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Internship Payload Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer - RFGL Systems

Washington, DC ยท Hybrid

$195K - $232K/yr

Investigate and resolve bugs, performance issues, or enhancement needs in satellite payload ... academic + internship/project work for strong early-career candidates) * Demonstrated hands-on ...

Software Engineer - RFGL Systems

Vienna, VA ยท Hybrid

$90K - $130K/yr

Investigate and resolve bugs, performance issues, or enhancement needs in satellite payload ... academic + internship/project work for strong early-career candidates) * Demonstrated hands-on ...

Investigate and resolve bugs, performance issues, or enhancement needs in satellite payload ... academic + internship/project work for strong early-career candidates) * Demonstrated hands-on ...

Internship Payload information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Payload Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Payload Intern, you generally need a background in engineering, physics, or a related STEM field, alongside strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and programming languages like Python or MATLAB is typically required. Attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are essential soft skills that set candidates apart. These abilities ensure accurate payload design, smooth collaboration, and successful project execution in aerospace or related industries.

What are Internship Payload positions?

Internship Payload positions are entry-level internships focused on supporting the design, development, testing, or integration of payload systems in aerospace, satellite, or similar engineering fields. These roles typically involve hands-on work with payload hardware or software, data analysis, and collaboration with engineering teams to ensure mission requirements are met. Interns in these positions gain valuable experience in real-world aerospace projects, working closely with experienced professionals and learning about the challenges and technologies of payload systems.

What kind of projects or tasks can an intern expect to work on in a Payload Internship?

As a Payload Intern, you can expect to contribute to a variety of hands-on projects that support the design, integration, and testing of payload systems, such as satellites, scientific instruments, or cargo modules. Typical responsibilities may include assisting with hardware assembly, conducting data analysis from test results, documenting procedures, and collaborating with engineers to troubleshoot issues. You'll often work within a multidisciplinary team, gaining exposure to both technical and project management aspects. This role offers the opportunity to develop practical skills and gain insight into the full lifecycle of payload development.

What is the difference between Internship Payload vs Data Analyst?

AspectInternship PayloadData Analyst
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate, some technical skillsBachelor's degree in related field, technical skills often required
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, training-focused, temporaryFull-time, professional, ongoing
Employer & Industry UsageInternship programs across industries, educational institutionsBusiness, finance, healthcare, tech companies
Search & Comparison IntentLearning, entry-level opportunities, career explorationCareer development, skill enhancement, job search

Internship Payload is an entry-level, temporary position aimed at gaining experience, often for students or recent graduates. Data Analyst roles are more permanent, requiring specific skills and credentials, focusing on analyzing data to support business decisions. While both involve working with data, the internship is a stepping stone, whereas the Data Analyst position is a professional career role.

What cities in Washington are hiring for Internship Payload jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Internship Payload job openings:

Software Engineer - RFGL Systems

Spire

Washington, DC โ€ข Hybrid

$195K - $232K/yr

Other

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. We are hiring a Software Engineer to join our US-focused RFGL (Radio Frequency Geolocation) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) product team.

This role is not the algorithmic or scientific core of our geolocation capability (that sits with our Principal RF Engineer and research team). Instead, you will own the operational side: deploying and maintaining production RFGL/SIGINT software systems on AWS, handling data pipelines and integrations (internal + customer-facing), building monitoring tooling and automation, supporting satellite tasking workflows, and troubleshooting/fixing issues across payloads, ground systems, and infrastructure to drive RFGL product success for commercial, government, and defense customers.

ITAR restrictions apply to the work performed on this team. You will work under the direct supervision and mentorship of a senior software engineer on a small, high-impact team. This is an early-to-mid-career hands-on role ideal for someone who thrives in iterative, production-focused environments and wants to contribute meaningfully to mission-critical space systems without needing deep RF estimation theory expertise upfront.

What You'll Do:

  • Deploy, maintain, and monitor RFGL and SIGINT software products in AWS production environments, ensuring high availability and performance for real customers
  • Build and improve data handling pipelines, integrations with Spire internal systems, and customer-facing data delivery platforms
  • Develop tooling and automation for production monitoring, alerting, logging, and operational observability
  • Support satellite tasking operations and command workflows that enable RF geolocation missions
  • Investigate and resolve bugs, performance issues, or enhancement needs in satellite payload software, ground systems, and related infrastructure
  • Collaborate closely with the senior software engineer, RF domain experts, and cross-functional teams to implement incremental improvements that directly enhance RFGL product reliability and capability
  • Contribute to infrastructure automation, CI/CD processes, and secure deployment practices in a regulated environment

Required Qualifications:

  • 2-5 years of professional software engineering experience (or equivalent academic + internship/project work for strong early-career candidates)
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience with AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda, ECS/EKS, CloudWatch, IAM, or similar services) - this is critical
  • Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, data processing, and backend tooling
  • Solid Linux fundamentals (administration, bash scripting, system troubleshooting)
  • Experience building or maintaining production systems with a focus on reliability, monitoring, and operational excellence
  • Strong communication skills and comfort working collaboratively in a small team under senior guidance

Preferred Qualifications: (These are differentiators)

  • Security background or experience implementing secure engineering practices, compliance controls, or working in regulated/government environments
  • Background with big data systems, pipelines, or tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Databricks, S3-based data lakes)
  • Infrastructure-as-Code experience (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, etc.)
  • Prior exposure to space, aerospace, satellite operations, ground stations, or related domains
  • Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, etc.), or observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack)
  • Any experience reading/debugging C++ or embedded systems code (helpful for payload/ground system work)

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses-this is not something candidates need to have before applying.ย  #LI-MK1