How to Apply to Astranis

11 min read Last updated March 7, 2026 122 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Confirm your ITAR eligibility before applying — nearly all Astranis engineering roles require U.S. Person status, and applying without eligibility wastes both your time and theirs
  • Tailor your resume to mirror the exact technical language in each Astranis job posting, using tool names, standard references, and domain terms verbatim to maximize your Greenhouse profile score
  • Emphasize any experience where you owned a problem from design through physical hardware testing — this end-to-end ownership pattern is the single strongest signal Astranis interviews for
  • Research Astranis's MicroGEO architecture and the specific connectivity problems it solves before your recruiter screen — articulating why their approach is technically distinct from LEO constellations or traditional GEO operators demonstrates genuine interest
  • Prepare for interviews by reviewing fundamental engineering problems in your discipline (link budgets, thermal resistance networks, structural load paths, signal processing chains) rather than memorizing trivia — Astranis interviews reward first-principles reasoning
  • If you're applying from outside aerospace (automotive, consumer electronics, defense), explicitly connect your production-scale or hardware integration experience to satellite manufacturing challenges on your resume — Astranis values adjacent industry experience when the skills transfer is clear
  • Apply to one or two roles that genuinely match your background rather than submitting to many openings — Greenhouse tracks all your applications, and scattershot applying can signal lack of focus to recruiters

About Astranis

Astranis designs and manufactures small geostationary (GEO) communication satellites — a category the company pioneered called MicroGEO — with the mission of bridging the digital divide for the four billion people worldwide who lack reliable internet access. Based in San Francisco, the company has developed a fundamentally different approach to satellite broadband: instead of building bus-sized, billion-dollar GEO satellites that take years to produce, Astranis builds compact, software-defined satellites at a fraction of the cost and timeline, deploying dedicated bandwidth to specific regions that traditional providers have long overlooked. Founded in 2015 by John Gedmark and Ryan McLinko, Astranis has grown rapidly through significant venture funding and reached a critical inflection point with the launch of its first commercial satellite, Arcturus. The company is now scaling toward volume production, which explains its expanding roster of manufacturing, test engineering, and production quality roles alongside its core RF, thermal, structural, and communications engineering teams. Culturally, Astranis operates with startup intensity inside a deeply technical aerospace environment. Engineers here don't just design subsystems in isolation — they're expected to own problems end-to-end, from analysis through integration and test. The team is relatively small for the ambition of its mission, meaning individual contributors have outsized impact and visibility. Employees frequently cite the tangible humanitarian purpose behind the technology, the pace of hardware iteration, and the opportunity to touch flight hardware early in their careers as reasons they chose Astranis over larger aerospace incumbents or other NewSpace ventures. With 122+ open openings spanning interns to senior technical program managers, Astranis is clearly in a significant growth phase as it moves from prototype to production-rate satellite manufacturing.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Identify the Right Role on the Astranis Careers Page

    Navigate to the Astranis careers page hosted on Greenhouse, where all 122+ open roles are organized by department and function. Pay close attention to the level distinctions — Astranis posts roles ranging from Associate-level to Senior, and intern positions specify the exact season (Spring 2026, Summer 2026), so applying to the correct term matters. Read the full job description carefully; Astranis tends to list specific technical requirements (e.g., RF simulation tools, DSP frameworks, GD&T knowledge) that signal exactly what the hiring team needs.

  2. 2
    Prepare Your Greenhouse Application Materials

    Your application will be submitted through Greenhouse, which means your resume will be parsed automatically — clean formatting is essential (more on this below). Astranis typically asks for a resume and may include role-specific screening questions about your experience with particular tools, technologies, or your eligibility to work on export-controlled projects. Some roles may request a portfolio, published work, or links to relevant projects, particularly for software and DSP engineering positions.

  3. 3
    Complete ITAR/Export Control Screening

    As a company manufacturing communication satellites, Astranis operates under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). You will almost certainly encounter a U.S. Person verification question during the application — this is a legal requirement, not optional. Be prepared to confirm your eligibility status, as Astranis commonly requires applicants to be U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or protected individuals) for the majority of their engineering roles.

