Hardware Development Intern - Electrical

Overview Energy is a mission-driven team committed to delivering Space Solar Energy to the world. We operate at the intersection of space infrastructure and energy abundance, providing baseload power across entire continents 24/7, without seasonality or the need for batteries. Headquartered in the Washington, DC area and backed by world-class investors, we are advancing the next generation of clean energy technology.

The Role

As a Hardware Development Intern at Overview Energy, you will apply your knowledge, leadership, and creativity to help design and build our constellation of next-generation satellites at unprecedented affordability and scale. You will take part in the design, build, and test cycle to validate system characteristics needed for Overview Energy’s first spacecraft system, including tight iteration cycles for reliability, manufacturability, mass reduction, and system cost. This role is paid and requires a commitment of 10 weeks.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical

• Utilize cross-disciplinary engineering skills to develop prototypes for both new and ongoing projects and systems

• Support the end-to-end process of board design, manufacture, integration, cable harnessing, and mounting structures

• Use board development software (Altium) to design and develop circuit boards

• Create cable harness diagrams and one-line diagrams

• Drive changes to electrical schematics and general documentation

• Write and execute verification tests for build, operational, and integrated assembly

• Program microcontrollers and other test equipment to support testing operations

• Use power supplies, lab equipment, programmable loads, oscilloscopes, and other testing equipment

Software

• Design and develop object-oriented code in Python and C for control systems across electrical and mechanical subsystems

• Participate in the entire software development lifecycle, from design through testing and deployment

• Document software architectures and code to ensure maintainability and future scalability

• Write and debug Python to build mathematical models for simulation

• Support a mixed team of embedded and electrical systems engineers in their development efforts and tests

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

• Proficient in Python with a strong background in developing software with direct hardware interaction

• Experience with circuit simulation software (preferably LTSpice)

• Experience with serial communication protocols (e.g., UART, I2C)

• Experience with IoT integration, specifically sensors, I/O hardware, and actuators with Raspberry Pi and Arduino microcontrollers

• Familiarity with Git and VS Code development environments

• U.S. citizenship required

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with solar panels or solar cells

• Experience with rapid prototyping tools

• Mechanical design (mCAD) software experience, preferably SolidWorks

• Experience with PID implementation and tuning via PWM

• Aerospace experience, especially with satellite flight or ground software

Benefits

The health and safety of our employees and their families comes first. In addition to competitive salary and equity, we offer medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage, a health and wellness stipend, 6 weeks of paid time off, parental leave, and employer 401K matching. The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits at any time.

ITAR Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Overview Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with Overview Energy is based on merit, competence, and qualifications, and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact our Talent Team at talent@overviewenergy.com. Studies show that women and individuals from underrepresented groups often apply for jobs only if they meet all listed qualifications. We encourage anyone who believes they can succeed in this role to apply, even if they do not meet every qualification listed.