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Ever wanted to build a satellite? Now's your chance!

Current Openings

Applications are now closed. Thank you for your interest in UBC Orbit. For reference, here are our old postings:

Attitude and Orbit Control Systems

Junior Firmware Developer

The AOCS Firmware Developer is responsible for writing the code at the core of the satellite’s Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem. In this role, you will get the opportunity to work close to the hardware by developing sensor and actuator drivers, and control and sensor processing firmware. Ultimately, you will contribute to our on-board software and help us build the most reliable control system possible.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with C and object-oriented Python
Experience with Arduino
Experience with Git

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Senior Firmware Developer

Required Skills/Experience:

Fluent in C
Fluent in object-oriented Python
Experience with Linux
Experience with microcontrollers (e.g. STM32, ESP32, TI, not just Arduino)
Experience with embedded communication protocols (I2C, SPI)
Experience with software development team processes (pull/merge requests, code review, testing, etc.)
Knowledge of common sensors and actuators
Knowledge of linear algebra, numerical methods, differential and integral calculus, and differential equations

As an Asset:

Completion of a control systems course or have equivalent knowledge (see below)
Knowledge of CubeSat (or spacecraft) AOCS/ADCS subsystems
Knowledge of control theory and algorithms used in industry (PID, EKF, etc.)
Firmware debugging experience (JTAG)
Experience with debugging C programs (GDB, LLDB, Valgrind)

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Junior Simulation Developer

The AOCS Simulation Developer is responsible for developing Python simulations of the AOCS and other spacecraft subsystems using our in-house simulation framework led by the AOCS team (but also used by other sub-teams). This simulation serves to validate the control system’s pointing performance, imaging performance, power generation budgets, fault modes and many other aspects of the spacecraft and mission.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with object-oriented Python
Experience with Git

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Senior Simulation Developer

Required Skills/Experience:

Completion of classical mechanics, multivariable calculus, and a statistics course (or have equivalent knowledge, see below)
Completion of a control systems course or have equivalent knowledge (see below)
Fluent in object-oriented Python
Experience with using Linux (and WSL)
Experience with software development team processes (pull/merge requests, code review, testing, etc.)
Experience with NumPy, SciPy
Knowledge of numerical and statistical methods for simulations
Knowledge of common sensors and actuators
Knowledge of control theory and algorithms used in industry (PID, EKF, etc.)
Knowledge of rigid body (3D) dynamics and kinematics
Knowledge of orbital dynamics

As an Asset:

Knowledge of CubeSat (or spacecraft) AOCS/ADCS subsystems
Experience with Astropy, Skyfield, and other Python astrodynamics libraries
Knowledge of space environment and related models
Experience with control systems, state-space models, and state estimation
Experience with modelling hardware behaviour in simulation
Experience with physics simulations

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Hardware Developer

The AOCS Hardware Developer is responsible for developing the AOCS sensor PCB for spacecraft among other PCBs. This role will include responsibilities for all stages of the PCB development cycle, including:

Requirement specification
Schematic capture
Layout
BOM
Manufacturing
Testing and Validation

Required Skills/Experience:

PCB design experience (Altium, KiCAD, Eagle)
Intuition of electrical concepts and electrical circuit design
Familiarity with routing serial communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, etc.)
Familiarity with common electronic workbench tools including multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, soldering irons, and solder extractors

As an Asset:

Knowledge of common sensors and actuators, including their interfaces and electrical characteristics (IMU, Mag, Gyro, Sun sensors, Photodiodes, Motors)
Knowledge of electromagnets and inductors
Experience in PCB fabrication process and parts procurement

Command and Data Handling

Junior Firmware Developer

The CDH Firmware Developer is responsible for writing the code at the core of the satellite. In this role, you will get the opportunity to work close to the hardware with FreeRTOS, developing drivers, and building out telemetry systems. Ultimately, you will contribute to our on-board software and help us build the most reliable software possible.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with C
Experience with embedded development
Experience with Git

As an Asset:

Experience with software project design
Fluent in C
Experience with FreeRTOS

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Senior Firmware Developer

Required Skills/Experience:

Fluent in C
Experience with FreeRTOS
Experience writing low-level peripheral drivers (reading/writing registers)
Experience with Git

As an Asset:

Experience with software project design
MIBSPI/SPI/UART/I2C experience
Familiarity with TI HALCoGen

Communications

Junior COMMS Member

We want to bring the fantastic world of radio-frequency communications to all undergraduate students. The Junior COMMS Member’s responsibility is to learn as much as possible and ask questions: we are here to support! In this role, you will also participate in electronic hardware testing, RF simulations,
and antenna performance testing for both the ground station and spacecraft. Section As an Asset lists the skills we want you to gain working in COMMS.

