RF Engineer Internship

🚀 Want to join a space adventure?🔎 Explore the fascinating world of RF measurements?🛰 Posing the basis for the validation of next-generation radio technologies?

**Then, it’s time to join Skynopy**

Skynopy is a fast-growing New Space company building the next generation of ground infrastructure to connect with satellites around the world.

Founded in September 2023 by two former directors at Loft Orbital (Next40), Skynopy has grown to a team of 20 and already operates a global network of 30 antennas worldwide. We are developing the most responsive, secure, and scalable satellite connectivity platform on the market — and have recently raised a
**€15M seed round**
to accelerate the deployment of sovereign, cloud-integrated, scalable antennas. By combining our own antennas with a global network of partners, we enable seamless, API-driven access to satellite data.

We’re always looking for talented people who share our ambition and want to play a role in shaping the future of space connectivity. Even if no current position fits your profile, feel free to send a spontaneous application — we’re excited to meet curious, driven individuals eager to grow with us.

ℹ️ More information on Skynopy:

- https://spacenews.com/france-backs-skynopys-global-expansion-with-plans-for-100-ground-antennas/
- https://www.maddyness.com/2025/06/30/new-space-skynopy-leve-15-millions-deuros-pour-epauler-les-operateurs-de-satellites-au-sol/
- https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/pourquoi-la-startup-skynopy-a-tout-pour-devenir-un-grand-du-spatial-1028521.html

**🌐 RF & Radio Technology at Skynopy**

Skynopy operates at the
**edge of RF and satellite communication technologies**
, validating the latest radio systems available on the market and ensuring they can operate reliably in real mission conditions.

Our customers rely on Skynopy not only to provide antenna access, but also to
**integrate, test, and qualify**
their radios and communication chains before launch.

We support them by:

- evaluating new radio front-ends against ground modems and digitizers
- validating performance against real LEO conditions (Doppler, SNR, spectral behaviour…)
- identifying integration pitfalls early in the satellite development cycle
- performing controlled RF tests that emulate realistic space environments

These RF testing capabilities are
**essential**
to deliver a high-performance and high-reliability service. They allow us to guarantee that every satellite communicating through Skynopy is configured, tested, and validated to meet operational expectations from day one.

💼 Job Description — LEO Channel Simulator

We are looking for an
**RF Engineer Intern**
to design, build, and integrate a
**LEO satellite channel simulator**
that will be used for Skynopy’s IVVQ activities and radio device testing.

You will work at the intersection of
**RF engineering, embedded systems, and signal processing**
to assemble a complete end-to-end testbed capable of emulating realistic satellite conditions.

**Your mission will cover two main areas:**

**1. RF-Level Channel Emulation**

You will assemble and control raw RF components — attenuators, VCOs, noise sources, power meters, filters — to build a physical channel simulator able to:

- Generate
**AWGN**
to reproduce realistic SNR levels
- Apply
**programmable attenuation**
to match operational input/output ranges
- Emulate
**uplink and downlink Doppler**
for LEO orbits
- Monitor power levels, spectrum, and spectral behaviour in real time

This RF chain will be controlled through microcontrollers using I2C/UART or similar interfaces and exposed to higher-level systems through a
**software API**
.

**2. Baseband-Level Analysis (DIFI / SDR)**

Using SDR technologies and the
**DIFI (Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability)**
standard, you will:

- Process incoming DIFI streams in real-time (up to hundreds of MHz bandwidth)
- Extract metrics such as: spectrum, RSSI, ADC saturation, packet coherence, latency
- Implement analysis tools in a
**low-level compiled language**
(C/C++ or Rust)
- Validate correct implementation of the received stream
- Optionally apply advanced impairments (spectral inversion, phase noise, equalisation…) directly on the digital stream

This component ensures tight coupling between RF impairments and digital signal processing — a critical part of our ground segment validation strategy.

🎓
**Qualifications**

We are looking for a
**strong engineering student**
with solid RF and embedded systems fundamentals.

**Required**

- Good knowledge of compiled languages (C, C++, or Rust)
- Basics of microcontroller programming and integration
- Strong electrotechnical and RF fundamentals (power budget, S-parameters, RF measurements)
- Good understanding of spectral theory: filtering, FFTs, frequency conversion

**Nice to have**

- Knowledge of communication systems and link budgets
- Experience with PCB or electronic design
- Experience creating or consuming APIs
- Curiosity for satellite systems and RF operations

📚
**Learning opportunities**

Joining Skynopy means working hands-on with real RF systems and contributing directly to how satellites are tested and validated on the ground.

**1. Learn Real RF & Embedded Engineering**

You will assemble, measure, calibrate, and program an end-to-end RF simulator using professional test equipment and SDR technologies.

You’ll be mentored by senior RF and baseband engineers working on real satellite missions.

**2. Discover the Space Industry From Inside**

You’ll work with real
**LEO radio devices**
, understand satellite link behaviour, Doppler profiles, spectra, and impairments — and see how ground segments are engineered at scale.

**3. Learn How a NewSpace Startup Operates**

You will work closely with our RF, baseband, and operations teams, understanding how engineering decisions impact live missions, deployments, customers, and global infrastructure.

Location : Paris, France

Type: Internship (6 months)