Master Thesis: Deployable StellarStick for small satellites

4 days ago


Kista, Stockholm, Sweden OHB Sweden AB Full time

OHB Sweden is a leading Swedish provider of space systems. We develop, build, test, and operate satellites and subsystems for space missions in areas such as communication, Earth observation, and space research, serving both institutional and commercial customers in Europe and beyond. OHB Sweden offers an exciting workplace where you will contribute to the future of space development.

Now we're looking for a Master's student who wants to do their Master's thesis with us

*Background and purpose of the master's thesis:*
Designing, qualifying, building, testing, and launching a satellite requires an immense amount of work. Once in orbit, the satellite can begin its mission — for example, capturing measurements or images of Earth or other celestial objects. However, it is rare to obtain actual photographs of the satellite itself while in orbit.

To support continuous learning, verify deployment, document the satellite's in-orbit performance, and create material for outreach and marketing, we aim to explore the development of a deployable, slim, and extendable mechanism capable of holding a camera. In essence, it functions like a "selfie stick" for satellites — a concept we call
StellarStick.
Job overview:
We are offering a Master's thesis position focused on the design of a deployable StellarStick for capturing images of a satellite system while in orbit. The objective of this thesis is to design the StellarStick mechanism, develop a compact storage solution suitable for launch conditions, and enable its active deployment once in orbit - all while securely supporting a space-qualified camera and the necessary cabling.

The tasks of the master's thesis topic are as follows:

  • Analyze design requirements and constraints for the deployment of the StellarStick.
  • Develop conceptual designs for the folding/extending mechanism, focusing on adaptability across different satellite configurations and sizes.
  • Perform detailed design, simulations and analysis (e.g., mechanical, thermal, and dynamic) to validate the design concepts.
  • Build and test a prototype (if applicable) to demonstrate functionality.
  • Survey and investigate current solutions.
  • Present findings and recommendations for further development and potential implementation.

The required candidate's skills are:

  • A strong background in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
  • Knowledge in design, simulation, and analysis of mechanical systems
  • Experience with CAD and simulation software such as Creo, APEX, Nastran, SolidWorks, ANSYS, or similar.
  • Familiarity with space systems, especially deployment mechanisms or satellite subsystems, is a plus.
  • Strong problem-solving and innovative thinking skills.
  • Self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in teams.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills for sharing findings with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What can we offer you, as a student, to succeed in your master's thesis?
This Master's thesis offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in satellite mechanical design while gaining hands-on experience in the space industry. Your work may directly influence future satellite missions developed by OHB Sweden.

Throughout the project, you will receive guidance and technical support from OHB Sweden's team of highly skilled, motivated, and innovative mechanical engineers.

Successful completion of the thesis may also open the door to future employment opportunities as a Mechanical Engineer within OHB Sweden.

We're looking forward to your application



  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden OHB Sweden AB Full time

    OHB Sweden is a leading Swedish provider of space systems. We develop, build, test, and operate satellites and subsystems for space missions in areas such as communication, Earth observation, and space research, serving both institutional and commercial customers in Europe and beyond. OHB Sweden offers an exciting workplace where you will contribute to the...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden OHB Sweden AB Full time 450,000 - 675,000 per year

    OHB Sweden is a leading provider of space systems, developing, building, testing, and operating satellites and in-orbit propulsion systems for missions in communication, Earth observation, and space research. Serving both institutional and commercial customers across Europe and beyond, OHB Sweden offers an exciting workplace where you can contribute to...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 40,000 per year

    We have an open position for a master student to join us at the Connected Intelligence research unit, within the Computer Science department at RISE.BackgroundIn 5G telecom networks, models are often trained in one environment (one cell, one environment, one traffic mix) and then deployed in another with different infrastructure, deployment environment,...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 40,000 - 60,000 per year

    We have an open position for a dedicated master student to join us at the Connected Intelligence research unit, within the Computer Science department at RISE.Background and purposeMachine learning (ML) has catalyzed the design and development of various intelligent systems over wide application domains. Many efforts have been made to deploy ML models on...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 200,000 - 300,000 per year

    BackgroundAutonomous vehicles rely on AI models and vast amounts of multi-modal sensor data—including vehicle control signals, GPS, lidar, radar, and camera inputs—to perceive and navigate their environment. When vehicles are updated and new models are developed, sensors and hardware often change, which in turn also affects the AI models used. One...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 480,000 - 960,000 per year

    BackgroundAutonomous vehicles rely on AI models and vast amounts of multi-modal sensor data—including vehicle control signals, GPS, lidar, radar, and camera inputs—to perceive and navigate their environment. When vehicles are updated and new models are developed, sensors and hardware often change, which in turn also affects the AI models used. One...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 400,000 - 600,000 per year

    BackgroundThe widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and advanced driver assistance systems has dramatically increased the volume of sensor data generated at the network edge. Leveraging this data for intelligent driving services requires machine learning models that are both accurate and privacy conscious. Federated Learning (FL) has emerged as a...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 39,990 - 59,988 per year

    BackgroundThe next generation of smart buildings requires systems that are not just automated, but intelligent and responsive to human behaviour. Automatic doors are a key component of modern infrastructure, yet they often lack the intelligence to differentiate between intent and incidental movement, leading to unnecessary openings that waste energy and can...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 400,000 - 600,000 per year

    BackgroundAs monolithic AI models reach their limits in complex, dynamic environments, the future of robotic intelligence lies in creating teams of specialised agents that can collaborate to solve problems. This approach mirrors how human teams work, allowing for more robust, safe, and nuanced behaviours. This thesis project will explore this frontier by...


  • Kista, Stockholm, Sweden RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Full time 40,000 per year

    We have an open position for a master student to join us at the Connected Intelligence research unit, within the Computer Science department at RISE.BackgroundPrivate 5G networks are becoming essential for industries that need reliable, low-latency, and secure connectivity. Machine learning models are increasingly used in these networks to predict KPIs and...