Electrical Engineering Intern Summer '26

Electrical Engineering Intern Summer ‘26

Location: San Francisco, CA (preferred) or remote
Type: Paid summer internship
Dates: June 1 - September 1 (start and end dates flexible)

About Hoplynk

Hoplynk builds resilient, autonomous communications systems for the places and people that absolutely need reliable internet access. Our systems combine rugged, high-powered hardware solutions with best-in-class networking software and AI Agents to keep people, teams, and machines connected across cellular, satellite, radio, and wired networks. We work across the non-profit and commercial spaces, including public safety, energy, critical infrastructure, field operations, and State / Federal governments.

The Role

We are looking for an Electrical Engineering Summer Intern to help design the next generation of Hoplynk’s deployable power systems and hardware platforms. This is an opportunity to work on real deployed systems and help transition critical electronics from prototype wiring and modular components into integrated production-ready hardware.

A major focus of this role will be designing and helping manufacture a custom PCB-based power system for our deployable communications kits. This includes integrating battery management, power distribution, DC/DC conversion, monitoring, and protection systems into a compact and manufacturable electrical architecture.

What You’ll Do and Own

● Design and prototype PCB-based power systems for deployable communications hardware

● Help transition existing modular power electronics into integrated board-level designs

● Work on battery systems, power distribution, charging architecture, DC/DC conversion, protection circuitry, and monitoring systems

● Evaluate tradeoffs between manufacturability, thermal performance, efficiency, reliability, serviceability, and size

● Collaborate closely with mechanical, industrial design, and software teams on system integration and packaging constraints

● Assist with bring-up, testing, debugging, validation, and iteration of prototype hardware systems

● Contribute to the electrical architecture of rugged, field-deployable communications systems

What You’ll Bring

● Experience or strong interest in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Power Electronics, or a closely related field

● Familiarity with PCB design tools such as KiCad, Altium, Eagle, or similar

● Interest in real-world hardware systems, batteries, power electronics, and deployable systems

● Comfort working in ambiguity and iterating quickly

● A desire to build systems that go beyond simulations into deployed hardware

Nice to Have

● Experience with DC/DC converters, battery systems, BMS architectures, or power management

● Familiarity with PCB layout considerations including thermal management, grounding, EMI, and power integrity

● Experience bringing up, debugging, or assembling custom hardware

● Experience with embedded Linux systems, Raspberry Pi, or edge compute hardware

● Interest in rugged hardware, field systems, robotics, networking hardware, or deployable infrastructure

● Experience with DFM, DFA, vendor handoff, or manufacturing workflows

What You Will Get

● Paid summer internship experience working on real deployed systems

● An opportunity to help develop production hardware architectures

● Direct exposure to electrical engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing, and field deployment

● Close collaboration with leadership that wants to build and ship fast, and highly values initiative and ambition

● A chance to build portfolio work around real hardware products with real users and operational constraints

Why Hoplynk

We are working at the cutting edge of autonomous networking. That means responsibility comes early — you will not be separated from the product. You will work close to the problem, close to engineering, and close to decisions.

To Apply

Please apply on Handshake and send:

● your resume

● any portfolio, projects, GitHub, PCB designs, hardware work, or technical material you would like us to review

● a short note on why this role specifically interests you and why you are a good fit (200 words maximum). Do not send a traditional cover letter.

Email tim.carroll@hoplynk.com with any questions.

How We Work — Hoplynk’s Values

● Candor: Say the hard thing kindly, early, and with evidence. Speak up during decisions.

● Humility: Strong opinions, loosely held. Change your mind with facts. Teach and learn in the open; celebrate team wins over heroics.

● Initiative: Run toward the smoke. Own problems end-to-end. Ship in small, safe steps with clear, observable outcomes.

Hoplynk is an equal opportunity employer.