Internship - AI Software Engineer (New York Space Grant) - Summer 2026

Internship - AI Software Engineer (New York Space Grant) - Summer 2026

About Ursa Space Systems

Ursa Space Systems builds the software and AI agents that guide the acquisition, analysis, and integration of satellite and geospatial data into customer workflows, delivering valuable insights for global security and commodity markets. By leveraging satellite data and advanced analytics, Ursa Space provides fast, actionable information to a range of industries, including finance, energy, and defense.

Ursa Space, headquartered in downtown Ithaca, NY, is seeking an intern interested in gaining hands-on experience helping our team use satellite imagery and other sources of information to answer complex questions about the world.

About the Internship

Positions on Ursa Space’s Team are available for the 2026 summer. This position is remote-friendly, although interns may work from Ursa Space’s Ithaca, NY headquarters if they prefer on-site for some or all of the internship.

This is a 10-week, full-time internship opportunity (Summer 2026) for students working on a degree in engineering, physics, math or another related STEM field with a significant signal or image processing component. Intuition, creativity, and flexibility are the most important primary qualifications. Experience with generative AI, natural language processing, and other machine learning models is a major plus. The role will be supervised by one of Ursa Space’s Software Engineers.

Responsibilities

• Focus on projects that utilize satellite data, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), or other relevant geospatial technologies
• Research how LLMs can be applied to space-related data, improving automation, efficiency, and insight extraction from complex data sources
• Contribute to team brainstorming sessions on technical problem-solving, algorithm design, and data interpretation
• Take initiative in growing skills related to signal processing, machine learning, LLMs, and data analysis through mentorship and collaboration with the team
• Validate and evaluate algorithms designed to derive data from satellite images
• Document and communicate technical work, findings, and progress regularly to supervisors and teammates
• Present technical information clearly to team members

Requirements

• Pursuing a STEM Degree (e.g., engineering, physics, math, or other related fields)
• Strong communication skills
• Curiosity and a desire to learn about technical subjects
• Organized and self motivated, able to successfully work with a remote team
• Python programming skills, with experience in APIs and web services. Knowledge of frameworks for LLMs such as DSPy and Claude Agent SDK is a major plus.
• A creative, intuitive, and flexible mindset to approach complex problems and build innovative solutions.

Preferred Skills

• Strong interest in Ursa Space Systems, satellite-based sensing technologies, and the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) to real-world problems.
• Experience with software organizational tools and frameworks(e.g. Git, Docker, Anaconda, virtual environments, etc.)
• Familiarity with AWS S3, Linux environments, and EC2 instance development
• During the technical interview, be prepared to talk about or demo an existing project that demonstrates an entry-level understanding of programming languages, particularly Python, and the integration of web services/APIs

BEFORE YOU APPLY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Eligibility

To qualify for this New York Space Grant position, candidates must be a U.S. Citizen and currently enrolled as a full-time student. Graduate or undergraduate level is acceptable.In addition, one or both of the following must apply:

• Attend a university in New York State
• Be a resident of New York State

Compensation

The total stipend for this internship is $8,200.00, which will be paid in two installments during the summer.

Company Values

• Use the team
• Figure it out and own it
• Aim for elegant simplicity
• Empower diversity & inclusivity
• Do the right thing
• Be scrappy

Ursa Space Systems, Inc is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status or characteristic. Protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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