About the role
ispace's Ground Systems team forms the backbone of ispace’s Test and Flight Operations, supporting the design, development, and maintenance of the infrastructure required for mission testing and operations. This includes the Mission Control Center, Mission Control Software, operational tools, and the end-to-end test environments that enable mission readiness.
As a Ground Systems / Test Infrastructure Intern, you will assist in the development and maintenance of the Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Processor-in-the-Loop (PIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) platforms, including test orchestration and supporting infrastructure, used to simulate and validate spacecraft behavior. Your contributions will support ongoing efforts to ensure that test environments accurately represent real mission conditions.
You will contribute to the implementation of a “Test-As-You-Fly” philosophy, helping to ensure that ground infrastructure and spacecraft testbeds provide realistic and representative environments for verification and operations. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in mission operations, ground systems engineering, and test infrastructure within a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
· Location: ispace HQ, Nihonbashi Honcho
On-site required at least 3 days per week + flexible WFH arrangement up to 2 days/week, can't be done full remote
· Experience Level: College student (3rd year or higher) or recent graduate (1-2 years after graduation)
· Duration: Start from August 2026 with 6 months (required) - 1 year (preferred) options
Key responsibilities
The primary focus of this role is on Testing Infrastructure Development, with responsibilities also extending into Simulator Development and Automation & Tooling.
Testing Infrastructure Development
· Assist in developing, maintaining, and configuring test environments (SIL, PIL, HIL) to support testing campaigns.
· Contribute to implementing and expanding Python tools for test setup, execution and reporting.
· Write and test scripts for telemetry generation and command injection to support closed-loop testing.
· Support the integration of the simulation platforms with mission control software for real-time telemetry processing and commanding.
· Help update interface documentation and maintain configuration consistency across test environments.
Simulator Development
· Support activities to connect the spacecraft Flight Software (FSW) with simulation models and hardware test benches.
· Assist in the integration of simulation setups with ground segment components, databases, and communication links.
· Collaborate with software, GNC, and avionics teams to ensure simulation setups accurately represent the spacecraft.
Automation & Tooling
· Help manage and version-control simulation assets, test scenarios, and software binaries.
· Contribute to improving usability and performance of test platforms
Why this role matters?
Reliable ground systems and test infrastructure are essential to ensuring that spacecraft behave as expected before and during mission operations. The ability to accurately simulate real mission conditions directly impacts mission safety, performance and success.
In this role, you will contribute to the development and validation of the testing infrastructure that enables a “Test-As-You-Fly” approach, reducing risk and increasing confidence in flight readiness. Even at the intern level, your work will support the continuous improvement of testing capabilities and help ensure that engineering teams can validate spacecraft systems in realistic and representative environments.
This role provides direct exposure to the core systems and processes that support mission operations, making it a valuable opportunity to contribute to real missions while developing practical skills in ground systems, testing, and aerospace engineering.
Required skills
· Education: Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor’s or Master’s program in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
· Programming: Proficient in Python for developing scripting and testing frameworks, with a preference for candidates who also have a working knowledge of C or C++.
· Core Fundamentals: Solid understanding of software development fundamentals, including version control principles, debugging techniques, and basic CI/CD concepts.
· Environment: Familiarity with Linux operating systems and command-line interfaces (CLI).
· Soft Skills: Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, able to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
· Language: Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
Nice-to-have
Aerospace & Embedded Systems: Basic understanding of spacecraft systems, avionics, or flight software (FSW) architectures.
· Testing & Simulation: Exposure to software-in-the-loop (SIL), processor-in-the-loop (PIL), or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation and testing environments.
· Systems & Integration: Basic knowledge of systems engineering principles or software-hardware integration concepts.
· Hands-on Tooling: Practical experience with developer tools such as Git, Docker or containerized workflows.
· Networking & Data: Familiarity with core networking concepts (TCP/IP, UDP) and telemetry/command data flows.
· Mission Operations Stack: Familiarity or interest in mission operations and ground systems. Knowledge of tools like Yamcs, Grafana or InfluxDB is a significant plus.