Apply
Get Involved! PoliTo Rocket Team has numerous positions available for undergraduate and graduate students of Politecnico di Torino. Here you can find our Open Positions and some Frequently Asked Questions about our recruitment process or about the Team. If you still have some questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on social media or at recruitment@politorocketteam.it
Open positions
Graphic Designer
OPS-CMS-002 Department: Operations Division: Communications
Description
As a Graphic Designer, you will be in charge of designing the Team’s mission patches, logos and uniforms, and help design the external coating of the Team’s rockets. You will design social media posts and website UI & UX in tight collaboration with photographers, video makers, rendering specialists, and web developers, leveraging modern design styles and patterns.
Required skills
- Knowledge of prototyping softwares and graphics softwares
Desirable skills
- Attention to details and being up to date on the latest trends
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Photographer & Videomaker
OPS-CMS-003 Department: Operations Division: Communications
Description
As a Photographer & Videomaker, you will be responsible for creating visual content that showcases the team’s work, particularly during missions abroad, testing phases, and other key events. In addition to photography, video editing will be essential to the team's success in competitions and presentations. You will work closely with designers to ensure the team’s efforts are presented in the most compelling and visually appealing way.
Required skills
- Knowledge of photo and video editing softwares such as Adobe Photoshop and Davinci Resolve
Desirable skills
- Past experience for this position is desirable but not necessary
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Safety Officer
OPS-SFT-001 Department: Operations Division: Safety
Description
As our Safety Officer, you are the ultimate gatekeeper of the mission. You’re not just here to "check boxes"—you’re here to make sure our rocket doesn’t end up as a pile of scrap metal. You’ll own the technical safety architecture, from drafting engineering mitigation solutions to being the final word during ground operations and launch campaigns.
We need someone who can dive deep into the guts of the system. You’ll be running the show on FMECA, FTA and hazard assessments, hunting down potential failure points before they ever reach the pad. You’ll bridge the gap between complex international regulations and real-world engineering, working side-by-side with every subsystem lead to ensure that safety is baked into the design, not just tacked on at the end.
The mission is high-stakes. If you’ve got the backbone to own the risk, join the team.
Required skills
- Initiative and hunger to master aerospace safety.
- Understanding that safety is a systems engineering challenge, not a bureaucratic one.
Desirable skills
- Background or studies in systems engineering, risk and hazard analysis.
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Embedded Software Engineer
ELT-FMW-002 Department: Electronics Division: Firmware
Description
As an Embedded Software Engineer within the Electronics department, Firmware Division, your responsibilities will include a portion of the following:
- Developing and optimizing the next generation of our DaVinci flight computer software, a versatile platform designed for both large and small scale rockets.
- Designing and validating the Controller Area Network-based communication protocol between all rocket subsystems
- Developing the software for the Marconi telemetry board, specifically managing data flow and C&C between ground, the flight computer, GPS and other subsystems.
- Writing well-structured and *reusable* software libraries for common tasks in an embedded environment, such as interfaces for various sensors or CAN communication.
- Managing infrastructure and DevOps such as the CMake-based build system used for compilation of all other firmware.
- Developing the core software for the Engine Control board, the Recovery Control board, and the relative subsystems.
- Testing and ensuring the software can effectively retrieve and transmit data, control actuators, and accomplish specific mission tasks.
- Conducting the full lifecycle of a feature, from research and reading datasheets, to writing, testing, and debugging.
- Working and developing all projects in close cooperation with other department members and other divisions in the team.
Required skills
- General knowledge of embedded systems and microcontrollers
- Proficiency in C/C++ programming language
- Experience with software development tools such as IDEs, compilers and debuggers
- Working knowledge of the Git version control systems (staging, commits, branches, remotes)
- Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
- Basic knowledge of LaTeX
Desirable skills
- Knowledge of flight computer software architecture and design patterns
- Experience with software testing and verification tools
- Experience with the STM32 platform, or alternatively another ARM Cortex-based platform
- Experience with complex CMake project structures, with multiple submodules and dependencies
- Experience setting up CI/CD workflows on various providers (GitHub, Gitlab, Gitea)
- Advanced knowledge of the Git version control system (merge, rebase, GPG commit signing, patches, etc.)
- Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Desktop App Developer
ELT-FMW-003 Department: Electronics Division: Firmware
Description
As an app developer you will be tasked with developing the Desktop application for controlling the Marconi Data and communications board to use as a ground station. Providing telemetry such as altitude, acceleration, gps coordinates, and speed or temperature measurements, as well as Command and Control of the propulsion and recovery systems. Crucially, the system will have a focus on software and hardware redundancy, with mechanical switches and calculated UI design to lower the probability of human error. In the end you will be tasking with integrating your application in a suitcase-housed Single-board Computer which will function as a standalone Ground Station.
Required skills
- Proficiency in at least one programming language between Python, C/C++ and Rust
- Experience with build tooling for your language(s) of choice (such as uv, CMake or cargo)
- Working knowledge of the Git version control systems (staging, commits, branches, remotes)
- Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
- Basic knowledge of LaTeX
Desirable skills
- Experience with embedded systems and bare metal
- Experience with designing GUI applications, and/or with specific libraries or frameworks
- Experience setting up CI/CD workflows on various providers (GitHub, Gitlab, Gitea)
- Advanced knowledge of the Git version control system (merge, rebase, GPG commit signing, patches, etc.)
- Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Hardware Engineer
ELT-HDW-001 Department: Electronics Division: Hardware
Description
As an Hardware Engineer within the Electronics Department, Hardware Division, you will be responsible for the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of the core electronic systems for the rocket, the ground station, and the engine.
Starting from the previous team's designs whenever possible, your main responsibilities will include:
- Utilizing CAD tools to create electrical schemes that will be converted into circuits and PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards);
- Optimizing and enhancing DaVinci, our discrete flight computer, based on an STM32 microcontroller, by adding new features and ensuring its ultimate safety and reliability;
- Working on maintaining and evolving our telemetry board, Marconi, which integrates GPS and long-range communication modules;
- Designing and developing the dedicated Engine Control circuit and PCB;
- Conducting essential hands-on work, including: research, reading and analyzing datasheets, soldering, testing, and debugging of systems;
- Developing all projects in close cooperation with other members of the Electronics Department and other divisions within the team, ensuring seamless integration between all system components.
Required skills
- Knowledge in circuit theory and electronics
- Familiarity with soldering
- Basic programming skills
- Basic/Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
- Basic knowledge of LaTeX
Desirable skills
- Prior experience with microcontrollers
- Familiarity with hardware testing and debugging tools
- Familiarity with PCB CAD softwares (e.g. Altium Designer and KiCAD)
- Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Control System Engineer
CAS-FCS-001 Department: Controls and Systems Division: Flight Control Systems
Description
As a Control System Engineer in the Flight Control Systems division, you will be responsible for developing the algorithms and software that govern the rocket’s dynamic behavior. Starting from first principles, you will design, model, and implement guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems, with a strong focus on reliability and real-time performance, taking into account system's constraints and uncertainties. You will use simulation tools to analyze flight dynamics, tune controllers, and validate system stability before deployment. Your main tasks will include designing control laws for actuators, integrating sensor feedback (IMUs, GPS, altimeters), and ensuring robust fault tolerance. Projects will be carried out in close cooperation with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams.
Required skills
- Knowledge of MATLAB and Simulink software suite
- General knowledge of control theory and flight dynamics
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Strong mathematical background
- Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
Desirable skills
- Knowledge of Python programming language
- Knowledge of GitHub
- Knowledge of LaTeX
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Recovery Engineer
RCV-RCV-001 Department: Recovery Division: Recovery
Description
Everything that goes up must eventually come down, hopefully without leaving a crater. You will play a key role in developing and validating the rocket's parachute deployment and recovery systems, working closely with other members of the division.