  4. 4
    Initial Recruiter Screen

    If your application advances, expect a 20-30 minute phone or video call with a recruiter or talent team member. This conversation typically covers your background, your interest in Astranis's mission, your relevant technical experience, and logistical factors like start date, location (San Francisco is their primary site), and ITAR eligibility confirmation. Demonstrating genuine knowledge of Astranis's MicroGEO approach and the problem of global connectivity access will differentiate you from candidates who haven't done their research.

  5. 5
    Technical Assessment or Take-Home Exercise

    For many engineering roles, Astranis commonly includes a technical evaluation stage. Depending on the discipline, this could be a take-home design problem (e.g., an RF link budget analysis, a structural FEA scenario, or a coding challenge for software roles), a timed technical screen, or a review of past project work. For machinist and production roles, this stage may involve a practical skills assessment or detailed discussion of your hands-on fabrication experience.

  6. 6
    On-Site or Virtual Technical Interview Loop

    The core interview stage at Astranis typically involves multiple sessions with engineers, technical leads, and potentially a hiring manager over the course of a half-day or full day. Expect deep technical dives into your domain expertise — Astranis engineers report being asked to work through real-world problems on whiteboards or in collaborative design sessions rather than abstract puzzles. You may also tour the satellite integration and test facilities if interviewing on-site in San Francisco, giving you a chance to see flight hardware up close.

  7. 7
    Final Decision and Offer

    After the interview loop, the hiring team convenes for a debrief. Astranis, like many growth-stage aerospace startups, tends to move relatively quickly through this stage — many applicants report hearing back within one to two weeks of their final interview. Offers typically include competitive compensation with equity, reflecting the company's startup stage and growth trajectory. If you receive an offer, you may have the opportunity to speak with additional team members to help inform your decision.

Resume Tips for Astranis

critical

Lead with Aerospace-Relevant Hardware Experience

Astranis builds and ships physical satellites, so hands-on hardware experience carries enormous weight. If you've integrated PCBs, conducted thermal vacuum testing, operated CNC equipment, assembled RF chains, or worked in a cleanroom environment, put that front and center — above purely academic or simulation-only work. Even for software roles (like Hardware/Production Test Software Engineer), emphasize your experience writing code that interfaces with real hardware, test equipment, or data acquisition systems.

critical

Name Specific Tools, Software, and Standards by Their Exact Names

Greenhouse's parsing works best with exact keyword matches, and Astranis job descriptions are highly specific about technical requirements. Use the precise names: 'HFSS' not 'electromagnetic simulation software,' 'Thermal Desktop' not 'thermal analysis tool,' 'MATLAB/Simulink' not 'numerical computing.' Reference industry standards like MIL-STD-461 for EMC, GEVS for environmental testing, or IPC-A-610 for electronics workmanship if they're relevant to your experience. Mirror the terminology used in the job posting itself.

critical

Quantify Impact with Metrics That Matter in Aerospace

Generic metrics like 'improved efficiency by 20%' don't resonate the same way as aerospace-specific accomplishments. Instead, quantify in terms Astranis engineers care about: mass savings (grams matter on a small satellite), power budget reductions, link margin improvements, test coverage percentages, cycle time reductions in production, or yield improvements. For example: 'Reduced RF filter insertion loss by 0.3 dB, recovering 2W of spacecraft power budget' is far more compelling than 'optimized component performance.'

recommended

Highlight End-to-End Ownership and Cross-Functional Work

Astranis's relatively small team size means engineers frequently own a subsystem from design through test and integration. Structure your bullet points to show full-lifecycle involvement rather than narrow task completion. Instead of 'Designed antenna feed network,' write 'Designed, prototyped, and validated antenna feed network from initial simulation through environmental qualification, coordinating with thermal and structural teams on mounting interfaces.' This signals you can operate the way Astranis engineers actually work.

recommended

Use a Clean, Single-Column Format Without Graphics or Tables

Greenhouse parses resumes reasonably well, but multi-column layouts, embedded images, text boxes, and non-standard fonts can cause parsing errors that scramble your experience. Use a straightforward single-column layout with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills, Projects). Save as PDF unless the application specifically requests .docx. Avoid headers and footers for critical information like your name and contact details, as Greenhouse's parser sometimes skips these regions.

