Catapult Internship

Project Overview

This internship project investigates how multiple receivers observing satellite positioning signals in a LEO NTN environment can cooperate to improve localisation accuracy. Individual receivers may experience weak signal strength, limited visibility, or unfavourable geometry. By sharing and combining time-of-arrival measurements from one or more satellites, positioning performance may be enhanced. Although cooperative positioning is well established in principle, its evaluation for NTN downlink signals within a simple and reproducible framework remains limited. The internship will demonstrate when and how receiver cooperation provides measurable positioning gains.

Responsibilities

• Develop a simulation framework to study cooperative positioning using multiple receivers in an NTN scenario.
• Conduct a short literature review covering basic downlink positioning principles (such as time-of-arrival estimation) and cooperative localisation concepts.
• Model a simplified LEO satellite geometry and receiver configuration.
• Generate timing measurements at multiple spatially separated receivers under realistic noise conditions.
• Define a scenario in which some receivers have known position (anchors) while one or more receivers require position estimation.
• Combine measurements at a central unit using a straightforward fusion approach (e.g., weighted least squares).
• Evaluate how positioning accuracy changes with the number and placement of receivers, satellites, receiver geometry, and signal quality.
• Focus on understanding system behaviour and performance trends rather than implementing a detailed communication stack.
• Deliver clear performance comparisons demonstrating the potential benefit of cooperative reception.

Contract & Benefits

8‑week minimum fixed‑term contract to be agreed with the successful candidate. 5 days holiday to be taken during the placement.

Values & Working Culture

We care – for our people, our partners, and our planet. We connect – and engage with people and ideas. We learn – and grow, as people and as an industry. We strive to create a high‑trust, high‑performance, and inclusive environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work. Our shared values are critical to building an innovation culture and ensuring everyone thrives.

Application Guidance

We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots in applicant answers. If plagiarism, AI use (such as ChatGPT), or similar software is found, the application will not be considered. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe; however, sponsorship for visas may not be available for this role.

Key Skills

• Modelling satellite-based positioning signals.
• Time‑of‑arrival based localisation concepts.
• Basic data fusion and estimation methods.
• Running simulations and analysing statistical results.

• Literature review and technical reading skills.
• Structured project planning and milestone management.
• Clear reporting and presentation of technical results.
• Analytical thinking in system‑level problem solving.

Academic Background

Final‑year undergraduate or MSc student in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline.

Required

• Basic knowledge of signals and systems.
• Familiarity with linear algebra.
• Some programming experience in MATLAB, Python, or a similar environment.
• Interest in wireless or satellite systems.

Desirable

• Introductory understanding of positioning concepts.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work independently with structured supervision.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

No prior experience with NTN systems or 5G standards is required. The project is designed to be accessible and achievable within the internship duration.