Required Skills/Experience:

Knowledge of analyzing signals in the frequency domain
Knowledge of electronic circuits
Interest in satellite communications
The desire and dedication to learn various digital communication topics listed in this package

As an Asset:

IoT, RF, or signal processing personal projects demonstrated using Python, MATLAB, SIMULINK, C, or equivalent
Circuit simulators such as LTSpice, Ansys Circuit, or equivalent
Experience with microcontrollers/microcomputers (Raspberry Pis, STM32s, etc.)
Experience with software-defined radios (USRPs, RTL-SDR, HackRFs)
Experience with lab tools such as oscilloscopes and solder stations
Experience with PCB design tools such as Altium

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Senior RF System Developer

The COMMS Senior RF System Developer oversees the design, analysis, and verification of the entire communications link from baseband processing to RF propagation. The successful candidate will be capable of troubleshooting issues and using test instrumentation to verify and validate performance
metrics of the RF communications PCB on the spacecraft, the software-defined radios (SDRs) on the ground station, and the entire RF link in between.

Along with the current COMMS Senior RF System Developer, they will guide/support other COMMS members with their comprehensive understanding of wireless communication systems. This individual will also work closely with the Spacecraft Hardware Developers to bring their designs to fruition and
Ground Station SDR Developers to verify the spacecraft-to-ground station link.

Required Skills/Experience:

Fundamental understanding of S-Parameters, Smith Charts, P1dB, Noise Figure, and OIP3
Knowledge of wireless communication building blocks such as modulation, pulse-shaping filters, and carrier recovery
Knowledge of basic DSP concepts such as Nyquist criterion, resampling, and digital filters
Knowledge of link budget analysis

As an Asset:

Experience with RF test instruments such as vector network analyzers and spectrum analyzers
Experience with electronics and RF design tools such as Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, Altium, or similar
Experience with DSP and digital communication system modelling in Python, MATLAB, SIMULINK, C, or GNURadio
Experience with software-defined radios (USRPs, RTL-SDR, HackRFs)

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Junior RF System Developer

The COMMS Junior RF System Developer oversees the design, analysis, and verification of the entire communications link from baseband processing to RF propagation. The successful candidate will be capable of troubleshooting issues and using test instrumentation to verify and validate performance metrics of the RF communication boards, software-defined radios (SDRs), and the RF link.

This individual should have the interest and dedication to learn from the COMMS Senior RF System Developer. The individual must also be capable of writing meaningful documentation for reproducible tests.

Required Skills/Experience:

Knowledge of analyzing signals in the frequency domain
Knowledge of basic RF chain components such as mixers, RF filters and amplifiers
Knowledge of basic DSP concepts such as Nyquist criterion, resampling, and digital filters
Aware of different parameters of a link budget analysis

As an Asset:

Experience with RF test instruments such as vector network analyzers and spectrum analyzers
Experience with electronics and RF design tools such as Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, Altium, or similar
Experience with DSP and digital communication system modelling in Python, MATLAB, SIMULINK, C, or GNURadio
Experience with software-defined radios (USRPs, RTL-SDR, HackRFs)

Note that the same items are listed under "As an Asset" for the COMMS Junior and Senior RF System Engineers. As a student design team, we want you to learn and help other COMMS members learn these skills during your time designing and building ALEASAT.

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Spacecraft Hardware Developer

The COMMS Spacecraft Hardware Developer works on two different PCBs on the spacecraft: the RF communications board and the antenna deployer board. The two boards together implement the physical architecture of the transmit and receive functions of the spacecraft. Specific tasks include MCU pin mapping, balun design, impedance matching, RF trace planning, component selection, board layout, and PCB manufacturing.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with electronic circuits and complete design projects using Altium or equivalent
Experience with SoCs and 0402-sized components
Experience with the PCB fabrication process and parts procurement
Knowledge of microwave engineering concepts such as impedance matching, transmission lines, and antenna figures of merit

As an Asset:

Experience with RF test instruments such as vector network analyzers and spectrum analyzers
Experience with RF electronics concepts (e.g. S-parameters, impedance matching, and noise figures)
Understanding of dielectric materials’ use in high-frequency design, impedance matching, layer stackup and thickness, trace thickness, ground plan design, and EMI shielding on an RF PCB

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Ground Station SDR Developer

The COMMS Ground Station Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Developer is responsible for developing and upgrading the SDR infrastructure for the UBC ground station. In this role, you will have opportunities to learn about how radio signals can be decoded and processed using software tools such as GNURadio, and how to design SDR receivers, with the goal of improving our existing SDR infrastructure.

