Software Engineering Internship: AI Autonomous Telescope Operations

2026 Software Engineering Internship: AI for Autonomous Telescope Operations

Operating a global network of robotic telescopes is both data-intensive and operationally complex. At Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO), we manage a distributed system of scientific instruments that continuously generate rich streams of telemetry and performance data. This environment presents an exceptional opportunity to apply modern AI techniques—particularly agent-based and anomaly detection systems—to real-world scientific operations.

We are seeking a Software Engineering Intern to work at the intersection of AI, data analysis, and observatory operations
.

The selected intern will collaborate with LCO’s Software and Operations teams to develop intelligent systems that enhance telescope performance and reliability.

A key focus area is telescope pointing performance
—a critical metric that reflects both system accuracy and underlying hardware health. Large volumes of pointing data are collected across the network and can be leveraged to:

• Improve pointing models and calibration accuracy
• Detect subtle degradations in mechanical or optical performance
• Provide early warning of potential system failures

The goal of this project is to design and implement an AI-driven agent that:

• Continuously analyzes telescope performance data
• Improves pointing accuracy through data-driven modeling
• Identifies anomalous behavior and generates actionable alerts for operations staff

• Hands‑on experience applying AI/ML techniques in a real‑world, production scientific system
• Exposure to a globally distributed robotic observatory network
• Collaboration with experienced engineers, scientists, and operations specialists
• Experience working within a professional software development environment
  , including best practices in version control, testing, and deployment

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Has experience in software development (preferably Python)
• Is interested in machine learning, data analysis, or intelligent systems
• Is comfortable working with real‑world, imperfect datasets
• Is curious about astronomy (prior knowledge not required)
• Communicates clearly and works effectively in a collaborative team environment

Las Cumbres Observatory operates a global network of telescopes dedicated to time‑domain astronomy, enabling scientists to observe the universe in real time. Our work supports cutting‑edge research and education worldwide.