Fall 2025

Internship-Software Engineering

Fall 2025

Posted on 8/15/2025

Space Kinetic

Space Kinetic

11-50 employees

Propellant-free payload deployment system for space

Compensation Overview

$20 - $30/hr

El Segundo, CA, USA

In Person

Onsite at headquarters in El Segundo, CA. ITAR/U.S. citizenship/residency requirements apply.

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Software Engineering (3)
, ,
Required Skills
Git
Java
C#
C/C++
Requirements
  • Currently enrolled in a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related program at an accredited college or university
  • Passion for solving real-world engineering problems in software
  • Strong programming fundamentals in OOP Languages such as C++, C#, or Java
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, self-driven entrepreneurial workplace
  • Experience with Version Control (Git) and collaborative development workflows
  • Ability to work with minimal direction or support and to learn quickly; strong analytical skills; creative and innovative thinking; detail-oriented; calm under pressure; commitment to follow-through; enthusiastic with a talent for motivating others; receptive to criticism and open to others' ideas; and effective in written communication.
  • 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).
Responsibilities
  • Intern will work across the stack and across disciplines with a multidisciplinary team of software engineers, physicists, and electrical engineers on projects spanning Data Acquisition (DAQ) and Controls Applications, Ground Controls and Telemetry Systems, Orbital Dynamics and Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulations, Embedded Systems and Device Integration, Scientific Computing, Optimization, and Visualization, and Enterprise Services (APIs, Databases, Job Scheduling).
  • Tackle hard, cutting-edge problems where Stack Overflow and LLMs don't always have the answers.
  • Not explicitly listed, but implied: contribute to software projects within the described areas.
Desired Qualifications
  • Passion for Systems Programming or Lower-Level Programming (C/C++, RTOS, bare-metal)
  • Experience in developing multi-threaded applications
  • CI/CD, build tools, and DevOps practices
  • Scripting in Python, MATLAB, or similar
  • Curiosity for testing in-space operation
  • Passion for the commercial and government space industry is a strong plus

Space Kinetic develops dual-use space technology for national security, focusing on a propellant-free electromechanical deployment system called Longbow. The system uses a rotary mechanism to accelerate and release multiple payloads from a host satellite, delivering high-velocity, instantaneous changes in trajectory without firing thrusters. This creates a low-signature, flexible method for maneuvering assets in space and aims to bring space mobility and rapid in-space logistics to defense and commercial markets. The company differentiates itself through its propellant-free approach, a tested model built from a garage prototype, and close collaborations with national labs (Los Alamos and Sandia) and government programs (US Space Force, DARPA, NSF, SBIR with the Air Force). Its goal is to provide deployable payload deployment systems and in-space mobility solutions to support space superiority and missile defense, enabling proliferated drone-like capabilities in space.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Founded

2022

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • US Space Force contracts drive responsive space operations demand in 2025.
  • DARPA programs expand in-space logistics opportunities for Longbow integration.
  • CerraCap Ventures' $12M seed in August 2025 accelerates Whirlwind development.

What critics are saying

  • Chinese Shijian-21 outpaces Longbow with robotic arms in 6-12 months.
  • Lockheed MX-10A's 15 km/s speeds defeat slower payloads by February 2026.
  • DARPA terminates SBIR Phase II over 40% overruns in 3-6 months.

What makes Space Kinetic unique

  • Longbow deploys payloads from host satellites using propellant-free rotary mechanism.
  • Brings drone economics to space with one-to-many operational flexibility.
  • Patented electromechanical system targets space superiority and missile defense.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Equity-Based Compensation

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure

Health and Wellness Stipend

Commuter Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

15%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

8%
FinSMEs
Aug 19th, 2025
Space Kinetic Receives Investment from CerraCap Ventures

Space Kinetic, an Albuquerque, NM-based U.S.-licensed national security operator, received an investment from CerraCap Ventures

PR Newswire
Aug 19th, 2025
CerraCap Ventures Invests in Space Kinetic, Driving Breakthrough - Space Superiority and Missile Defense Innovation

CerraCap Ventures invests in Space Kinetic, driving breakthrough - Space superiority and missile defense innovation.

SpaceNews
Apr 18th, 2023
AWS chooses 14 startups for its third space accelerator program

Amazon Web Services said April 18 it picked 14 U.S. and European startups to join its third annual space accelerator program kicking off in May to boost ventures with solutions for improving space sustainability.

INACTIVE