Iridium Software Engineering Internship - Summer 2026 (Arizona)

Company Overview

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world.   For over 20 years, Iridium’s unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things.

At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed.  Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions.  Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world.  Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves.   We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world.

What We’re Looking For:

The Iridium Internship Program provides students the opportunity to support teams driving the future of satellite communications. Interns in Software Engineering gain hands-on experience developing, testing, and deploying software that powers Iridium’s satellite network, ground systems, and global products and services. You’ll collaborate with engineers and technical staff to design tools, automate processes, and build applications that enhance performance, reliability, and efficiency across Iridium’s network and connected products and solutions.

As an Intern, you’ll begin making an impact on real projects from day one! Come prepared to grow, develop, and learn alongside a team and the leaders of our company. The Iridium Internship program is a 12-week program that runs from May 18, 2026 to August 7, 2026. 

What You’ll Do:

Projects are aligned with your academic background, technical interests, and the needs of our teams, and may include:

• Developing new software features and services, and maintaining or enhancing existing applications and libraries
• Assisting with architecture, design, coding, testing, and documentation within an Agile/Scrum team
• Participating in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and sprint reviews
• Gathering requirements and collaborating with stakeholders to design effective solutions
• Ensuring software meets quality standards through unit and integration testing
• Maintaining and extending key applications, including GUI frameworks, web applications, and Python/C++ utilities for data management and analysis
• Developing scripts, simulators, or software tools using Python, Java, or C to support testing and analysis
• Assisting with simulation, emulation, and verifying performance across Iridium satellite devices and transceivers
• Participating in code reviews and contributing to automation frameworks for Iridium services and devices
• Developing scalable, high-performance software and leveraging open-source solutions where appropriate

Skill You'll Gain:

• Hands-on experience developing software that supports Iridium’s satellite communications system and services
• Knowledge of object-oriented programming and the full software development lifecycle
• Exposure to RF design, simulation, and evaluation processes
• Experience collaborating with team members to implement, build, verify, and troubleshoot software
• Exposure to modern development tools and workflows, including Jira, GitLab, and Confluence
• Understanding and application of software engineering best practices to create reliable, maintainable code
• Understanding how products and services are conceptualized, evaluated, and transitioned into operational functionality
• Participation in an Agile/Scrum development team working with Python, C, C++, and Java

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Interest in software development, product development, and a strong foundation in software engineering concepts, including object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithms
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, and professional demeanor
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team
• Attention to detail and commitment to high-quality results

Things You Must Bring to the Table:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or graduate degree program at an accredited academic institution
• Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or Data Science/Applied Mathematics preferred
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Must be able to work in person at an Iridium location

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer. 

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.