Wireless Systems Intern, MAC and PHY (Spring and Summer 2027)

Sovera · Internship · Venice, CA (onsite) · 4 openings

Build satellite internet that puts countries in control

Access to fast, reliable internet can change what's possible for an entire country. So can control over the infrastructure that delivers it.

Sovera is building a large low Earth orbit satellite constellation with sovereign control at its core. Our model empowers partner countries to bring broadband to their people while maintaining control of their data and customers within their territories.

That mission shapes what we build: a global satellite network designed to support local autonomy, expand access, and bring affordable broadband to communities that have been left underserved.

Bring the array and the modem to life

The wireless system is where Sovera's service is made or lost. As a Wireless Systems intern, you'll join the engineers who build the MAC and PHY that carry data between our satellites and the people they serve, and you'll own a real piece of it. You'll join one of two tracks, MAC or PHY, based on your skills and interests.

MAC track (software-focused). Develop and test control, calibration and monitoring software that connects the payload to the network, and build the tools the team uses to test, analyze and visualize payload performance.

PHY track (hardware and signal-processing focused). Design, simulate and verify RTL or DSP for modem and phased-array datapaths, and help bring boards up on real hardware.

What you'll do

·       Write and test software or RTL that runs on spacecraft processors and FPGA or SoC platforms.

·       Build test tooling and automated regression suites that run on every change.

·       Analyze measured performance against requirements and feed what you learn back into the design.

·       Support lab bring-up and debugging alongside hardware, RF and software engineers.

·       Prototype and run experiments to prove a design idea before it reaches flight.

What you'll bring

·       Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a related field, and a rising senior (graduating in 2027 or early 2028 [TBC]).

·       MAC track: C or C++ and Python, plus networking fundamentals (UDP, TCP/IP).

·       PHY track: SystemVerilog, Verilog or VHDL, plus digital design and DSP fundamentals.

Experience that will help you stand out

·       Software-defined radio, communications, wireless networking or modem projects.

·       FPGA experience (Vivado or Quartus), or MATLAB or Python modeling of DSP algorithms.

·       Reading register maps or working across the hardware-software boundary.

·       Debugging with lab RF equipment.

What you'll walk away with

·       A MAC or PHY feature you built, tested and demonstrated on real hardware or a hardware-in-the-loop setup.

·       Experience working across software, FPGA and RF teams on a single communications system.

·       A clear view of how a phased-array communications payload works end to end.

What to expect from us

·       Real work, real owners. You'll be assigned a project that matters to the program, not a side task, and you'll present it to the team at the end of your internship.

·       A named mentor. You'll work directly with an engineer on your team who owns your onboarding, reviews your work and advocates for you.

·       A path to a full-time role. This internship is designed as a runway. Interns who do well are offered a full-time position, starting at graduation.

Why Sovera

You'll help build a system whose purpose extends beyond connectivity. For our partners, sovereign control means having a say in how essential communications infrastructure serves their country, and maintaining control of their data and customers.

Our team brings experience building LEO constellations, including some of the world's most advanced broadband internet systems. We're applying that experience across the full system: thousands of satellites, advanced communications payloads, open reference designs for consumer receivers, and the software that connects them.

For a Wireless Systems intern, that means the logic or code you write helps decide how much service each satellite delivers.

Internship details

Term. Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 internships are both open. Tell us which term or terms you can do. [Start and end dates, TBC]

Pay. Paid internship at [hourly rate, TBC].

Hours. [Full-time in summer; part-time during the school year, TBC]. Availability for extended hours as needed.

Location and work model. This internship is based onsite at our Venice, CA headquarters. [Housing or relocation support, TBC]

Eligibility. You are a current student expecting to graduate between [Dec 2027 and Jun 2028, TBC], and you are interested in a full-time role at Sovera after graduation.

Team and reporting. Engineering work at Sovera is split between two objectives, payload and communications. You'll report to your hiring manager and work with a named mentor on the team.

How we hire

We keep it short and human, about [2 to 3 weeks, TBC] from first hello to offer.

1.     Intro chat (30 min). A call with our recruiter about you, the role and what you want next.

2.     Technical conversation (60 min). You and an engineer on the team talk through real problems in your field. No trick questions. Bring a class, club or personal project you're proud of, and we'll start there.

3.     Meet the team. You meet the people you'd work with and your hiring manager, and see how we work. If you visit Venice, we cover your travel, and lunch is on us.

4.     Offer. We aim to decide within [2 business days, TBC] of your last conversation and walk you through pay and the path to full-time.

You'll hear from us after every step, and you can ask us anything at any point.

Export control and equal opportunity

ITAR requirements. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. lawful permanent resident, a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal opportunity. Sovera is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin or ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

Help build a future where more people can get connected, and countries retain control of the connections that matter.