recommended

Include Relevant Coursework and Capstone Projects (Especially for Interns)

With multiple intern positions open across RF, DSP/Communications, Production Quality, and Environmental Test, Astranis clearly hires candidates still in school. If you're applying for an internship, dedicate space to relevant coursework (e.g., 'Satellite Communications Systems,' 'Microwave Engineering,' 'Signal Processing') and hands-on capstone or lab projects. Describe these projects with the same rigor as work experience: what you built, what tools you used, and what the outcome was. A well-described CubeSat project or senior design satellite subsystem can be just as compelling as prior industry internships.

nice_to_have

Call Out Any Experience with Production-Rate or Volume Manufacturing

Astranis is transitioning from building one-off prototypes to producing satellites at a meaningful cadence. Experience with production processes — lean manufacturing, statistical process control, fixture design, production test automation, MES systems, or scaling from prototype to rate production — is highly relevant even if it comes from adjacent industries like automotive, consumer electronics, or medical devices. Make this connection explicit on your resume if you're coming from outside traditional aerospace.

nice_to_have

Demonstrate Mission Alignment Without Being Generic

A brief professional summary at the top of your resume can be effective if it specifically connects your background to Astranis's work. Avoid vague statements like 'passionate aerospace engineer seeking challenging role.' Instead, try something concrete: 'RF engineer with 5 years of experience designing spaceborne communication payloads, motivated by expanding broadband access through smaller, more deployable satellite architectures.' This signals you understand what Astranis does and why it matters — not just that you want a job in space.

ATS System: Greenhouse

Greenhouse is a structured hiring platform that parses uploaded resumes into standardized candidate profiles, enabling recruiters to search, filter, and score applicants using custom scorecards tied to each role's requirements. At Astranis, Greenhouse serves as the central system of record for all applications — your resume's parsed data determines how you appear in recruiter searches and whether you surface for relevant open roles across the company's 118+ positions.

  • Use a single-column PDF format with standard section headers — Greenhouse handles this layout most reliably and won't misassign your data fields
  • Mirror exact technical keywords from the Astranis job description (e.g., 'link budget analysis,' 'GEO orbit,' 'MIL-STD environmental testing') since Greenhouse enables keyword-based candidate searches
  • Place your name and contact information in the body of the document, not in headers/footers, which Greenhouse's parser may skip entirely
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, columns, and embedded images — these formatting elements can cause Greenhouse to scramble the order of your content or miss sections entirely
  • List technical skills in a dedicated 'Technical Skills' section with comma-separated keywords to maximize parse accuracy for tools like HFSS, STK, MATLAB, SolidWorks, or Python
  • If applying to multiple Astranis roles, tailor your resume for each submission — Greenhouse tracks applications per role independently, and a thermal analyst resume won't score well against an RF design engineer scorecard
  • Complete all optional fields in the application form (LinkedIn URL, portfolio links, additional information) as Greenhouse scorecards may include these as evaluation criteria

Complete Greenhouse Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

Interviewing at Astranis reflects the company's identity as a mission-driven, technically rigorous aerospace startup where every engineer is expected to be hands-on and resourceful.

