The Da Vinci Satellite team is recruiting! The different positions within the Website team, the Technical team, the Education team, and the Business team can be found below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email.
Website positions
The Website Team is the driving force behind the online platform that brings the Da Vinci Satellite project to life. This platform is where the satellite, users, businesses, and educational content come together, creating a space that’s not only interactive but also sustainable and long-lasting. It’s your chance to shape a digital experience that’s playful, educational, and easy to use, ensuring everyone can connect with the work DVS is doing.
Website Manager (~8 hours per week)
As the Website Manager, you’ll be the go-to person for keeping the platform running smoothly. Your responsibilities include defining goals and deadlines, keeping the team on track, and ensuring the website meets our vision of being user-friendly, educational, and engaging. You’ll communicate regularly with other teams, such as the education and core teams, to make sure everyone is aligned and working toward the same objectives. You’ll also manage and support the website designers, helping them bring their creative ideas to life while ensuring the platform stays functional and on schedule. You're going to work closely with the website developer to ensure a cohesive vision. Your role is all about leadership, coordination, and making sure the platform delivers a seamless experience for users.
Website Designer (~4 hours per week)
We are looking for a webdesign enthusiast who is familiar with Figma. At the moment we are building our website which will be in direct contact with the Da Vinci Satellite (a unique opportunity) and which should be user-friendly, playful, child-friendly and educational. Your job will be to make sure the user journey is enjoyable and effective. You will get lots of support from the educational department and will work in an interdisciplinary team (from PR to tech). You will be part of the website frontend development process with an external website developer, you can see your design come to life!
Technical positions
The technical team is responsible for designing, building and testing the satellite. The team is divided into different subteams, namely, Payload, Systems, Software, Electrical and Ground Station & Operations.
Lead Product Assurance Engineer (~10-14 hours per week)
The Lead Product Assurance Engineer is responsible for ensuring the overall quality and compliance of the Da Vinci Satellite (DVS) team’s technical documentation and processes. This includes reviewing critical documentation, approving AIT procedures, and establishing Software Quality Assurance standards. The role also involves managing documentation during AIT activities, ensuring adherence to professional standards, and maintaining consistency across all documents using proper templates. Additionally, the Lead Product Assurance Engineer oversees non-conformance reporting, change logs, and distribution records while leading PA meetings and participating in key technical discussions to uphold quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
Lead Command and Data Handling (CDH) Engineer (~10-14 hours per week)
The Lead CDH Engineer is responsible for designing, documenting, and managing the functional and physical architecture of the satellite's Command and Data Handling (CDH) subsystem. This includes defining how data is collected, processed, stored, and transmitted between subsystems while ensuring the proper selection and integration of CDH hardware components such as MCUs, memory, and communication interfaces. The role also involves tracking radiation tolerance and EMC properties, leading verification and validation activities (e.g., FlatSat testing), and overseeing unit, integration, and system-level tests. Additionally, the Lead CDH Engineer provides leadership to the CDH team, assigning tasks, organizing work sessions, and mentoring junior members to ensure smooth execution of the project’s data handling and processing functions.
Bitflip Payload Software Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The Bitflip Payload Software Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, and testing software that runs on the Dice payload microcontrollers, ensuring seamless operation and communication with the satellite's systems. This includes helping to implement Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) functionalities, defining and executing functional tests, and supporting environmental test campaigns to validate payload performance under space conditions. The role also involves close collaboration with the CDH software engineers to ensure payload software integration with the Command and Data Handling (CDH) subsystem, ensuring data flows and operations are fully aligned with mission objectives. Beneficial prior experience for this role includes familiarity with embedded systems programming, space-grade software development, and knowledge of microcontroller architectures, as well as experience with FDIR implementation and environmental testing in space projects.
Bitflip Payload AIV Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The Bitflip Payload AIV Engineer is responsible for working with printed circuit boards (PCBs) for the Bitflip payload, including soldering components, performing functionality testing, and ensuring the payload meets operational requirements. This includes preparing the payload for the environmental test campaign, which involves coordinating with the AIV team to ensure that all hardware functions correctly under various space-like conditions. The role also involves troubleshooting electrical issues, supporting assembly tasks, and validating the integrity and reliability of the Bitflip payload's components before launch. Beneficial prior experience for this role includes hands-on experience with PCB assembly, soldering techniques, and testing electrical systems, as well as familiarity with environmental testing procedures in aerospace applications.
