Intern - Flight Dynamics
AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected.
Position Overview
We are seeking an Intern to join our team for the 2026 Summer Internship Program, supporting the Flight Dynamics team within the Mission Operations group. This role provides hands-on exposure to spacecraft mission operations, constellation fleet management, astrodynamics analysis, and automation. The Flight Dynamics team performs orbit determination, propagation, maneuver planning, and collision avoidance for the AST fleet. The intern will work with the Flight Dynamics team and across other subsystems, gaining practical experience in real systems.
This is a 14-week internship beginning 05/18/2026 at our Lahham, MD location. To be considered for the internship you must be enrolled in the following semester. If you are a recent graduate, please apply to one of our full-time roles.
Key Responsibilities
- Gain familiarity with flight dynamics responsibilities including orbit determination, propagation, conjunction assessment, and collision avoidance.
- Perform flight dynamics data analysis and simulations.
- Develop code to help automate day-to-day flight dynamics tasks to support satellite operations at scale.
- Create visualizations and dashboards to monitor status of all flight dynamics products.
- Create and document flight dynamics workflows and best practices.
- Participate in technical discussions, design meetings, and presentations.
Education
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program with at least 2 years completed, preferably in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, astronomy, or a related field.
- Completion of at least one undergraduate-level course in Orbital Mechanics (sometimes referred to as Astrodynamics, Flight Dynamics, or Spaceflight Mechanics).
Experience
- No professional experience is required, but other relevant coursework, laboratory experience, academic projects, internships, or student project teams are beneficial.
- Demonstrated interest in Flight Dynamics, Mission Design, and/or Mission Operations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Some programming experience in Python (strongly preferred) or MATLAB
- Exposure to version control (Git/GitHub)
- Experience with astrodynamics analysis and simulation software (STK/ODTK, GMAT, FreeFlyer)
Soft Skills
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong desire to learn and apply engineering fundamentals in a real-world environment.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional engineering teams.
- Attention to detail in technical work and documentation.
- Self-starter with curiosity and willingness to both ask questions and learn independently.
Technology Stack
- STK (Systems Tool Kit) and ODTK (Orbit Determination Tool Kit)
- Python, Git
- Standard engineering & collaboration tools (MS Office Suite, Confluence, Jira)
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods.
- Ability to participate in meetings, technical discussions, and collaborative engineering sessions.
This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands.
AST SpaceMobile is an Equal Opportunity, at will Employer; employment 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.
