Electrical Engineer Intern

About Northwood:

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Role:

Northwood is looking for an Electrical Engineering Intern during Summer 2026 to support the development of high-speed printed circuit boards (PCBs) for our digital backend. This backend enables our antenna system to meet high-rate processing needs across a variety of deployment environments. As part of our hardware team, you'll contribute to projects that prioritize reliability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness in engineering. In this role, you'll work on various aspects of high-speed PCB design, from concept through prototyping and testing.

Responsibilities:

Assist in the design of PCBs for high-speed digital communication systems, including RF and mixed-signal components

Support the layout and setup of FPGAs, microcontrollers, and related peripherals

Collaborate with RF, antenna, and DSP/FPGA engineers to enhance system performance and design

Contribute to schematic design and layout, as well as board bring-up and validation

Work alongside suppliers to help optimize component selection for performance and cost

Test prototypes and evaluate performance both in the lab and in real-world environments

Participate in analyzing system performance to guide future improvements

Qualifications:

Working toward a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

Coursework or projects related to PCB design, digital communication systems, or high-speed data transfer

Familiarity with PCB design tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence) and understanding of PCB layout

Interest in learning about low-noise design and EMI/EMC reduction techniques

Basic understanding of PCB materials, signal integrity, and high-speed communication interfaces

Skills in soldering and PCB rework are a plus

Basic programming skills in C, C++, or Python are a plus

Strong communication and teamwork skills

Eagerness to work in a fast-paced startup environment and to learn from experienced engineers

Compensation and Benefits:

Northwood Summer 2026 Internships are based in Torrance, CA and 12 weeks in length (June 1 - August 21 or June 15 - September 4). We offer an hourly rate between $30-$34/hr based on discipline and graduating year. We also have a $4,000 housing stipend and lunch/dinner catered daily.

Additional Information:

To conform to 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 of the U.S., 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.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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