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Student placement (f/m/d): FPGA Development for Free-Space Optical Satellite Terminals
Job Description
Req ID:  2726
Place of work:  Oberpfaffenhofen
Starting date:  October 1st, 2025
Career level:  Internship, Student employment
Type of employment:  Part time, Full-time
Duration of contract:  3 to 6 months

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 11,000 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 Communication Terminals working group within the Optical Satellite Links department develops experimental laser communication systems for optical data links between airborne platforms such as aircraft or satellites and optical ground stations.

Your contributions will help advance innovative satellite technologies for a wide range of topics, including: very high-speed LEO and GEO downlinks, optical inter-satellite links, Deep Space Communications, support for Earth observation technologies, and much more. Some of the projects you would be working on include:

CubeISL: a project demonstrating optical communication between two CubeSats in space in 2026.
Cube1G: an extension of the CubeISL terminal with a coarse alignment unit, also flying in 2026.
Qube-II: a project that will transmit quantum keys from space to the ground in 2026.

Your tasks

  • Implementation of novel optical communications coding and synchronization standards on FPGAs in VHDL
  • Adaptation and integration of existing IP Cores for new projects
  • Optional: Development of scripts for test and verification automation

Your profile

  • Profound Experience in VHDL development, writing testbenches, etc.
  • Experience with the Xilinx Vivado toolchain and Xilinx Zynq boards
  • Experience with version control systems (Git)
  • Basic knowledge in Python
  • Optional: Experience with Embedded Systems development in C/C++ and AXI Interfaces
  • Ability to proactively identify and solve problems independently
  • English: Professional Working Proficiency, German: Optional

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 2726) please contact:

Dr. Christopher Schmidt
Tel.: +49 8153 28 3091 
Apply now