Summer 2027 Internship – Test Engineering

Loft Orbital; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing/relocation support

Daily catered lunches and snacks

Job summary

Loft Orbital in Golden, CO is seeking a Test Engineering Intern for Summer 2027 to own hardware and software projects for satellite test operations. You will work across hardware, software, and test systems, taking projects from requirements through design, review, and final delivery on a production satellite environment.

You will gain exposure to satellite testing on the production floor, environmental testing, and other spacecraft operations while collaborating with Loft’s teams and mentors.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a related technical degree (BSc/MSc/PhD); undergrad rising juniors/seniors.
• Programming experience with Python or a similar language.
• Foundational knowledge of electrical concepts (voltage, current, circuits).

Responsibilities

• Own hardware and software projects supporting satellite test operations.
• Develop and deliver test hardware/software through the engineering lifecycle.
• Present designs at Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) and Critical Design Reviews (CDRs).
• Gain hands-on exposure to satellite hardware and test systems.

Skills

Python

Electrical concepts

Problem solving

Communication

Curiosity

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in a related technical field

Job description

Wanna Join the Adventure?

Loft Orbital is looking for a Test Engineering Intern to join our team in Golden, Colorado for Summer 2027. You’ll work alongside our Test Engineering team on hands‑on hardware and software projects that support how we build, test, and operate satellite systems.

This internship is designed to give you meaningful ownership of real engineering work. Rather than supporting isolated tasks, you’ll take projects from requirements through design, review, implementation, and final delivery while learning how hardware, software, and test systems come together in a production satellite environment.

About This Role

As a Test Engineering Intern, you’ll own a mix of hardware and software development projects supporting satellite test and ground‑support systems.

Current project areas may include:

• Designing and building a hardware system to remotely monitor satellite battery voltage through our ground‑support equipment
• Developing a graphical user interface (GUI) to simplify and support solar array deployment testing
• Writing and maintaining software used to support test operations and engineering workflows
• Integrating hardware, software, telemetry, and test equipment into usable engineering tools
• Working from defined engineering requirements and developing solutions that meet those requirements
• Presenting your designs through Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) and Critical Design Reviews (CDRs)
• Documenting, testing, and delivering completed hardware and software products for continued team use

In addition to your primary projects, you may also have opportunities to gain exposure to satellite testing on the production floor, environmental testing, and other aspects of spacecraft operations.

What We’re Looking For

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, or a related technical field; undergraduate students must be rising juniors or rising seniors
• Programming experience with Python or a similar language
• Foundational understanding of electrical concepts, including voltage, current, and circuits
• Strong problem‑solving and communication skills
• Curiosity and interest in working across both hardware and software

Nice to Haves

• Hands‑on experience through internships, research, engineering clubs, or student projects
• Exposure to electrical hardware, RF systems, or test equipment
• Experience building GUIs, software tools, or other applications
• Previous aerospace, satellite, or space‑industry exposure

During Your Internship, You Can Expect To

• Own real hardware and software projects that support Loft’s satellite test operations
• Work through an engineering development lifecycle from requirements through design reviews and final delivery
• Receive ongoing mentorship and feedback from your mentor and manager
• Gain hands‑on exposure to satellite hardware, test systems, and engineering workflows
• Learn from teams across Loft and gain exposure to different parts of the organization
• Build relationships with fellow interns and Loft employees
• Present your work and key learnings at the end of the internship

Compensation & Logistics

• Hourly compensation: $30.00/hour
• Timing: Full-time, 10–12 week Summer 2027 internship. Start and end dates will be coordinated based on school schedule and team availability.
• Location: On‑site in Golden, Colorado
• Relocation: Loft offers housing/relocation support for interns traveling from outside the local area.
• In‑office perks: Daily catered lunches and snacks

Who We Are:

Founded in 2017, Loft provides governments, companies, and research institutions with a fast, reliable, and simple way to deploy missions in orbit.

We integrate, launch, and operate spacecraft, offering end‑to‑end missions as a service across Earth observation, IoT connectivity, on‑orbit AI, national security missions, and more. Leveraging our existing space infrastructure and an extensive inventory of satellite buses, Loft is reducing years‑long integration and launch timelines to months. With more than 30 missions flown, Loft’s flight heritage and proven technologies enable customers to focus on their mission objectives.

With a growing fleet on track to reach 30 satellites by 2027, we are scaling up quickly across our offices in San Francisco, CA | Golden, CO | and Toulouse, France to meet accelerating demand for space infrastructure.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.