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Astronomical Software Engineering Internship

We are currently accepting applications for our 2nd year of this program. 

Applications are due March 22nd, by midnight.

Internship Overview

The TIMESTEP Astronomical Software Engineering Internship places students (juniors and seniors) with backgrounds in astronomy and/or physics to work in small teams on cutting-edge software challenges in the Space Sciences. Interns will learn about software engineering at industry standards and will be prepared for software careers in industry and to conduct advanced research in graduate school. 

This internship offers a rare intersection of astrophysics, software engineering, and AI-driven automation. Candidates with a passion for scientific discovery and computational innovation are encouraged to apply. Candidates with a passion for scientific discovery and computational innovation are encouraged to apply.

Intern Responsibilities

  • Attend a weekly agile style stand-up meeting and regular technical workshops.
  • Communicate clearly and regularly with your team and grad student mentor, using Slack, GitHub, and other tools
  • Build, optimize, and document code. 

Intern Qualifications

  • Proficiency in Python with experience in scientific computing and/or data processing.
  • Familiarity with version control software such as Git.
  • Interest in software development, including code optimization and documentation
  • Interested in working in a team
  • Interest in solving software challenges with applications in Space Science.
  • Interest in developing best practices in AI-assisted software development (e.g GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT).
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

  • Direct involvement in an astrophysical software engineering initiative.
  • Learn and apply software engineering best practices to advance the progress of scientific research teams.
  • Increase your competitiveness for industry positions, graduate school, and research opportunities 

Astronomical Software Engineering Internship advertisement: 

 

Guidelines for Applications
2026-27 TIMESTEP Astronomical Software Engineering

Eligibility: 
•    Must be entering your 3rd/junior year or 4th/senior year, as determined by credits, for the 2026-27 academic school year.
•    Must be enrolled in both fall and spring of 2026-27 academic school year.
•    International students are eligible to apply.
•    Preference for a UArizona student majoring or minoring in astronomy and/or physics.

 

Here are some helpful guidelines to help you prepare your application:
1.    Do NOT rush to apply! Applications are due at midnight on March 22nd. There is no advantage to submitting your application significantly earlier. Take advantage of the resources TIMESTEP offers and take the time you need to prepare your materials (See resources here: https://timestep.arizona.edu/past-meetings-0 and look at the recording from Feb. 26th).

2.    Work on your resume. This example tech resume is the required format for this application. Please include all relevant information as shown in the example, including your GPA. View some example undergraduate resumes here. Be sure to include / highlight coding classes, research experiences, significant class projects and technical skills (including programming languages & operating systems).

The College of Science Career Center offers a free resume review for all students. Sign up for an appointment via Handshake. You may want to have a faculty member, postdoc, or grad student in your discipline look over your materials to give you feedback on the technical details. 

3. Get an unofficial transcript from the Office of the Registrar to upload: Instructions for online access 

4. Complete the online application by midnight March 22nd, 2026. You will be asked to upload your resume and transcript, so have those ready in pdf format.

TIMESTEP's Astronomical Software Engineering Internship is supported by the Marshall Foundation; TRIF SEOS; and the Arizona Space Institute.