2024 Aerospace Rising Star Programs

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

The Aerospace Corporation is hiring undergraduate and graduate-level students for our Aerospace Rising Star program. Applying to this job requisition will put you in a candidate pool used to hire for the class of 2024 Aerospace Rising Stars for opportunities across the company.

The Aerospace Rising Star Programs are in partnership with universities and diverse organizations to promote diversity in STEM and include paid full-time positions for a minimum of 10-weeks in the summer.

Work Model

Positions may be 100% onsite in a designated Aerospace location, fully remote anywhere within the United States or a hybrid work model and offer partially remote with some onsite work required in an designated Aerospace location.  Designated locations include but are not limited to: El Segundo, CA, Chantilly or Arlington, VA, Huntsville, AL, Colorado Springs, CO, Albuquerque, NM.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Assignments vary depending on the hiring organization

• Participates with an interdisciplinary team in ongoing research or technical programs with academic collaboration partners 

• Applies standard techniques and procedures to carry out a series of prescribed scientific and/or engineering tasks 

• Training and mentorship will be provided 

What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring 

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Must work well in a team environment

• Must possess strong organizational, time management and project management skills

• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need

• Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations

• Demonstrate behavior that is consistent with the company’s values of Dedication to Mission Success, Technical Excellence, Commitment to Our People, Objectivity and Integrity, and Innovation

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements: 

• Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. degree in Aero/Astro Engineering, Chemical/Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cyber/Cyber Security, Electrical Engineering, Electrical, and Computer Engineering, Intelligence Studies, Materials Science, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering or related engineering or technical discipline.

• Nomination from one of the following programs: Brooke Owens Fellowship Program, CSULB Deans Leadership Academy, Dr. Austin STEM Endowment Program, GEM Fellowship Program, Aerospace Rising Stars HBCU Scholarship Program, Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program, Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Program, the USC WiSE Aerospace Corporation Research Fellowship, Zed Factor Fellowship Program or the Association of Corporate Counsel.

• Availability to work full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks outside of university term and ability to return to a degree program full-time after completion of the internship.

• Positions require the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

• Current unofficial transcripts required.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• GPA 3.0 or higher  

• Active security clearance 

• Experience programming in C, C++, HTML, Python, JAVA 

• Experience in developing and delivering presentations

• Experience in working in an autonomous work environment on complex projects or with team groups

• Software design, development, unit testing, and integration experience 

Temporary housing assistance is not available. 

The Aerospace Corporation is a proud member of Space Workforce 2030, a growing coalition of leading space companies committed to collaboratively working toward a shared vision of expanding and diversifying opportunities for talent to join the exciting space industry. As part of this commitment, the Space Workforce 2030 companies have pledged to increase the number of females, diverse employees, and interns with a goal to hire at least 3,000 interns by the summer of 2030. Click here to learn more and register for the National Space Intern program. 

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. 

(Min - Mid - Max)

$16.00 - $28.00 - $42.00

Pay Basis: Hourly

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.