Every system and subsystem will undergo rigorous ground testing before flight to ensure reliability. This will involve small-scale component tests and comprehensive full-scale evaluations of the entire recovery system. Your primary goal will be to ensure the successful recovery and reusability of rocket components
Required skills
- Basic CAD (Solidworks) knowledge
- Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
- Basic knowledge of Latex
- Knowledge of Google Suite
- Good manual skills
Desirable skills
- Possession of a firearm license
- Experience and knowledge with gases and/or explosives
- Experience in synthetic textiles sewing
- Experience with parachutes Aerodynamics and Dynamics
- Experience with Matlab and Simulink
- Experience with microcontrollers, such as Arduino and Raspberry
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
Propulsion Engineer
PRO-TCA-002 Department: Propulsion Division: Thrust Chamber Assembly
Description
For the design of the propulsion architecture, a careful analysis of the various subsystems and their interconnections is necessary. For this reason, the Thrust Chamber Assembly Division and the Liquid System Architecture Division are working together to recruit a passionate member for systems integration. We encourage applications from undergraduate students.
Required skills
- Strong communication with other divisions and teamwork capability
- Knowledge of Google Suite
- Passion for Propulsion and Feed Systems
Desirable skills
- Knowledge of a CAD software (preferably SolidWorks)
- Knowledge of LaTeX
Please be informed that your work will be entirely voluntary. As we are a student team of Politecnico di Torino, we do not offer any paid employment.
FAQs
How can I join the Team?
If there are open positions, there is the possibility of joining the Team. More details can be found by reading the open positions' descriptions and apply procedures.
The main recruitment process is generally held at the beginning of the academic year, but some positions might be open in other time periods too: look out for any updates on our social media and on our website.
Are there any requirements for joining the team?
Candidates must have time to dedicate to our projects, and an intermediate English proficiency level is preferred. We accept all PoliTo students regardless of program and year (undergraduate, graduate and PhD).
Can I join as a first-year student?
Yes, and we encourage you to! Theoretical knowledge and previous experience are appreciated, but they are not everything. Young and motivated students can learn and acquire real experience while working on our projects.
As of Summer 2023, more than half of the Team's members are Bachelor's students, and many of them are first-year students!
Can I join the team as an international student?
Of course! As of Summer 2023, more than 25% of the Team's members are international students. The selection process is the same for international and Italian students. As for any other student, good English knowledge is preferred. Italian language proficiency is not required, but appreciated.
Can I join the Team with a low level English proficiency?
The Team's official language is English, and it is preferred that candidates have at least an intermediate language proficiency. Candidates with advanced English proficiency will have an advantage. Exceptions can be made for candidates with a particular set of skills or with important prior experience.
How much time do I need to put into the team every week?
There is not a rule for how much time you need to put in. There can be weeks where you will not work at all, but there will be days where you will need to work many hours. The Team is young and does not have a large number of members, so it is expected that the members of the Team put a considerable amount of work into our projects.
In general, we expect that students can provide at the very least 6 hours of work for the Team per week. Exceptions can be made for particular positions, such as those which require particular skills or prior experience.
Can I join the Team if I am not an engineering student?
Yes, the Team accepts students coming from all programs offered at Politecnico. There are many positions available in the Team, especially in the Operations subteam, which are suited also for students coming from non-engineering programs.
Do you recruit only aerospace engineering students?
Of course not! Even if as of now the majority of the Team's members come from the aerospace engineering program (around 68% as of Fall 2022), some of the Team's positions are suited for students of the computer science, electronic, mechanical, management, or energy engineering programs, as well as many others.
Furthermore, due to competition, the acceptance rate for aerospace engineering students is probably going to be lower than the one for students coming from other programs. This means that if you do not study aerospace engineering, you might face less competition in your application for certain positions than your aerospace engineering colleagues.
What is the acceptance rate onto the team?
Fall 2022 was the first general recruitment of the Team and we had an acceptance rate of around 15%. As much as we would love to accept every application, the Team can not manage the work of hundreds of members. Do not let this discourage you: we are always looking for motivated and talented young students.
Do you recruit at the beginning of the 2nd semester?
We do not know yet, but it is unlikely. Training new members takes time, and if students join in the winter semester they will start working towards the end of the academic year, which is not ideal.
Students could be recruited at the beginning of the 2nd semester if they possess a particular set of skills or experience which matches the Team's needs.
Can I join the Team if I am not a Politecnico di Torino student, or if I am a high school student?
PoliTo Rocket Team is a student team which gets its resources from the Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace engineering of Politecnico di Torino. For this reason, we can't accept students outside Politecnico. However, it is possible to cooperate and work together on some particular projects. If you are working on a rocketry-related project and you want to collaborate with us, contact us.