The ground station’s SDR architecture also serves as the main interface between the COMMS and MOps subteams, so you will also collaborate with MOps members for SDR development.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with object-oriented Python
Knowledge of basic signal processing concepts
Interest in software-defined radio (SDR)

As an Asset:

Experience with RF test instruments such as network analyzers and spectrum analyzers
Knowledge of RF electronics concepts (e.g. S-parameters, impedance matching, and noise figures)
Experience with software-defined radios (USRPs, RTL-SDR, HackRFs)
Knowledge of digital modulation schemes and their implementations

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Ground Station Hardware Developer

The COMMS Ground Station Hardware Developer is responsible for supporting hardware upgrade, testing, and maintenance efforts for the UBC ground station. In this role, you will learn about radio communications systems and the design challenges of communicating with satellites in orbit. Depending on your interests, there will be opportunities to help upgrade the system’s RF electronics, contribute to performance tests, and design PCBs.

Required Skills/Experience:

UBC student available for in-person work
Knowledge of electronic circuits
Hands-on experience with electronics and electrical measurements
Interest in or knowledge of radio systems

As an Asset:

Experience with RF test instruments such as network analyzers and spectrum analyzers
Experience with PCB design tools such as Altium, KiCad, or equivalent
Knowledge of RF electronics concepts (e.g. S-parameters, impedance matching, and noise figures)
Knowledge of the operating principles and performance benchmarks for antennas

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Ground Station Operations Coordinator

The COMMS Ground Station Operations coordinator is responsible for helping define operational and accessibility procedures for the UBC ground station. This includes coming up with best practices and guides for operating the ground station for general members and helping plan communication events with active satellites. In this role, you will have opportunities to learn about radio communications and ground station design, while also reaching out to broader audiences interested in satellites.

Required Skills/Experience:

Interest in or knowledge of radio systems
Knowledge of electronic circuits
Knowledge of basic signal processing concepts
Strong technical communication skills for general audiences
Interest in outreach activity planning and education

As an Asset:

Knowledge of RF electronics concepts (e.g. S-parameters, impedance matching, and noise figures)
Knowledge of digital modulation schemes
Experience with software-defined radios (USRPs, RTL-SDR, HackRFs)

Electrical Power Systems

Software Developer

The EPS Software Developer will work on a Python power model and conduct simulations to model power generation, consumption, and battery degradation within the satellite. In this role, you will work closely with the rest of the team to determine the power consumption of the different parts of the
satellite.

Required Skills/Experience:

Moderate fluency in Python
Experience with simulation work
Basic circuit knowledge
Basic Git knowledge

As an Asset:

Experience with some physics simulations
Experience with FSMs
Experience with basic circuit design
Experience using Linux

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Hardware Test Developer

The EPS Hardware Test Developer conducts in-person maintenance and functionality tests on the EPS module, solar panels, and other components in a cleanroom.

Required Skills/Experience:

Basic circuit knowledge
In-person availability
General understanding of electronic components

As an Asset:

Experience with circuits and circuit analysis
Microprocessors such as Arduino, Raspberry pi, or similar
Experience with I2C communication
Experience with CAD software

Mission Operations

Web Design Lead

The MOps Web Design Lead manages the ALEASAT Mission Operations Web Design team. In this role, you will lead the design team to create and design high-quality mockups for the ALEASAT websites, ensuring that it meets the requirements for a proper user experience. The MOps Web Design Lead facilitates regular communication with different subteams and stakeholders to ensure requirements are met. In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead a design team and work with developers in a professional setting.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with leading a web design team
Experience with Figma
Experience with working with Frontend Developers
Ability to communicate with different departments/teams
Knowledge of the website development lifecycle
Portfolio is required

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Web Designer

The MOps Web Designer designs the UI and UX for functional and aesthetically pleasing websites to accomplish the mission goal of providing end-users and amateur radio operators the ability to safely and easily interact with ALEASAT and communicate details to the general public. In this role, you will have the opportunity to see your design be made and work with developers in a professional setting.

