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Student (f/m/x) - Optical Engineering/ Electrical Engineering/ Aerospace Engineering
Job Description
Req ID:  6024
Place of work:  Oberpfaffenhofen
Starting date:  01.11.2026
Career level:  Internship, Student research project and final thesis, Student employment
Type of employment:  Full-time, Part time
Duration of contract:  6 month

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 12,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

 

What to expect

The Optical Technologies for Satellite Links group conducts research in the field of high-throughput optical satellite links and transceiver development. This encompasses topics ranging from research into atmospheric turbulence and the signal processing techniques to the development of high-speed communication technologies and systems. Within the Mitigation of atmospheric Impairments group, topics focus on techniques to correct for the distortion of laser beams as they propagate through atmospheric turbulence. 

Present work encompasses among other things the development of an optical turbulence emulator for free space optical communication in a laboratory environment to serve as a testbed for adaptive optics control. In the context of this student position, the design, integration and experimental validation of the turbulence emulation module of this testbed is foreseen.

 

Your tasks

  • Integrate active optical components meant for turbulence emulation into an optical bench that will serve as an adaptive optics demonstrator
  • Develop the interface of the chosen active optical component in order to achieve both amplitude and phase replication of the desired turbulent wavefront
  • Develop experimental protocols for verifying, testing and quantifying the quality of the turbulence emulation

 

Your profile

  • Experience in Python/MATLAB
  • Experience in Optical Design and its simulation (i.e. Zemax)
  • Experience integrating optical design onto a bench, including alignment and calibration techniques
  • Previous experience with spatial light modulators for turbulence emulation preferred

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

 

We look forward to getting to know you!

 

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 6024) please contact:

 

Joana Sofia do Sul da Mota Torres
Tel.: +49 (0) 8153 28 4320
Apply now