Signal Processing Engineer Internships
Signal processing engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career candidates hands-on project experience working with real systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in {{top_industries_phrase}}, with The Aerospace Corporation, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Shure among the employers posting roles now.
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The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.
The Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Signal Processing and RF Engineering Grad Intern for the Communication Software Implementation Department (CSID) in the Mission Payloads Division (MPD). Position will be full-time, onsite at our office in El Segundo, CA.
At the Mission Payloads Division (MPD), we are pioneers in remote sensing systems that guide our country’s space enterprise. Our talented and dynamic people create and flourish in electronics, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced data network domains. We boldly advance technology through our research and development and then forward to demonstration and integration. With innovative laboratories and prototyping, MPD delivers groundbreaking results. We guide our Department of Defense, intelligence community, and civil clients to enhance national productivity and security and tackle the most critical missions. Bring your intelligence and creative spirit and join us at MPD!
Job Summary
CSID performs proof-of-concept studies, implements new algorithms, and builds prototypes for signal processing applications. We are subject matter experts who provide technical advice to our customers on satellite communication systems.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Design, build, code, and test software/hardware prototypes for signal processing applications
- Deliver tech demos and briefings
- Work on multiple projects simultaneously, both independently and in small team within the department
- Training and mentorship will be provided
What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Must work well in a team environment
- Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
- Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
- Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements:
- Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related discipline
- Availability to work full-time for a minimum of 12 weeks outside of university term and ability to return to a degree program full-time after completion of the internship.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Software development experience in one or more of these languages: Python, C/C++, Golang, Rust, Swift, Julia
- Familiarity with digital signal processing and RF communication technique
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance; which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
- Transcripts required
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Active security clearance
- Experience in satellite communications, CubeSats, or GPS/GNSS/PNT systems
- Development experience in software-defined radio environment such as GNU Radio
- Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning techniques
Temporary housing assistance is not available.
We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.
(Min - Max)
$32.00 - $35.00 Pay Basis: HourlyLeadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:
- Operate Strategically
- Lead Change
- Engage with Impact
- Foster Innovation
- Deliver Results
Ways We Reward Our Employees
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:
Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
Flexible spending accounts
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
Relocation assistance
Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
Education assistance programs
An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal .
The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.
The Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Signal Processing and RF Engineering Grad Intern for the Communication Software Implementation Department (CSID) in the Mission Payloads Division (MPD). Position will be full-time, onsite at our office in El Segundo, CA.
At the Mission Payloads Division (MPD), we are pioneers in remote sensing systems that guide our country’s space enterprise. Our talented and dynamic people create and flourish in electronics, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced data network domains. We boldly advance technology through our research and development and then forward to demonstration and integration. With innovative laboratories and prototyping, MPD delivers groundbreaking results. We guide our Department of Defense, intelligence community, and civil clients to enhance national productivity and security and tackle the most critical missions. Bring your intelligence and creative spirit and join us at MPD!
Job Summary
CSID performs proof-of-concept studies, implements new algorithms, and builds prototypes for signal processing applications. We are subject matter experts who provide technical advice to our customers on satellite communication systems.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Design, build, code, and test software/hardware prototypes for signal processing applications
- Deliver tech demos and briefings
- Work on multiple projects simultaneously, both independently and in small team within the department
- Training and mentorship will be provided
What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Must work well in a team environment
- Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
- Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
- Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements:
- Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related discipline
- Availability to work full-time for a minimum of 12 weeks outside of university term and ability to return to a degree program full-time after completion of the internship.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Software development experience in one or more of these languages: Python, C/C++, Golang, Rust, Swift, Julia
- Familiarity with digital signal processing and RF communication technique
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance; which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
- Transcripts required
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Active security clearance
- Experience in satellite communications, CubeSats, or GPS/GNSS/PNT systems
- Development experience in software-defined radio environment such as GNU Radio
- Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning techniques
Temporary housing assistance is not available.
We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.
(Min - Max)
$32.00 - $35.00 Pay Basis: HourlyLeadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:
- Operate Strategically
- Lead Change
- Engage with Impact
- Foster Innovation
- Deliver Results
Ways We Reward Our Employees
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:
Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
Flexible spending accounts
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
Relocation assistance
Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
Education assistance programs
An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal .
Signal Processing Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Signal Processing Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer internships
Large defense, semiconductor, and consumer-electronics employers open summer cohort applications the preceding fall, often closing them before spring semester starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings throughout the year and apply the moment a role that fits appears.
Build a technical portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for signal processing engineer internships want something concrete to evaluate. Document two or three projects in signal filtering, audio processing, radar, or embedded DSP, naming the tools you used and linking to working code or a write-up. A public GitHub repository with clean, commented implementations does more work than a list of coursework alone.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Signal processing engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering digital filter design, Fourier analysis, sampling theory, or algorithm problems in Python or MATLAB. Practice solving problems while explaining your reasoning out loud, not just writing correct answers, because interviewers weigh how you think through tradeoffs as much as the final result.
Target structured university and rotational programs early
Larger aerospace, defense, and semiconductor companies run cohort-based internship programs built to train students new to the field. These programs recruit early, fill in the first application wave, and offer structured mentorship and project rotation that generalist openings don't. Identify the ones that recruit from your school and get your application in at the opening.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 0% of the signal processing engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before searching, then filter by location and work type so you aren't sorting through roles in cities you can't relocate to or formats that don't fit your situation.
Signal Processing Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a signal processing engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A GitHub repository or technical portfolio of documented DSP and embedded-systems projects gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a signal processing engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it most for signal processing engineer interns is delivering on real project work, team headcount at the end of your term, and how early the return-offer conversation happens. Treat the internship as an extended interview, but don't count on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for signal processing engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large defense contractors, semiconductor firms, and tech employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with applications closing months before the program starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role opens gives you the best shot.
Are signal processing engineer internships paid?
Most professional signal processing engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing shows it, so you can compare directly across the roles you're considering.
What should a signal processing engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools you used, such as MATLAB, Python, or FPGA toolchains, and link to the code or technical write-up so reviewers can verify the work. Add relevant coursework in signal theory, digital systems, or communications, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote signal processing engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the signal processing engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get signal processing engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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