Student (f/m/x) - Optical Engineering/ Electrical Engineering/ Aerospace Engineering
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 22, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 4, 2026.
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 Technologies for Satellite Links group conducts research in the field of high-throughput optical satellite links and transceiver development. This encompasses topics ranging from research into atmospheric turbulence and the signal processing techniques to the development of high-speed communication technologies and systems. Within the Mitigation of atmospheric Impairments group, topics focus on techniques to correct for the distortion of laser beams as they propagate through atmospheric turbulence.
Present work encompasses among other things the development of an optical turbulence emulator for free space optical communication in a laboratory environment to serve as a testbed for adaptive optics control. In the context of this student position, the design, integration and experimental validation of the turbulence emulation module of this testbed is foreseen.
Your tasks
- Integrate active optical components meant for turbulence emulation into an optical bench that will serve as an adaptive optics demonstrator
- Develop the interface of the chosen active optical component in order to achieve both amplitude and phase replication of the desired turbulent wavefront
- Develop experimental protocols for verifying, testing and quantifying the quality of the turbulence emulation
Your profile
- Experience in Python/MATLAB
- Experience in Optical Design and its simulation (i.e. Zemax)
- Experience integrating optical design onto a bench, including alignment and calibration techniques
- Previous experience with spatial light modulators for turbulence emulation preferred
We look forward to getting to know you!
If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 6024) please contact:
Joana Sofia do Sul da Mota Torres
Tel.: +49 (0) 8153 28 4320