Working Student (f / m / x) - Embedded Software Development for Swarm Navigation and Communications

DLR dlr.de Open · verified Sep 18, 2026

Oberpfaffenhofen Junior Communications

Entry-level Communications role at DLR. Oberpfaffenhofen.

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

You'll shape a modular, hardware-independent architecture for swarm navigation software
You'll build and test modules that run navigation algorithms on microcontrollers and single-board computers
You'll work with the team to plan and carry out hands-on system tests
You'll document the software architecture and code organization

What you bring

You're studying computer science, electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related subject
You bring strong C++ or Rust skills for development close to hardware
You have embedded-systems experience, such as with ESP32 or Raspberry Pi
You understand Clean Code, Design Patterns, and software architecture principles
You've worked with Git and CI/CD pipelines

Who this fits

This working-student role suits someone currently studying a relevant technical subject and interested in embedded software for swarm navigation. You'll collaborate closely with the team on implementation, design, testing, and documentation. The position is based in Oberpfaffenhofen.

From the employer

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

What to expect

In decentralized swarm systems, achieving reliable navigation in GNSS-denied environments remains a critical challenge. The DLR's swarm navigation framework addresses this by leveraging inter-agent ranging to establish a self-organizing localization network. However, running these real-time algorithms requires efficient execution on resource-constrained hardware. Working in close collaboration with the team, you will support the practical implementation and architectural design of the DLR swarm navigation system for microcontrollers and single-board computers.

Your tasks

contribute to the design of a hardware-independent, modular software architecture to enable flexible deployment across various hardware platforms
implement and test software modules to execute the DLR swarm navigation algorithms on microcontrollers and single-board computers
jointly design and conduct practical system tests
document the developed software architecture and code structures

Your profile

student in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
strong programming skills in C++ or Rust for hardware-near development
experience with embedded systems (e.g., ESP32, Raspberry Pi)
good knowledge of software engineering, including Clean Code, Design Patterns, and Software Architectures
familiarity with modern development tools like Git and CI/CD pipelines

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 5994) please contact:

Dr. Christian Gentner
Tel.: +49 8153 28 2890