Apply to Our Team!

Thanks for your interest in joining the Cal Poly CubeSat Lab! No experience is required to apply, the only requirement is that you are a current student at Cal Poly SLO!

Keep scrolling for a description of the work done by our different discipline teams.

Applications for the Fall of 2024 are now closed. Applicants should except to hear back by the end of Week 3. The Education and Outreach team will now be accepting rolling applications by emailing your resume to polysat@calpoly.edu.

Please check out the FAQs to learn more about the application process.

 
 

Assembly, Integration, Testing

What we do:

  • Writing assembly, integration, and test procedures

  • Thermal vacuum (TVAC) and Vibration testing

  • Assembly & integration in cleanroom and lab space

    Technologies used:

  • MATLAB

  • Facilities: TVAC, cleanroom, vibration tables

 

Systems Engineering & Analysis

What we do:

  • Orbit simulations

  • Space environments analysis

  • High level mission design covering all disciplines

  • Requirements development, concepts of operations, and other systems engineering documentation

    Technologies used:

  • MATLAB

 

Ground Station & Operations

What we do:

  • Spaceflight operations

  • Ground segment maintenance

  • Communication with satellites in orbit

    Technologies used:

  • MATLAB, Python, Linux terminal, Software defined radio

  • Facilities: Antennae on the roof of the ATL and Engineering IV

 

Avionics Team

What we do:

  • Integrate and test flight hardware

  • Design custom hardware solutions for Cubesat bus and payload integration

  • Design various PCBs for external aerospace projects (e.g. Propulsion Power Production Unit, Educational Satellite Simulator)

    Technologies used:

  • ECAD software (i.e. Altium)

  • Oscilloscopes, digital signal analyzers, spectrum analyzers, etc.

  • Soldering irons and reflow ovens

  • Embedded Linux compatible hardware

  • Microcontroller hardware

Structures & Mechanisms Team

What we do:

  • Design structures and mechanisms for CubeSats

  • Prototype with additive manufacturing

  • Manufacture structures in house

    Technologies used:

  • SolidWorks

  • Additive manufacturing - 3D printers

  • Subtractive manufacturing - CNC mill

 

Software Team

  • What we do:

  • Write and test satellite flight software using C

  • Integrate to embedded Linux systems and microcontroller environments

  • Provide software support other projects and teams like ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control System)

  • Maintain a semi-autonomous ground station network to communicate with satellites and gather data

    Technologies used:

  • Mostly C! some Python, database, and web development

 

Education and Outreach

What we do:

  • Collaborate with the university for internal events and marketing

  • Web and graphic design

  • Social media and outreach management

  • Public relations with external companies and schools