Flight Software Engineering Intern

York Space Systems was founded to radically improve spacecraft affordability and reliability, transforming, and enabling next- generation space mission operations worldwide. Today, York is one of the most innovative aerospace companies, specializing in end-to-end customer solutions and the rapid production of spacecraft platforms. York’s complete Space Segment Solution includes spacecraft production, payload integration, system integration & test, launch services, ground segment services, and mission operations, enabling customers to leverage York’s existing technology solutions to get to orbit rapidly and responsively. We’re looking to expand our team across the board.

York Space Systems is looking for a curious, hands-on Software Engineering Intern who wants to build software that interacts with real spacecraft hardware. 

This is not a traditional web-development internship. You’ll work alongside Flight Software and Spacecraft Integration & Test engineers to develop, debug, and test software used to command, monitor, and validate space vehicles. Your work may touch embedded Linux systems, spacecraft interfaces, automated test infrastructure, hardware-in-the-loop environments, networking, telemetry, and the tools engineers use to prove a vehicle is ready for flight. 

You’ll get exposure to the full engineering loop: write code, run it against real or simulated spacecraft hardware, break things safely, debug what happened, improve the software, and run it again. 

The ideal candidate enjoys figuring out how things work, isn’t afraid of a Linux terminal, likes both software and hardware, and gets excited when their code causes something in the physical world to happen. 

Why this internship is different 

You won’t spend the summer making buttons slightly more rounded. 

You’ll work on problems like: 

Why did this process crash? Why did that packet disappear? Why isn’t this device responding? What happens if we restart this service? Did the spacecraft produce the telemetry we expected? Can we automate this test? Can we make this failure happen again? 

And then you’ll help build the software that answers those questions. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and test software used to support spacecraft flight software, vehicle integration, and automated testing  
• Write Python, C/C++, Bash, or other software that interacts with embedded systems and spacecraft hardware  
• Develop software and interfaces running in embedded Linux environments  
• Build tools that command, monitor, configure, and validate spacecraft subsystems  
• Participate in Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) development and testing  
• Connect software to real hardware interfaces, networks, telemetry streams, and subsystem simulators  
• Troubleshoot problems across software, operating systems, networks, and hardware  
• Debug failures using logs, telemetry, command-line tools, debuggers, and test equipment  
• Develop automated tests that exercise spacecraft functionality and verify expected behavior  
• Support York’s test-like-you-fly philosophy by helping make test environments behave more like the real vehicle  
• Write and execute unit tests and integration tests  
• Participate in technical design discussions and code reviews  
• Work with systems, software, electrical, and test engineers to turn high-level requirements into working solutions  
• Identify technical risks early and help develop practical solutions  
• Use Git, GitLab, CI/CD, and modern software-development workflows  
• Communicate what worked, what failed, what you learned, and what you want to try next 
• Love space! 

Preferred for the Role 

• Experience developing software for embedded systems  
• Experience with C or C++ on Linux  
• Experience with microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, robotics, drones, automotive systems, or similar hardware  
• Experience debugging software that communicates with physical devices  
• Familiarity with serial, Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, SPI, I2C, or similar interfaces  
• Experience with multithreading, inter-process communication, or pub/sub messaging  
• Experience with Software-in-the-Loop or Hardware-in-the-Loop testing  
• Experience with automated system-level testing  
• Familiarity with telemetry, command-and-control systems, or distributed systems  
• Experience with GitLab CI/CD or other automated build/test systems  
• Experience with CMake or other C/C++ build systems  
• Familiarity with Docker or containerized development environments  
• Experience with debuggers, packet captures, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, or other debugging tools  
• Experience with spacecraft, aerospace, robotics, or other safety- or mission-critical systems  
• Personal projects where you built something that moves, communicates, senses, controls, or interacts with hardware 
• Familiarity with Python or scripting languages  
• Interest in spacecraft, aerospace, or safety-critical systems  
• Experience working in lab or system integration environments  
• Active Secret Clearance 

Benefits
In addition to compensation, York Space Systems is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance along with PTO and a 401K.

How To Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by clicking the “Apply” link at the top of the page. York Space Systems will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until the position is closed. York Space Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, military or protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  Must have permanent authorization to work in the United States.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions or employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  YORK SPACE SYSTEMS IS AN EEO EMPLOYER.