Internship: Electronics Design Internship for Space-Grade Hardware

Your assignment

NLR is getting involved in the NEBULA - Xplorer project and this is your opportunity to join! NEBULA – Xplorer is an acronym for "Netherlands Educational Satellite for Exploration of Binary-Linked Astrophysics X-ray Observer". This project offers a unique opportunity for approximately 400 students to collaborate on the development of a space mission from inception to completion. The mission has two primary objectives:

·       Scientific goal: To gain a deeper understanding of how a black hole captures material from a companion star.

·       Educational goal: To provide students from Dutch educational institutions with hands-on experience in building a space mission from the ground up.

This 6-9 month internship (with flexible term options) provides a chance to turn your ideas into reality by developing space-grade hardware. As part of the NEBULA – Xplorer project at NLR, you will focus on designing Electronics for the Instrument Read-out Unit (IRU). Your main task will involve taking a conceptual design and transforming it into a functional reality, ensuring the hardware meets stringent performance requirements and can withstand the harsh conditions of space.

The electronics you will develop will comprise a combination of digital electronics, including Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Microcontrollers (MCUs) as well as Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) that bridge the digital and analogue domains.

Result

The foreseen activities contains:

• Familiarization with the subject matter and understanding of the instrument to be read out;

• Collaborative identification of key requirements with the NEBULA – Xplorer team;

• Development of a detailed project plan, including testing and verification strategies;

• Creation of schematics for the electronics design;

• Development of a prototype Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA);

• Testing and verification of the PCBA, following the established testing and verification plan to ensure compliance with requirements and functionality.

Duration

The starting date will be the 1st of September 2025. The duration is open for discussion, depending on your specific situation.

What is your profile?

• A background in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field;

• Pursuing of a degree at the HBO (Higher Vocational Education) or WO (Research University) level;

• Practical experience with designing and developing Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) using popular software packages such as for example Altium, KiCAD, or EAGLE;

• A proactive and independent work attitude, with the ability to identify and address challenges in a timely manner;

• Excellent teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external team members across multiple institutions, and adapt to interdisciplinary and inter-institutional project dynamics.

What we offer

• A challenging internship project in a high-tech results oriented work environment at NLR in Amsterdam;

• Flexibility and experienced colleagues to assist you;

• An environment where you get the possibility to improve your current skills and develop new ones;

• An internship allowance.

About NLR

The Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) has been the ambitious research organisation with the will to keep innovating for over 100 years. With that drive, we make the world of transportation safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. We are on the threshold of breakthrough innovations. Plans and ideas start to move when these are fed with the right energy. Over 950 driven professionals work on research and innovation. From aircraft engineers to psychologists and from mathematicians to application experts. Our colleagues are happy to tell you what it’s like to work at NLR.

About the department

The Avionics Systems team has the mission of realising and provide highly innovative avionics for civil and military platforms in the air and in space. The team is innovative, involved and practical minded. Colleagues with plenty of experience are always ready to support you in your project.

Interested?

Great! Apply via the button below. Have some questions beforehand? Contact Rogier Colijn via rogier.colijn@nlr.nl.