Radiation Simulation Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The Radiation Simulation Engineer is responsible for simulating the effects of radiation on the Bitflip payload of the DaVinci Satellite (DVS), assessing the potential impact on system performance and data integrity. This includes developing and running radiation models, analysing how various radiation environments (e.g., cosmic rays, solar radiation) may affect the payload’s memory. The role also involves collaborating with hardware, systems, and environmental test teams to ensure that the payload meets mission requirements under space conditions to show the effects of space radiation on data, while remaining functional. Beneficial prior experience for this role includes knowledge of radiation physics, embedded systems, radiation simulation tools, and experience in assessing radiation tolerance for space systems.
AOCS Simulation Engineer (~8 hours per week)
As an AOCS Simulation engineer, you will develop, implement, and validate simulation models for our satellite's commercial off-the-shelf Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS). You will be an integral part of Da Vinci Satellite's technical team, closely collaborating with system, hardware, and software engineers to ensure proper verification and validation of attitude control functionalities.
You will work with tools like MATLAB/Simulink or Python (or similar) to set up and continuously improve the AOCS simulation environment, notably validating these models through various testing methods. A strong background in simulation software and on control systems and simulation is therefore desired.
If you wish to, you will also have the possibility to write a thesis with DVS in collaboration with the Aerospace Engineering Faculty.
AOCS AIV Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The AOCS AIV Engineer is responsible for the assembly, integration, and verification of our COTS Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS), ensuring that it functions reliably within the satellite architecture. This role involves developing and executing comprehensive test plans—including driver tests, software and hardware in the loop tests, integration tests, and system-level tests—to validate performance, show compliance with requirements, environmental resilience, and interface compatibility with other subsystems. Additionally, the engineer collaborates closely with the software engineers to troubleshoot issues, refine integration procedures, and guarantee that the AOCS meets all mission requirements and operational standards.
Structural Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The Structural Analysis & CAD Engineer is responsible for designing and analyzing the satellite’s structural components to ensure they withstand launch loads and space environment conditions. This includes creating detailed 3D models and technical drawings using CAD software, performing structural simulations (e.g., FEM analysis), and optimizing the design for mass, stiffness, and manufacturability. The role also involves coordinating with the AIV team for assembly and testing, ensuring compliance with mechanical requirements, and supporting integration with other subsystems. Prior experience in CAD software and FEM analysis is beneficial for this role.
TT&C AIV Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The AIV Engineer for the TT&C Subsystem is responsible for assisting with the assembly, integration, and verification (AIV) of the Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) subsystem, including preparing and executing antenna deployment tests. This involves supporting the integration of antennas, ensuring proper functionality and alignment during tests, and troubleshooting any issues related to signal transmission and reception. The role also includes coordinating with other subsystems to ensure that the TT&C system functions as expected in both ground and space environments. Beneficial prior experience for this role includes hands-on experience with antenna systems, AIV procedures, and knowledge of communication protocols used in TT&C systems.
TT&C Software Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The Support TT&C Software Engineer is responsible for developing and testing On-Board Computer (OBC) drivers that interface with the TT&C subsystem, including the antenna and transceiver. This involves writing software to manage communication between the OBC and TT&C hardware, ensuring reliable signal transmission and reception, and troubleshooting any software-related issues. The role also includes supporting integration and testing activities, validating that the TT&C system functions properly during both pre-launch and in-orbit operations. Beneficial prior experience for this role includes knowledge of embedded software development, communication protocols (e.g., UART, I2C), and experience with TT&C systems in satellite or aerospace applications.
EPS AIV Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The EPS AIV Engineer assists in the assembly, integration, and verification of the Electrical Power System (EPS) & Solar Panels, ensuring proper functionality and safe operation. This includes supporting hardware installation, verifying power distribution, and assisting in system-level tests such as power-on sequences and load testing. The role also involves troubleshooting electrical issues, ensuring compliance with safety and EMC requirements, and coordinating with the EPS and systems engineering teams to validate power system performance during integration. Prior knowledge in electronics and hands-on experience with working with electronic hardware in a lab environment are beneficial.