The process typically spans three to four stages over two to four weeks: a recruiter screen, a technical assessment, a multi-session interview loop, and sometimes a final conversation with senior leadership. The technical interviews are the core of the process and tend to be deeply substantive rather than formulaic. Rather than LeetCode-style algorithm puzzles (even for software roles), Astranis interviewers commonly present problems grounded in real satellite engineering challenges. An RF candidate might be asked to walk through a link budget or troubleshoot an impedance matching network. A structural analyst could be given a loading scenario and asked to discuss their FEA approach. A test software engineer might discuss how they'd architect a hardware-in-the-loop test system. The emphasis is on engineering judgment, first-principles thinking, and your ability to explain your reasoning clearly — not on memorizing textbook solutions. Culture fit at Astranis centers on a few observable signals. Interviewers look for genuine intellectual curiosity about the satellite communication problem, comfort with ambiguity (the company is still defining processes as it scales), and a bias toward action over lengthy deliberation. Candidates who demonstrate they've built or fixed something tangible — rather than only managed or analyzed from a distance — tend to resonate strongly. The team values people who take ownership and aren't afraid to work across traditional discipline boundaries. If you interview on-site at the San Francisco headquarters, you'll likely get a walkthrough of the integration and test facility where satellites are actually assembled. This is both a recruiting tool and a subtle evaluation — interviewers pay attention to the questions you ask about what you see. Showing genuine engagement with the hardware, asking informed questions about the integration process, or noting something technically interesting demonstrates the kind of hands-on curiosity Astranis values. For intern candidates, the process is typically shorter — often a recruiter screen followed by one or two technical interviews — but the expectation for technical depth relative to your experience level remains high. Come prepared to discuss your coursework and projects as if they were professional work.

What Astranis Looks For

  • End-to-end ownership mentality — willingness and ability to take a problem from concept through design, build, test, and integration rather than handing off between stages
  • Hands-on hardware experience — whether that's assembling RF chains, machining parts, running thermal vacuum chambers, or debugging integrated systems, Astranis values engineers who build things
  • First-principles technical depth — the ability to derive solutions from fundamental physics and engineering, not just follow established playbooks from larger aerospace programs
  • Comfort with startup-pace ambiguity — processes at Astranis are still evolving, and they look for people who thrive without a fully defined playbook rather than those who need rigid structure
  • Mission-driven motivation — genuine interest in solving the global connectivity gap through innovative satellite architecture, not just a generic desire to work in space
  • Cross-disciplinary communication skills — on a small satellite team, the thermal engineer needs to talk to the RF engineer who needs to talk to the structural analyst, so the ability to communicate across domains is critical
  • Production-mindset thinking — as Astranis scales from prototypes to volume manufacturing, they increasingly value engineers who think about producibility, testability, and design-for-manufacturing from the start
  • Speed and decisiveness — the ability to make sound engineering decisions quickly with incomplete information, iterate, and move forward rather than over-analyzing