Required Skills/Experience:

Willingness to learn
Understanding of fundamental graphic design principles
Understanding of basic motion design principles

As an Asset:

Willingness to learn
Experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender, or equivalent
Experience with Figma
Interactive Design (IAT 235 or Arts One Program)
Portfolio is preferred

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Frontend Developer

The MOps Frontend Developer develops components, sections, or pages given by the designers. This includes but is not limited to adding animations, simple authentication using Auth.js, making an endpoint for an API, and other elements using React!

Required Skills/Experience:

Typescript
React (Next.js)
Material UI Framework
Experience with Git in a team
Willingness to learn and dedicate time

As an Asset:

Basic knowledge of web-based authentication
Understanding of basic UI/UX rules
Knowledge of Auth.js
Experience with 3D design
Experience with Blender
Experience with Three.js
Experience with REST API
Experience with framer motion

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Backend Developer

The MOps Backend Developer create the mission control software for the ALEASAT Mission in a microservices setting, this includes the mission planning, scheduling, command, and control services. In this role, you will also help develop operation software for other subteams (e.g. ground station
software).

Required Skills/Experience:

Typescript
Experience with monorepo
Experience with REST API
Experience with Git in a team
Willingness to learn and dedicate time

As an Asset:

Fluent in C
Fluent in object-oriented Python
Experience with OpenAPI
Experience with monitoring, logging, and observability tools
Experience with microservices
Experience with gRPC

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DevOps Developer

The MOps Development Operations (DevOps) Developer manages the CI/CD pipeline for the ALEASAT project in monorepo, with packages in either C, Python, or Typescript. In this role, you will: operate the Kubernetes cluster for both staging and production environments; configure and operate the monitoring, logging, and observability system for the services; and monitor, visualize, and configure the alert for the telemetry of the ALEASAT satellite.

Required Skills/Experience:

Hands-on experience with Kubernetes
Fluency in either Bash, Python, or Node.js
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines in monorepo (e.g. GitLab, GitHub)
Experience with monitoring, logging, and observability tools
Knowledge of high availability infrastructure and applications

As an Asset:

Experience with database tuning
Experience with the OpenTelemetry Framework
Hands-on experience with Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, and Jaeger
Experience with networking: routing and switching—dynamic routing with BGP is a plus
Experience with automation and orchestration using Ansible
Experience with GitOps (e.g. FluxCD and ArgoCD)

Payload

Firmware Developer

The Payload Firmware Developer leads the development and testing of firmware to interface with the camera module. This firmware will be running on an ARM microcontroller and will interface with the camera through both an I2C and SPI bus. There are currently basic drivers implemented to capture a picture, but there is a lot of work to be done to support:

Tuning the camera in orbit (adjust sensor settings, post-processing, change the image format, and transfer pixel data)
Implementing a precise time-trigger for the image capture
Optimizing the transfer and management of images since they contain a lot of data

In this role, you will work very closely with the CDH subteam since there is one shared codebase all
running on one microcontroller.

Required Skills/Experience:

Fluent in C
Fluent in object-oriented Python
Proficient with Git
Experience with microcontrollers (e.g. STM32, ESP32, TI, not just Arduino)
Experience with embedded communication protocols (I2C and SPI)
Experience with software development team processes (pull/merge requests, code review, testing, etc.)

As an Asset:

Experience with starting an embedded firmware project from scratch
Experience with low-level debugging (JTAG and looking at registers)
Understanding of assembly language (ARM in particular)

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Optics/Simulation Developer

The Payload Optics/Simulation Developer leads the analysis of camera optics and design of the Earth Observation mission. The camera sensor and lens have been selected based on a preliminary analysis; however, we need to go much deeper to understand the expected performance of the camera in orbit.
This includes:

Verifying a simple ray optics analysis of the camera
Performing Ansys Zemax simulations of the lens to assess the impacts of thermal expansion/contraction (and vacuum if possible) on focus and resolution
Developing Python simulations of the mission (using our in-house simulation framework led by the AOCS subteam) to validate imaging performance, pointing performance, coverage, and access

Required Skills/Experience:

Fluent in object-oriented Python
Basic physics knowledge in optics (ray optics)
Familiarity with photography/imaging principles (focal length, aperture, depth of field, and exposure)

As an Asset:

Advanced physics knowledge in optics (Fourier optics)
Understanding of the behaviour of photodetectors (e.g. photoelectric effect and quantum efficiency)
Experience with Earth Observation missions

Structure

Structural/Mechanical Design Developer

The Structural/Mechanical Design Developer ensures our spacecraft can survive both the harsh launch environment and the subsequent mechanism deployments required for a successful mission. In this role, you will be responsible for learning about the physical architecture of CubeSats and the high expectations associated with designing a system destined for a space environment. Along the way, the Structural/Mechanical Design Developer will work on tasks that may involve manufacturing processes, material properties, survival of harsh space environments, simulations, mechanical problem-solving, and more.

