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-MDA-001
Subteam: Operations
Division: Media

Description

As a Graphic Designer, you will be in charge of designing the Team’s mission patches and logos, 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
  • Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite Professional products,such as Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, and InDesign, or similar
  • Knowledge of Google Suite

Desirable skills

  • Attention to details and being up to date on the latest trends
  • Experience in design motion graphics (charts, lower-thirds, GIFs, Animations, animated social media ads)
  • Intermediate English writing skills
Apply

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.

Social Media Manager

OPS-MDA-002
Subteam: Operations
Division: Media

Description

PoliTo Rocket Team is looking for one or more Social Media Manager(s), who will have the responsibility to maintain and enhance the team’s image by implementing social media platforms’ content strategies.

This role will be required to run advertising campaigns and drive engagement by creating high-quality original content. The manager(s) should also oversee our community by managing interactions across all platforms.

Required skills

  • Professionalism and responsibility
  • Intermediate/Advanced English writing skills
  • Knowledge of Google Suite

Desirable skills

  • Knowledge of the main social media platforms used by the Team (Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter) and of additional social media platform to expand the Team's presence
  • Attention to details and being up to date on the latest trends
  • Previous experience in the media management and previous experience with paid content promotions
  • Experience in design motion graphics (charts, lower-thirds, GIFs, Animations, animated social media ads)
  • Proficiency with graphic design software such as Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, and InDesign, or similar
Apply

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.

Video Maker

OPS-MDA-003
Subteam: Operations
Division: Media

Description

The Video Maker(s) will be responsible for designing, editing and producing video content for our earned media, website and social media channels. This position requires to remain flexible and adaptable, have strong planning skills and participate in many aspects of the Team’s daily work. The Video Maker will work in close collaboration with the Photographer(s) and Social Media Manager.

It is very important to us to document every aspect of the Team’s operations. Hence, it will be needed to be present during the Team’s testing campaigns and launches, and take the best shots for the Team’s public appearance. It will be needed to film our members during their daily work and document the project's progress.

Required skills

  • Possession of an adequate camera
  • Experience in Video Design or related field
  • Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite Professional products,such as Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, and InDesign, or similar
  • Knowledge of Google Suite

Desirable skills

  • Experience in photography and photo editing
  • Skilled at working and communicating with both technical and non-technical staff
  • Attention to details and up to date on the latest trends
  • Intermediate English writing skills
Apply

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

OPS-MDA-004
Subteam: Operations
Division: Media

Description

The Photographer(s) will be responsible for producing and editing photographic content for our earned media, website and social media channels. This position requires to remain flexible and adaptable, have strong planning skills and participate in many aspects of the Team’s daily work. The Photographer(s) will work in close collaboration with the Video Maker(s) and Social Media Manager.

It is very important for the Team to document every public appearance. The Photographer(s) presence will be needed at every team event, mission and launch. The Photographer(s) will be asked to take the best shots during each event, in order to promote the image of the Team.

Required skills

  • Experience in photography and photo editing
  • Possession of an adequate camera
  • Knowledge of Google Suite

Desirable skills

  • Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite Professional products,such as Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, and InDesign, or similar
  • Skilled at working and communicating with both technical and non-technical staff
  • Attention to details and up to date on the latest trends
  • Intermediate English writing skills
Apply

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.

Web Developer

OPS-ITC-001
Subteam: Operations
Division: IT

Description

The role of the web developer is to manage the website in all its aspects, in order to present the team at its best. In particular, you will work with web technologies (SCSS, TypeScript, Svelte, Supabase) to design, create, and maintain all the website sections, based on the team directives.

Mid term tasks could be:

  • Improve the projects page
  • Create page transition effects
  • Enhance the overall user experience and interactions with better animations and with 3D models

A relatively big future project is the development of a backend that handles recruitment, renders pages based on information from (admin) lead engineers, and possibly receives and stores data collected during flights.

Required skills

  • Proficiency in CSS
  • Good knowledge of modern JavaScript (ECMAScript 2018)

Desirable skills

  • Knowledge of SCSS
  • Knowledge of TypeScript
  • Previous experience with Git and GitHub
  • Previous experience with Svelte & SvelteKit
  • Knowledge and previous use of the Three.js library
  • Basic knowledge of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA)
Apply

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

VES-MSA-002
Subteam: Vittorio Emanuele II
Division: Mission Analysis

Description

The SW Control System Engineer will be involved in the development and validation of software control systems for the rocket. As an example, the team is currently working on the Air Brakes Control system which is the algorithm that controls the extension of the air brakes with the aim of reaching the target apogee as precisely as possible.

