AUSAT

Building the spacecraft

The core of the project is the technological development of the satellite. We will be iterating quickly through design, building and testing. As part of this, we will need people from many disciplines:

• Electronics engineering – The satellite will run on many different electronic systems, and they all need different skills:
  • Embedded systems development – Flight computer, programmable module, on board data handling
  • Power electronics – Batteries, solar panels
  • RF engineering – Radio, antennas
• Firmware development – All custom-made electronic subsystems will be needing their own firmware
• Mechanical engineering – The satellite needs a solid structure to survive launch
• Thermal engineering – We need to make sure the satellite does not freeze or overheat!
• Software development – Test harnesses will need to be made, internal tools for development and debugging, simulations, etc

The ground station

No satellite can be operated without ground support infrastructure! We will be needing a team to build this. At first this may seem to be separate from building the satellite, but it is quite the opposite. Proper ground station tools are critical for testing the satellite and rapid iteration.

The ground station will mostly consist of different kinds of software. We need tools to communicate with the satellite, (de)modulate radio signals, parse telemetry, display it on a control panel, send commands to the spacecraft, etc.

There is also a possibility that we will erect our own ground station hardware, including antennas, radios and pointing mechanisms.

Making it possible

A CubeSat project neither begins nor ends with building a satellite, realising the project will require an extensive regulatory and legal process, working with both government agencies and launch providers to make sure that we meet the requirements for getting to and operating in space. And to make it all happen will require project management, sponsor contact, and more

• Project Management – We are looking for a Project Manager of the satellite project, as well as a Technical Lead.
• Licensing and legal – The regulatory and legal process for operation permits and launch.
• Outreach & Media – We will need talented people who will document and spread the project and support the outreach goals of AUSAT-1 together with Astronomisk Ungdom.
• Industry and sponsor contact – Connect with industry partners and other actors interested in the project, and help secure funding for AUSAT-1.

Satellite Project Manager

What you’ll do

• Plan and follow up the satellite project, including: schedule, budget, risks, and priorities
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and training
• Run team meetings, track decisions, to-dos, milestones and generally make sure that communication works as intended
• Work together with AUSAT’s central project manager, and the leads of the school and outreach projects in AU and AU:s Elevförbund, to keep the entire project on track

Who you are

• You are confident leading engineers and understanding the details of a technical project
• You have previous project management experience, and are interested in developing management and leadership skills
• You can make AUSAT one of your top priorities

Technical Lead

What you’ll do

• Own the system requirements and the technical baseline
• Keep the subsystems fitting together: interfaces and mass, power and data budgets
• Own the radio link from satellite to classroom antenna
• Lead design reviews and technical trade-offs with the team

Who you are

• You have an engineering background, from studies, projects or work
• You have built something that had to work, and you think in systems
• You can make a call on incomplete information and revise it when tests say so

1. Fill in the form

You apply to the project by filling out our application form. It’s a fairly short form that gives us a brief overview of who you are in preparation for an interview and potential role placement.

2. Interview

We read applications as they arrive and reply within 1 week. Candidates are invited to a 45-60 minute online interview where we get to know you better, and where you get to ask questions that you have for us.

3. Review

Once all applications and candidates have been reviewed and interviewed, the process of forming the most suitable teams begins. This might take more or less time depending on the amount of applicants. During the interview we will be able to give a better estimate of when we will get back to you.

4. Response

If you are selected as a candidate for the project group you will receive an offer for a specific role and team. If you accept we will kick off the project as soon as possible, likely during November.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please reach out to ausat@spacestudents.se

Do I need to know anything about space?

No. Almost everything on a satellite is ordinary engineering, law or project work done under unusual conditions. We learn the space-specific parts together.

I’m not an engineer. Is there anything for me?

Yes. Licensing and legal work, sponsor contact, outreach and media, documentation and project management are all needed to get the satellite into orbit.

Do I have to stay until launch?

No. A year of solid work on one part is a real contribution. Tell us in the form roughly how long you expect to stay, and we’ll plan around it.

Do I need to be a member of Space Students Sweden?

Yes, becoming a member is completely free and you can easily sign up here. We can always help you become a member during the recruitment process if you have any issues.

Where does the work happen?

The ambition of the project is to have several local groups at multiple universities developing different subsystems, ground station hardware, and other parts of the project. Chalmers and Gothenburg will serve as the assembly and integration hub, and the place where some of the most important pieces of electronics will be developed and assembled. Other local groups will depend on the amount of interest in the application process. If you know that you have several interested individuals in your area who would like to work together, please mention this in your application or reach out directly to ausat@spacestudents.se
There will also be plenty of roles and groups that will work remotely, convening occasionally for physical meetups and work.

I‘m more interested in the school visits and teaching material.

Those parts are run by AU and AU:s Elevförbund, in Swedish, and open later. If you are more interested in this work, please e-mail kansli@au.se

What happens to my application data?

We use it only to handle your application, email us to have it deleted at any time.