EPS Software Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The EPS Software Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, and testing On-Board Computer (OBC) software drivers that interface with the Electrical Power System (EPS). This includes writing low-level software to manage power distribution, battery monitoring, and fault protection, ensuring seamless communication between the OBC and EPS hardware. The role also involves validating software functionality through unit and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and troubleshooting communication issues. Beneficial proir experiences include experience in embedded systems programming, particularly with low-level software for communication protocols in space applications. Familiarity with communication protocols (e.g., I2C, UART, SPI) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing is also valuable.
Dice Payload Software Engineer (~8 hours per week)
The Dice Payload Software Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, and testing software that runs on the Dice payload microcontrollers, ensuring seamless operation and communication with the satellite's systems. This includes helping to implement Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) functionalities, defining and executing functional tests, and supporting environmental test campaigns to validate payload performance under space conditions. The role also involves close collaboration with the CDH software engineers to ensure payload software integration with the Command and Data Handling (CDH) subsystem, ensuring data flows and operations are fully aligned with mission objectives. Beneficial prior experience for this role includes familiarity with embedded systems programming, space-grade software development, and knowledge of microcontroller architectures, as well as experience with FDIR implementation and environmental testing in space projects.
Ground Station & Operations Engineer (~5 hours per week)
As a GS&Ops engineer , you will learn about satellite communications and ground station operations. You will be designing the data packages containing payload or telemetry data that will be transferred between ground station and the satellite, as well as tools to process the data. In later stages, we will move onto learning how to operate the ground station and create a user-friendly interface that fits our mission needs. Lastly, once the satellite is operational, you will be responsible for communicating with a satellite.
Educational positions
The education team is working hard on developing and testing the educational modules for both primary and secondary schools. These modules are direclty linked to the payload in the satellite.
Primary school (~4 hours per week)
You will be working in a team to develop an educational lesson package. These lessons are partly co-developed with the international primary school and focus on unconventional teaching methods with the aims of bringing space closer to Earth, literally.
High school (~4 hours per week)
You will be working in a team to develop masterclasses for high school students! The masterclass subjects range from, for example, Mars to Interplanetary Travel and aim to contain loads of unconventional educational methods. Expect loads of masterclass trial runs and testing sessions!
Business positions
The Business team focus on both finances as well as communications aspects.
The Communications team has a large range of responsibilities and opportunities to help with. Our team's main objectives involve expanding the project's outreach, as well as maintaining the Da Vinci Satellite corporate identity in order to build a following through recognizable and cohesive media and increasing team visibility towards students and the general public.
The Finance team is focused on getting funding for the project and taking care of the launch contract.
Event Planner (~4 hours per week)
As an Event Planner within the Communications team, you will be responsible for coordinating events tied to the Da Vinci Satellite project. This includes organising external events involving our stakeholders and internal events for project members, as well as planning the team's participation in third-party events. Your will be working on some previously thought-up events by the current team, but also coming up with your own creative ideas for new events, at any scale!
Social Media Strategist (~4 hours per week)
As a Social Media Strategist within the Communications team, you will be responsible for Da Vinci Satellite's social media, both planning and posting content. This notably includes keeping our Instagram and LinkedIn up to date, but also providing updates to our partners and writing blog posts for the website, and anything else you may wish to develop. You will have significant freedom in your function, using your own ideas and interpretation to expand the team's outreach, reaching students, professionals, and the general public.
Graphic Designer (~4 hours per week)
Do you like designing posters, video's, patches, stickers, leaflets, and many more things? Or would you like to learn and practice skills in the area of graphic design?
As a Graphic Designer within the Communications team you will have a lot of room to grow and implement your own creativity. We have an established housestyle, but don't let that fool you, there is a whole lot of space for creative design!
Finance Team Member (~4 hours per week)
As a member of the Finance team of Da Vinci Satellite, it will be your main responsibility to locate and get in touch with companies and initiatives, willing to collaborate with the team, while sharing the same goals and objectives. These companies can range from small local businesses to multinationals and even national or global funds. Maintaining the financial health of the project requires professionalism, dedication and collaboration. You will be applying these principles in finance and business meetings as well as during our weekly work sessions. Contacting businesses, creating proposals and templates, scheduling prospect meetings, and gaining financial and corporate experience, having fun in the process, are all part of this invaluable work experience!