enabling a new type of task for the spacecraft, simulating a new component, writing the software for a new piece of hardware, or deploying new algorithms for processing images and other sensor data from the spacecraft. Come work with the team and help build our new software capabilities!

Muon is a small and fast growing startup which offers interns the experience to get direct mentorship and have real impact on our programs. As an intern, you'll collaborate with a dynamic team in a startup environment and have the chance to learn from some of the most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the industry. We're committed to offering an experience where your decisions and contributions play a pivotal role in driving Muon's success.

The team is seeking a Flight Software Intern to help develop the software that runs on our satellites and the tools we use to test it. You’ll work alongside flight software engineers on a project scoped for the internship, with mentorship through design, implementation, and testing.

Flight software projects may include adding a spacecraft software capability, integrating a hardware component, developing simulations, or improving automated testing and developer tools. You’ll collaborate with software and hardware engineers and gain hands‑on experience building reliable software for spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for spacecraft or supporting development and test tools.
• Propose and iterate on software designs with guidance from the team.
• Write automated tests and use simulation or hardware testing to validate your work.
• Investigate and debug software issues, including interactions between software and hardware.
• Participate in code reviews and document your work so other engineers can use and maintain it.

Qualifications

• Programming experience in C, C++, Python, or a similar language through coursework, personal projects, research, or previous internships.
• Coursework or practical experience in data structures, algorithms, and software development fundamentals.
• Ability to break down problems, test assumptions, and work through bugs.
• Willingness to learn unfamiliar tools and systems, ask questions, and communicate technical ideas with teammates.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Previous internship or co‑op experience
• Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. programming, robotics or rocket club, etc.)
• Understanding of physics and orbital mechanics
• Experience working with microcontrollers, sensors, or other hardware, including reading technical documentation and datasheets.
• Exposure to operating systems, real‑time software, communication protocols, or simulation.

Pay range

Bachelor's students $40/hour

Master's $45/hour

PhD $50/hour

About Muon Space

Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission‑critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time‑to‑orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state‑of‑the‑art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.

Taking Care of Our Team

At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, full‑time employees receive equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.

Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too. Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Muon is currently registered and able to hire in the following states:
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA

This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Muon Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.