FPGA Engineer Intern

Aetherflux is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our modular, scalable satellites collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to enable multiple integrated applications: transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit high-performance computing clusters (GPU/TPU), and providing secure, high-bandwidth optical data transport.

Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure. Aetherflux overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable energy distribution and data processing from space. This will fundamentally change how we operate in orbit and on Earth—supporting the rapidly expanding space industrial base, ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) operations, remote regions, and mission-critical environments.

Aetherflux was founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt. Inspired by his father’s work with NASA Langley Research Center, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before co-founding Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system.

Aetherflux has raised $90 million from Index Ventures, Interlagos, Construct Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and others.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Aetherflux’s team has worked at places like SpaceX, Astranis, NASA, Anduril, and the U.S. Navy, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build a generational energy and infrastructure company, we want to hear from you.

As an FPGA Engineering Intern, you will work closely with our compute and hardware teams to design and implement high-performance digital systems that operate in demanding environments.

This role is ideal for someone who wants hands-on experience developing real systems that interface directly with hardware, sensors, and mission-critical infrastructure.

You will contribute to early-stage architecture and help bring up systems that are core to our platform.

• Design, implement, and test FPGA-based systems for high-performance and low-latency applications

• Develop RTL in Verilog/SystemVerilog for signal processing, control systems, or data pipelines

• Work on hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation in lab environments

• Collaborate with software, embedded, and hardware engineers to integrate FPGA solutions into broader systems

• Optimize designs for performance, power efficiency, and reliability

• Support simulation, synthesis, and timing closure efforts

• Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

• Experience with FPGA development (academic or project-based)

• Familiarity with Verilog or SystemVerilog

• Understanding of digital design fundamentals (timing, state machines, pipelining)

• Experience with FPGA toolchains (Xilinx, Intel/Altera, or similar)

• Exposure to high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, etc.)

• Experience with simulation tools (ModelSim, Vivado, etc.)

• Familiarity with embedded systems or hardware/software co-design

• Participation in hands-on engineering projects (robotics, CubeSat, Formula SAE, etc.)

• Equity in Aetherflux

• Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) retirement savings plan

• Paid time off

• 10 paid holidays per calendar year

• Paid leave for new parents

• Relocation assistance

• Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Aetherflux’s discretion.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Aetherflux is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Aetherflux is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.