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Astranis hiring process typically take from application to offer?
Based on patterns reported by candidates, the Astranis hiring process typically takes three to five weeks from initial application to offer, though this varies by role seniority and department. The recruiter screen usually happens within one to two weeks of application review, with the technical assessment and interview loop following in subsequent weeks. Intern hiring may move faster, especially during peak recruiting seasons for specific terms (Spring, Summer). If you haven't heard back within two weeks of applying, it's reasonable to follow up politely through the Greenhouse portal or via email to the recruiting team.
Does Astranis require a cover letter with applications?
Astranis's Greenhouse application typically makes cover letters optional rather than mandatory for most roles. That said, a concise, well-crafted cover letter can meaningfully differentiate your application — especially if you're transitioning from a different industry, explaining a non-traditional background, or applying for a role where mission alignment is particularly important (like Technical Program Management). If you include one, keep it under 300 words, focus on why Astranis specifically (not just 'space' generally), and highlight one or two concrete experiences that connect to the role. Skip generic cover letters entirely; they add nothing.
What experience level do I need to apply to Astranis engineering roles?
Astranis posts roles across a wide experience spectrum, from interns and associate-level engineers to senior individual contributors and technical program managers. The intern postings (RF, DSP/Communications, Production Quality, Environmental Test) are designed for students currently pursuing relevant degrees, while associate roles typically target candidates with zero to two years of post-graduation experience. Senior roles generally expect five-plus years of relevant industry experience. Astranis tends to value depth and demonstrated capability over years-on-paper, so if you have strong hands-on project work or have operated in high-intensity environments, don't self-select out based solely on a years-of-experience number.
Is Astranis open to remote work, or are roles based in San Francisco?
Astranis is primarily an on-site company, with its headquarters and satellite manufacturing facility located in San Francisco, California. Because the company builds physical hardware — satellites that need to be assembled, integrated, and tested — the vast majority of engineering and production roles require on-site presence. Some software or analysis-heavy roles may offer limited flexibility, but candidates should generally plan for full-time San Francisco-based work. If relocation is a factor for you, it's worth confirming location requirements during the recruiter screen rather than assuming remote eligibility.
How should I prepare for a technical interview at Astranis?
Focus your preparation on fundamentals within your specific discipline rather than generic interview prep. If you're an RF engineer, review link budget calculations, impedance matching, S-parameter analysis, and antenna fundamentals. Thermal analysts should be comfortable discussing conduction/radiation heat transfer, thermal resistance networks, and FEA methodology. Structural candidates should review load path analysis, vibration and shock environments, and FEA best practices. For all roles, practice explaining your past projects in a structured way: the problem, your specific technical contribution, the tools you used, the challenges you encountered, and the outcome. Astranis interviewers reportedly value candidates who can think through problems out loud and acknowledge what they don't know rather than bluffing.
What does the ITAR requirement mean for my application?
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) restricts access to certain defense and space-related technologies to U.S. Persons, defined as U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or individuals granted refugee or asylum status. Because Astranis manufactures communication satellites that fall under these regulations, most engineering roles require U.S. Person status as a condition of employment — this is a federal legal requirement, not a company preference. If you are not a U.S. Person, review the specific job posting carefully, as a small number of roles (particularly in business or non-technical functions) may not carry this restriction. Astranis cannot sponsor candidates past ITAR restrictions for most technical positions.
Can I apply to multiple open positions at Astranis simultaneously?
Technically yes — Greenhouse allows you to submit separate applications for different roles. However, applying strategically to one or two well-matched positions is far more effective than submitting to five or six. Astranis recruiters can see all of your applications in Greenhouse, and applying broadly can suggest you're not clear on your own strengths or the differences between roles. If you genuinely qualify for two related positions (e.g., RF Design Engineer and Communications/DSP Engineer), it's reasonable to apply to both with tailored resumes. But avoid applying to unrelated roles across different disciplines.
Does Astranis hire from non-aerospace industries?
Yes — Astranis's growth trajectory and emphasis on production-rate manufacturing means they actively need skills from adjacent industries. Machinists with automotive or medical device experience, test software engineers from consumer electronics, production quality professionals from high-reliability manufacturing, and thermal or structural analysts from defense or energy sectors all bring transferable skills. The key is making the translation explicit on your resume and in interviews. Explain how your experience with high-volume manufacturing, rigorous quality standards, or complex electromechanical systems maps to satellite production challenges. Astranis values the fresh perspective that non-traditional aerospace candidates bring, particularly around scaling and production efficiency.
What format should my resume be in when applying through Greenhouse?
Submit your resume as a clean, single-column PDF. Greenhouse parses PDFs reliably as long as you avoid tables, text boxes, multi-column layouts, and images. Use standard section headers ('Experience,' 'Education,' 'Skills') so the parser correctly categorizes your information. Keep your resume to one page if you have under eight years of experience, or two pages maximum for senior roles. Ensure your name and contact information appear in the main body text, not in the header or footer, as Greenhouse's parser can miss content in those regions. Before submitting, open your PDF in a plain text viewer to verify that all text is selectable and readable — if it appears garbled, the parser will struggle too.
What is the compensation structure like at Astranis?
While specific figures vary by role and level, Astranis typically offers competitive compensation packages that include base salary and equity. As a venture-backed startup in growth mode, the equity component can be a significant portion of total compensation and reflects the company's potential upside. Benefits commonly include health insurance, retirement contributions, and other standard offerings for San Francisco-based tech companies. For intern positions, expect competitive hourly or monthly stipends. Compensation details are typically discussed during the recruiter screen or at the offer stage — it's appropriate to ask about the general compensation structure during your initial conversation with the recruiting team.

Sample Open Positions

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 122 open positions at Astranis

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Sources

  1. Astranis Careers Page — Astranis Space Technologies
  2. Astranis Company Overview and Mission — Astranis Space Technologies
  3. Astranis Interview Reviews and Company Ratings — Glassdoor
  4. Greenhouse ATS Candidate Help and Resume Formatting Guide — Greenhouse Software
  5. Astranis LinkedIn Company Page — LinkedIn