Introduction -
The Flight Software Engineering Intern will be responsible for assisting in the design, development, and testing of software that controls and manages Turion’s fleet of spacecraft. This role involves working closely with operators and ground software teams to ensure that flight software meets mission-specific requirements. As an intern at Turion, you will gain hands-on experience in embedded systems and have the opportunity to contribute to real spacecraft missions over a minimum three-month period.

Department: Vehicle / Ground Software
Employment Type: Internship
Location: Irvine, California
Workplace type: Onsite
Compensation: $70,000 - $90,000 / year
Reporting To: Jeffrey St. Jean

Key Responsibilities

Help architect and test flight software that is used on-board Turion’s fleet of satellites, including driver development and integration with onboard components.
Assist in defining and executing test procedures for component-level and system-level validation, including hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing.
Participate in architecture discussions to improve fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies for spacecraft missions.
Prepare and maintain comprehensive documentation for flight software, including design specifications, test plans, and user manuals. Ensure documentation is accurate and complies with company standards.
Provide support for flight software during mission operations. Troubleshoot and resolve software issues that arise during testing and in-flight operations.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including systems engineers, hardware engineers, and mission planners, to address and resolve software-related issues.

Qualifications

Required -

Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in an engineering or science discipline (typically junior or senior year).
Proficiency in C or C++ for embedded systems, demonstrated through coursework, personal projects, lab work, club experience, or prior internship.
Experience with Linux and shell command-line tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.

Preferred -

Previous internship experience in embedded software, robotics, or aerospace.
Exposure to driver development, board bring-up, or real-time operating systems in a project or lab setting.
Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python) for testing, automation, or data analysis.
Familiarity with commonly used protocols and standards for spacecraft or embedded systems (e.g., CAN, SpaceWire, CCSDS).
Experience with NASA’s Core Flight System (cFS).
A love for small fast paced teams and fast-moving organizations.

ITAR Requirements:

This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Turion Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Turion 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. Applicants wishing to view a copy of Turion’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department.

About Turion Space

Turion Space was founded with the vision of propelling humanity toward an interplanetary future. To realize this vision, we are developing cutting-edge spacecraft focused on space transport, orbital debris removal, and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) to ensure ongoing value creation. Our mission centers on advancing spacecraft for low-earth orbit (LEO) and enhancing SDA, which are essential for both current space operations and future interplanetary exploration. By prioritizing high delta-V per dollar, we aim to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness in space transportation. We successfully launched our DROID.001 satellite in June 2023, with DROID.002 and DROID.003 scheduled for 2025.

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