Required Skills/Experience:

Willing to invest time and effort into learning the skills required to be an effective team member
Ability to research and solve problems using available resources
Experience with designing 3D CAD software (Onshape, SolidWorks, or equivalent)
Basic knowledge of material properties in relation to mechanical assemblies
Strong communication skills in a team environment
Basic knowledge about the hazards/difficulties of a space environment

As an Asset:

Previous experience working on mechanical systems or projects in general
Experience working in a machine shop environment
General fluency with tools
Mechanical simulations experience using ANSYS, SW Simulation, or equivalent
Experience with rapid prototyping
Fluency in mechanical drawings
Knowledge/experience with MAIV
Thermal simulations and/or thermal design experience
General skills with Python/Excel

UBC Administration Team

Graphic Designer

The Admin Graphic Designer produces social media posts, posters, merchandise designs, and other promotional content for the UBC Orbit Satellite Design Team.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with graphic/artistic tools (e.g. Canva, Photoshop, Procreate, Figma, etc.)

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Outreach Coordinator

The Admin Outreach Coordinator plans and participates in outreach activities (e.g. boothing, high school visits, and special events), and actively seeks new outreach opportunities for the UBC Orbit Satellite Design Team. Coordination with the Applied Science Dean’s Office may be required.

Required Skills/Experience:

Outgoing, extroverted, and strong public-speaking skills

As an Asset:

Previous outreach experience

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Social Coordinator

The Admin Social Coordinator organizes social events for the team by gathering interest, choosing and planning out an idea, and contacting venues to make arrangements if necessary. Ideally, a small social is held weekly after each work session, and a large social is held each month.

Required Skills/Experience:

Outgoing and extroverted

As an Asset:

Previous social organizing experience

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Social Media/Marketing Manager

The Admin Social Media/Marketing Manager uses the team’s social media platforms (e.g. Instagram and LinkedIn) to promote the team by making posts, replying to comments and messages, and actively thinking of new marketing ideas and strategies. In the absence of an Admin Website Manager, the Admin Social Media/Marketing Manager may be asked to maintain the UBC Orbit website.

Required Skills/Experience:

Outgoing, extroverted, and strong public-speaking skills
Experience and/or active with social media

As an Asset:

Experience with Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, WordPress, or similar

Digital media portfolio (e.g. photography, vlogging, or video editing)

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Website Manager

The Admin Website Manager will maintain the UBC Orbit website and ensure all information is up to date (e.g. subteam descriptions, information package link, and open positions during recruitment season). Information updates will be provided by members of the technical team. Additionally, the Admin Website Manager also actively looks for ways the UBC Orbit website can be improved. During times when little to no website updates are needed, the Admin Website Manager may be asked to assist the ALEASAT Mission Operations Web Design team.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, WordPress, or similar

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Finance Team Member

The Admin Finance Team Member manages and performs accounting for the design team’s finances and expenditures. In this role, you will apply for annual funding and process reimbursements.

Required Skills/Experience:

Experience with budgeting or accounting for an organization with a large quantity of funds

As an Asset:

Enrolled in a finance- or business-related program

Hardware

Hardware Team Lead

As the Hardware Team Lead, you will oversee the design, manufacture, and testing activities of the in-house hardware PCBs. Specifically, in this role, you will help plan the design process, review designs, make function and EMC test plans, etc. By the end of the first semester, you will be fully trained by the System Engineers and acquire the necessary knowledge of the On-Board Computer (OBC) and the rest of the satellite.

Required Skills/Experience:

Intuition of electrical concepts and electrical circuit design
Complete and demonstrative PCB project in Altium Designer (free for UBC students)
Experience with parts procurement and fabrication process

As an Asset:

Understand EMI and EMC in PCB level
Experience with EMC test design and testing
Capable of writing meaningful documentation for reproducible tests

Application Process

The first step in the application process is to complete the application form linked at the top and bottom of this page.

If we believe you may be a good fit for the team, we will invite you for a 30 to 45-minute interview so that we can get to know you and chat about what you hope to gain from being on the team.

We will email all applicants with their status. If you have not received an email from us after one week, please email captain@ubcorbit.com.

Thank you for your interest in UBC Orbit—we look forward to reading your application!