Required skills

  • Knowledge of Matlab and Simulink
  • Knowledge of PID controller
  • Basics of Body Dynamics

Desirable skills

  • Basics of Flight Dynamics
Apply

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

VES-AVN-001
Subteam: Vittorio Emanuele II
Division: Avionics

Description

As an Hardware Engineer in the Avionics division, you will design, prototype and manufacture the electronic systems for both the rocket and the ground station, starting from scratch. You will use CAD tools to create electrical schemes that will be converted into circuits and PCBs. Your main tasks will include optimizing and enhancing our first discrete flight computer by adding new features, ensuring safety and reliability, and designing the next-generation flight computer, a single-board integrated solution that uses STM32 microcontrollers. You will also conduct practical work, such as research, reading datasheets, design, simulations, soldering, testing and debugging. Projects will be developed in close cooperation with other division members.

Required skills

  • Knowledge in circuit theory and electronics
  • Familiarity with welding
  • 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. KiCAD)
  • Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Apply

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

VES-AVN-002
Subteam: Vittorio Emanuele II
Division: Avionics

Description

As an Embedded Software Engineer, your job will be the development and optimization of the first flight computer software, and you will also take part in the initial design phase for the next-generation flight computer, built in the STM32 platform. You will write sensors’ drivers and high-quality structured software for the embedded processor in order to retrieve and transmit data, control actuators and accomplish specific mission tasks. This will involve extensive research, writing, testing and debugging. Projects will be developed in close cooperation with other division members.

Required skills

  • General knowledge of embedded systems and microcontrollers
  • Proficiency in C/C++ programming language
  • Experience with software development tools such as IDEs, compilers, debuggers and version control
  • Basic/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 STM32 platform
  • Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Apply

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 Application Developer

VES-AVN-003
Subteam: Vittorio Emanuele II
Division: Avionics

Description

Altitude, orientation, speed, and most importantly for recovery, GPS location sent by the rocket during flight and retrieved by ground antennas must be processed, displayed, and saved in real time.

As a ground station developer, your job will be to develop a desktop application with a logical, neat, and aesthetic structure that can perform the tasks mentioned above. This task involves interacting with all the different avionics systems, so communication protocols play a critical role. Projects will be developed in close collaboration with other division members.

Required skills

  • Knowledge of software engineering principles and practices
  • Familiarity with communication protocols and interfaces
  • Good programming skills
  • Basic/Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
  • Basic knowledge of LaTeX

Desirable skills

  • Previous experience with the QtQuick framework and QML language
  • Experience with data processing and visualization tools
  • Experience with embedded systems and hardware interfaces
  • Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Apply

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.

RF Specialist

VES-AVN-004
Subteam: Vittorio Emanuele II
Division: Avionics

Description

Wireless communication plays a fundamental role before, during, and after the flight. It allows the ground station to monitor system status and evaluate potential risks, transmit data in real time to track the rocket's altitude, speed, and other critical parameters, and facilitate recovery by communicating the rocket's GPS location. Due to its critical importance, our team needs a specialized engineer to design, simulate, and develop the rocket-ground station communication system at the physical layer. The role will involve extensive research, investigation of technologies and protocols, and positioning and pointing of ground and onboard antennas to optimize data transmission. Projects will be developed in close collaboration with other division members.

Required skills

  • Knowledge in circuit theory and electronics
  • Knowledge of wireless communication principles and technologies
  • Basic/Intermediate English writing and speaking skills
  • Basic knowledge of LaTeX

Desirable skills

  • Familiarity with communication protocols such as ZigBee, LoRa and Wi-Fi
  • Prior experience with embedded systems and hardware interfaces
  • Good interdisciplinary communication skills
Apply

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

LRE-ECS-001
Subteam: Efesto
Division: Engine Control Strategy

Description

The engine control strategy division provides the start-up, fire phase and shut-down engine control strategy. Tasks: Develop the main engine control software which provides the start-up, fire phase and shout-down sequence provided by the other divisions.

Required skills

  • Programming skills
  • Block based coding
  • MatLab and Python
Apply

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 Hardware Engineer

LRE-ECS-002
Subteam: Efesto
Division: Engine Control Strategy

Description

The engine control strategy division provides the start-up, fire phase and shut-down engine control strategy. Tasks:

  • Design the integration system of sensors needed for the engine control and monitoring software
  • Test and validate signals from sensors
  • Cooperate with the test bench division

Required skills

  • Strong electrical skills
  • Theory of signals
  • Strong sensor typology and working logic knowledge

Desirable skills

  • MatLab and Python
Apply

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.

PoliTo Rocket Team ™ 2023