Astranis internship in 2026: what you need and how to apply

Astranis Space Technologies has quietly become one of the most sought-after internship destinations in the satellite industry. With a fleet of MicroGEO satellites already in orbit and commercial contracts stacking up, the San Francisco-based company is hiring interns who can contribute to real missions, not just fetch coffee.

This guide covers what Astranis internship roles look like in 2026, who gets hired, what they pay, and how the application process works. If you are studying engineering or computer science and want to work on satellites that actually fly, this is worth your time.

What Astranis actually does (and why interns matter)

Astranis designs, builds, and operates small geostationary satellites. Unlike traditional GEO satellites that cost hundreds of millions and take years to build, Astranis MicroGEO spacecraft weigh around 400 kg and can be assembled in months. Each one delivers broadband connectivity to underserved markets, from Alaska to the Philippines.

The company has raised over $500 million in funding and has a backlog of commercial orders. That growth means they need engineering talent fast, and their internship program is one of the primary pipelines for full-time hires.

Why this matters for interns

At a company of roughly 350 people, interns are not siloed into side projects. Former Astranis interns consistently report working on flight hardware, writing production code, or running thermal-vacuum tests on actual spacecraft components. The small team size means you sit next to the engineers who designed the systems you are working on.

Astranis internship roles available in 2026

Astranis typically posts internship openings in the following areas:

Most positions require you to be pursuing a BS or MS in a relevant engineering field. PhD candidates apply too, but the company generally favors people who want to build things over people who want to study them.

Astranis internship pay and benefits

Astranis pays interns well by startup standards, though not quite at the level of SpaceX or large defense primes.

For context, a 12-week internship at $40/hr works out to roughly $19,200 before taxes. The housing stipend matters because San Francisco rent will eat that paycheck quickly without it.

How Astranis intern pay compares

How to apply for an Astranis internship

Application timeline

Astranis typically opens summer internship postings between September and January. The hiring process moves fast compared to larger companies:

1. Application: Submit your resume through the Astranis careers page. Tailor it to the specific role.
2. Resume screen: The team reviews applications in batches. Expect 1-3 weeks for a response.
3. Phone screen: A 30-minute call with a recruiter or hiring manager covering your background and interest in Astranis.
4. Technical interview: One or two rounds focused on domain-specific problems. For software roles, expect coding challenges. For hardware roles, expect design questions.
5. Offer: Decisions usually come within a week of the final interview.

What makes an application stand out

Astranis gets thousands of applications for a handful of intern spots. Here is what gives you an edge:

• Hands-on project experience: CubeSat teams, rocketry clubs, Formula SAE, robotics competitions. Anything where you built and tested real hardware or shipped real software.
• Relevant coursework: Orbital mechanics, control systems, embedded systems, RF engineering, signal processing.
• Side projects: Personal projects that show initiative. A home-built antenna tracker, a satellite ground station, a PCB you designed and ordered.
• Specificity about Astranis: Mention their MicroGEO architecture. Reference their Alaska coverage mission or their partnership with telecom operators. Show that you understand the product.

Astranis wants builders. If your resume shows that you have made things that work, you are already ahead of most applicants.

What an Astranis internship looks like day to day

Interns at Astranis work out of the company headquarters in San Francisco. The office includes a satellite assembly facility, so you are not far from the hardware regardless of your team.

A typical day varies by department, but the general pattern looks like this:

• Morning: Stand-up meeting with your team, review tasks for the day
• Midday: Focused work on your project. This could mean running simulations, writing flight software, testing electronics, or analyzing mission data.
• Afternoon: Cross-team collaboration, design reviews, or test sessions on the factory floor
• Weekly: All-hands meeting where leadership shares updates on missions and business milestones

Interns are assigned a mentor and a specific project that ties into the company's actual roadmap. The deliverable at the end of the summer is real work, not a presentation about what you learned.

Skills to develop before applying

If you are a year or two away from applying, here is what to focus on:

For hardware roles

• Learn a CAD tool deeply (SolidWorks or NX preferred)
• Take courses in heat transfer, structural analysis, and orbital mechanics
• Get hands-on with electronics: soldering, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers
• Join a university satellite or rocketry team

For software roles

• Get comfortable with C/C++ and Python
• Learn Linux system administration and networking basics
• Study real-time operating systems and embedded programming
• Contribute to open-source space software projects (SatNOGS, GMAT, or similar)

For systems roles

• Study systems engineering fundamentals (INCOSE resources are a good start)
• Learn STK or GMAT for orbit analysis
• Develop strong technical writing skills
• Practice breaking complex problems into requirements and verification plans

Frequently asked questions about Astranis internships

Do I need a graduate degree to intern at Astranis?

No. Astranis hires undergraduate interns regularly, particularly rising juniors and seniors. A master's degree can help for more specialized roles, but strong project experience often matters more than degree level.

Are there fall or spring internships at Astranis?

Astranis has occasionally offered off-cycle internships, but summer is the primary season. Check their careers page starting in September for the most up-to-date listings.

Can international students apply?

It depends on the role. Positions involving ITAR-controlled technology require US person status. Some software and data roles may be open to international students on valid work authorization. The posting will specify.

What is the conversion rate from intern to full-time?

Estimates from former interns suggest around 60-70% receive return offers. Performance during the internship is the primary factor, followed by headcount availability on your specific team.

How competitive are Astranis internships?

Very. The company receives thousands of applications for each cohort. Having hands-on satellite, robotics, or embedded systems experience significantly improves your odds.

Start your space career search

Astranis internships are competitive, but the space industry has more entry points than ever. If you are exploring opportunities across the sector, browse internship openings in space or check out roles at SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Blue Origin on Zero G Talent. You can also explore aerospace engineering positions and software engineering roles across 50+ space companies.